Chemicals Assessment Scientist (Officer) - 23900
Number of jobs available 1
Region National
City/Town Various
Building/Site Various
Grade Staff Grade 4
Post Type Permanent
Working Pattern Full Time
Role Type Science
Salary Minimum £28,785
Job description
Are you interested in the impacts that chemicals have on our environment?
We are recruiting a scientist to assess information on the environmental fate and effects of chemicals for hazard and risk assessment, particularly in the context of the UK REACH and CLP Regulations. Working with colleagues in a multidisciplinary team and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), you will:
• evaluate ecotoxicity and environmental fate data and assessments in test reports and chemical dossiers prepared by companies or other regulatory authorities;
• identify and record key ecotoxicity and environmental fate regulatory endpoints noting their reliability, relevance and if standard procedures and guidance have been followed;
• prepare comments describing data limitations, if you think changes need to be made and propose alternative assessment approaches where necessary; and
• interpret and summarise technical ecotoxicity and environmental fate data used in drafting UK regulatory dossiers or positions on specific chemical substances and issues relating to chemicals in the environment.
The team
The Chemicals Assessment Unit is a dispersed team providing dedicated scientific support to HSE and UK Government on environmental matters relating to the REACH and CLP Regulations and Persistent Organic Pollutants. We assess the environmental hazards and exposure of industrial and consumer chemicals (from soap fragrances to flame retardants in electronics) and propose action to manage identified risks. We work closely with global partners including the chemicals industry, NGOs, OECD and other regulatory authorities.
Experience/skills required
You must be able to analyse complex scientific and numerical data in order to brief others and be confident working with standard guidance. You should be educated to degree level in environmental or biological sciences, chemistry or other appropriate scientific discipline. Relevant post-graduate, chemical regulation and ecotoxicology experience would be an advantage, as is familiarity with the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and IT team-working tools.
The role requires excellent writing and communication skills, good time management and organisational ability to ensure deadlines are met. Practical knowledge of ecotoxicology and/or environmental fate testing of chemicals and their risk assessment would be ideal but you will otherwise have a good awareness of how chemical behaviour and interactions with organisms in the environment can be assessed.
Please highlight what relevant qualifications, experience or understanding you have of chemical hazard and risk assessment, including specific examples of how you have applied such knowledge.
Contact and additional information
Permanent position. In the medium-term working from home is possible, although you will be expected to attend an Agency office (in England) occasionally and to travel for meetings. You will need to be confident in your ability to work remotely and collaborate effectively across the business and with stakeholders.
We promote an inclusive culture and welcome disabled, LGBT+, Black, Asian or other minority ethnic applicants. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible and recognize how important inclusivity is to achieve best outcomes.
Please contact Simon Hoy (simon.hoy@environment-agency.gov.uk, 07785 367044) for further information or an informal discussion about the role.
Interviews are expected to be held during November via video call. Further information will be provided to the invited candidates.
Job description attachment 1 Candidate Pack - 23900.docx – 1058KB
Converted File Candidate Pack - 23900.docx.pdf – 611KB
Job description attachment 2 Job profile - 23900.docx – 59KB
Converted File Job profile - 23900.docx.pdf – 65KB
Closing Date: 26/09/2022, 23:55 hours
Level of security checks required Basic Check Competence 1 Scientific Knowledge Description What level and type of expertise would you bring to us in a scientific field that is relevant for assessing the environmental hazards or risks of chemicals? Competence 2 Data and Information Management Description Describe an example of when you have had to analyse and interpret complex data for reliability and relevance and share your findings with others to enable a decision to be made. Competence 3 Achieves Results Description Tell us about a challenging piece of work that you’ve done and the steps that you took to achieve it to suitable time and quality standards.