Higher Toxicologist

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 307784**Salary**:

- £31,070 - £37,829**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Type of role**:

- Science**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 3Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- RCE ChiltonAbout the job

**Job summary**:
**Location**

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working - this means that whilst the role will be based in the Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards (RCE) Chilton site, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home.

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.
- *Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*_

**INTRODUCTION**

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

UKHSA is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific, and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation’s health secure.

**Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Directorate (RCE)** provides evidence and advice to protect health from Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards. To support evidence-anchored advice for Health Security, RCE undertakes research work with various university partners and other organisations including within Health Protection Research Units (HPRUs) supported by the National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR).

The Toxicology Department provides public health advice to other parts of RCE, the Department of Health and Social Care and other Government departments and agencies, Local Authorities and other stakeholders including members of the public on the risks to health from environmental hazards (chemicals, particles and bioaerosols). The Toxicology Department undertakes research that underpins chemical regulation and policy development. All of the research underpins the UKHSA role in public health protection from environmental hazards.

**General Toxicology and Biomonitoring Programme**

The General Toxicology and Biomonitoring Programme is within the Toxicology Department. It consists of toxicologists, who provide public health advice on a variety of different chemicals to colleagues within UKHSA, Government agencies and departments, and to the public. This advice focuses on the health effects of chemicals in water, soil and waste processes. We also advise on the public health aspects of the approval and use of pesticides, veterinary medicines, cosmetics and consumer products. The Group provides the Secretariat, jointly with the Food Standards Agency, for three important Government expert advisory committees: the Committees on the Toxicity, Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT, COC and COM). The Group has an active biomonitoring research programme.

**JOB SUMMARY**

The job entails working within the General Toxicology and Biomonitoring programme to provide advice on the health effects of chemicals in drinking water, contaminated land and from waste processes. The team works closely with the regional RCE chemicals teams in England and Wales, providing advice and support during contamination incidents involving chemicals. The postholder will support various areas of the work of the programme and be required to specialise in a designated area after a period of development in post. They may also be required to provide toxicological advice in other areas as necessary to support the work of UKHSA.

**Job description**:
Emphasis is on expert scientific/ technical contribution to advice and work both inside and outside UKHSA. This contribution involves evaluating complex information from a number of sources including professionals and scientists both inside UKHSA and