Assistant Scientist Organic Chemistry Screening

Job Description
We value a diverse workforce. We want to be an organisation that represents modern Britain and the communities we serve. We want everybody to feel included, fairly treated and recognised for their contribution.

If you have experience of analytical chemistry within a laboratory setting and a passion for the natural environment this is an exciting opportunity for you. We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated people with relevant experience and skills to come and join us in our Monitoring Laboratory based in Leeds. You will be directly contributing to the Environment Agency response to climate change by working within a small team carrying out the analysis of environmental samples, predominantly for screening of organic pollutants. This is an exciting time to join our team as we are expanding our facilities and our workload to deliver Defra's flagship Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme.

Your main duties will include:

• Working as part of a team delivering a high-quality analytical service to defined time, cost and quality targets
• Analysing samples using a variety of extraction techniques and state of the art instrumentation
• Keeping work areas tidy
• Ensuring Health and Safety procedures are adhered to including active monitoring
• Carrying out routine laboratory tasks e.g. routine calibrations, stock control, making of analytical standards
• Have the opportunity to participate in a rota for pollution analysis
• Your role will initially and primarily be as part of the Organics screening team but may also support other areas of organic chemistry preparation and may have the opportunity to rotate around other sections of the laboratory.

All EA employees are expected to participate in incident response and will receive relevant training and support to identify an appropriate role which suits their own personal circumstances.

This is a permanent role working Monday- Friday

The team

You will be part of a team delivering the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme. Once developed you will become part of our core Leeds operational team alongside approximately 60 other staff. We provide analytical services to the Environment Agency and external customers including the analysis of sediments, soils, biota and waters from across England and around the coastline.

To find out more, please look at our website:

Experience/skills Required
Essential:

• Working in an analytical laboratory with knowledge of analytical techniques and instrumentation
• Good communication skills are essential to allow you to work closely with your team and other teams on site
• Able to work to tight deadlines and have an ability to prioritise workload, while adhering to strict quality criteria.
• Problem solving skills.
• Adherence to health and safety policies including active monitoring

Desirable:

• Experience of working within a quality standard or within a UKAS accredited chemistry laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025
• Ideally you will be educated to at least Chemistry A-Level or equivalent in a relevant subject or have some experience of working in a Chemistry laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025

Contact and additional information

You'll be welcomed into the team and given the training and support you need to succeed in your role. All EA employees are expected to participate in incident response and will receive relevant training.

We support flexible working hours and practices to help you strike a good balance between work and personal life. You'll have access to a Local Government Pension scheme as well as a host of other benefits.

Our laboratory is off the M621 and well served by public transport links and free onsite parking. Occasional travel may be required for training/courses.

For further information please download the candidate pack. Interviews will be on site at our Leeds laboratory in January. If you have any questions, contact the hiring manager -

Competence 1

Communicates Effectively

Description
Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.

Question: Describe a time when you have used a range of communication methods to present your views in a convincing way. How did you gauge if your colleagues understood you?

Competence 2

Achieves Results

Description
Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.

Question: Give an example of when you have had to manage multiple tasks to achieve a deadline and how you went about this.

Competence 3

Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Description
Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.

Question: Please give an example of when you have solved a technical problem and how you went about this.

**If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit for more information.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.**