Laboratory Support

**Contract Type**: Permanent

**Work Pattern**: 37 hours per week, Tuesday to Saturday

**Post Numbers**: 200662, 200663

NRW’s Analytical Services are looking to recruit a team member to join the Service Delivery section. The successful applicant will be part of the Operational Support Team which helps the laboratory and the organisation through delivery of key functions for sampling and analysis. Samples are collected by NRW chiefly for the Water Framework Directive, Habitats Directive and Environmental Quality Standards Directive.

The Operational Support Team member will assist in delivering a range of tasks, such as early-morning sample registration, outsourcing analysis, bottle order dispatch, data entry into a Laboratory Information Management System and assisting with procurement of goods and services.

The successful applicant will also assist in maintaining up to date records, document management and contribute to the smooth running of the section by providing administrative support. Good customer service skills are needed to provide the wider business and stakeholders with answers to routine queries.

Due to the wider business sampling Monday to Friday this role requires the team member to start work at 7am daily and work Tuesday to Saturday.

The usual working pattern is:

- Tuesday: 7am - 4pm
- Wednesday: 7am - 4pm
- Thursday: 7am - 4pm
- Friday: 7am - 3pm
- Saturday: 7am - 11am

**Responsibilities**:
Your responsibilities include:

- Conduct the daily early morning sample registration onto the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
- Import sample point data and enter results onto LIMS.
- Organise and dispatch samples to be outsourced.
- Prepare sample containers for re-use; ensuring they are clean and decontaminated. This requires good knowledge and operation of dangerous equipment such as high temperature laboratory muffler ovens and shrink-wrapping machinery.
- Maintain due diligence of the correct processes to maintain legal chain of custody for formal enforcement samples.
- Ensure a good understanding the laboratory’s quality system and how that affects every aspect of the analytical process.
- Excellent awareness of not only the laboratory specific but general Health & Safety requirements of self and others by being aware of the laboratory and NRW health and safety policies.

**Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge**:

- Knowledge and Experience of the following:

- The ability to work in a high throughput routine environment with delivery to tight deadlines and physically able to perform demanding repetitive lifting and carrying duties.
- Excellent customer service and awareness skills.
- Maths and English Language GCSEs. Good written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write very clearly and the ability to communicate confidently at all levels.
- The ability to work either in isolation or as part of a team to tight deadlines.
- A high level of computer literacy including proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, One Drive for business.
- An understanding of document management systems, cloud-based storage, and data entry into bespoke systems such as LIMS.

**Welsh Language Requirements**:
**Essential Level 1** - able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases

**Please note** if you do not meet the level 1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these mínimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

**Competencies**:
**Essential Knowledge and Skills**
- The post holder has gained knowledge and skills, through prior practical work experience, so that they have a reasonable level of technical competence to fulfil the requirements of the role.
- The post holder will have good literacy, numerical and communication skills. They will have an understanding of health and safety requirements and implications in relation to work activity.

**Evaluation of Information**
- The use of information within this role will be straight forward, easily understood and from readily available resources.
- The post holder will need to be able to check, validate, gather, collect and record data requiring some degree of accuracy.
- Documentation is routine and standard, in terms of understanding or completion.

**Communication and Relationships with Others**
- Communication will be with colleagues carrying out both similar and different aspects of work. This may include leading on some aspects of work requiring the ability to give clear guidance or instruction if necessary.
- There will be contact with the general public and third parties, which will entail exchanging information.
- Written communication will include the completion of standard documentation and record keeping requiring good IT skills.

**Responsibility for Resources**
- The post holder will be responsible for the safe use and operat