Health and Safety Executive
Senior Scientist - Asbestos & Exposure Measurement (Band 3/SEO)
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Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN.
Job Summary
Are you an experienced asbestos professional looking to apply your expertise in a role that directly influences national policy, guidance and regulation?
HSE is seeking a Senior Scientist to deliver asbestos-related site investigations, research and regulatory support activities across Great Britain.
Working within the Fibres & Minerals Team at HSE's Science and Research Centre in Buxton, you will use your asbestos knowledge and practical site experience to support the evidence base underpinning the Control of Asbestos Regulations and help improve the management of asbestos risks in workplaces across Great Britain.
We are particularly interested in candidates with practical experience of asbestos surveys, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing. You will apply this expertise to a portfolio of scientific, regulatory and investigative work, including site investigations, workplace exposure assessments, incident investigations and research projects.
You will work collaboratively with scientific, operational and policy colleagues across HSE, providing technical expertise and contributing to the development of guidance, research outputs and evidence-based decision making. The role offers the opportunity to work on nationally significant projects that directly support HSE's mission to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health.
Travel
For the foreseeable future, a significant proportion of the role will involve working at external sites across Great Britain to support site activities, project delivery and training requirements. Regular travel, including overnight stays, will therefore be required. Hybrid working arrangements are available where business needs allow; however, the role cannot be carried out predominantly from home and regular attendance at external sites and HSE's Science and Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN will be required.
This role offers opportunities to attend meetings and conferences within the UK and internationally, supporting professional development and networking.
This is a unique opportunity to combine practical asbestos expertise with scientific, regulatory and investigative work, helping to shape guidance, policy and interventions that improve workplace health across Great Britain.
Working Pattern
Part-time hours are available for this role. We can accept part-time applicants who can commit to a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Job Description
As a Senior Scientist, you will apply your asbestos expertise to support HSE's regulatory, forensic, incident investigations and research activities. Working across a programme of site and laboratory-based work, you will contribute to the evidence base underpinning the Control of Asbestos Regulations and help improve the management of asbestos risks in workplaces across Great Britain.
You will deliver asbestos-related regulatory, forensic and investigative projects requiring asbestos expertise, ensuring high scientific standards in the generation, interpretation and communication of technical evidence. You will provide expert advice to regulatory, operational and policy colleagues, supporting evidence-based decision making and contributing to the development of technical guidance and policy.
For the foreseeable future, a significant proportion of the role will involve external site-based project delivery activities across Great Britain. As such, practical experience of asbestos surveys, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing are essential for the role.
You will produce high-quality scientific outputs, including reports, publications, presentations and contributions to conferences and, play an active role in sharing knowledge, mentoring colleagues and supporting the development of technical capability across the team.
The role requires you to plan, manage and prioritise your workload effectively to ensure timely delivery, in accordance with quality systems, health and safety procedures and HSE’s governance requirements.
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This role involves working with asbestos in both controlled laboratory environments and during site-based activities. You will be required to wear close-fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when carrying out certain tasks and must therefore be able to successfully complete face-fit testing. You will also be required to undertake relevant health surveillance or medical assessments necessary to meet statutory and organisational requirements for working with asbestos.
Key Responsibilities
As a Senior Scientist in the field of Fibres & Minerals at HSE, your key responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:
- Applying asbestos knowledge to support workplace exposure assessments, regulatory requirements, incident investigations and enforcement work.
- Delivering asbestos-related site and laboratory-based research, including incident investigations and sampling activities.
- Working with asbestos in both laboratory and site environments, including the use of close-fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE), completing face-fit testing and undertaking required health surveillance and medical assessments.
- Generating, analysing and interpreting technical and scientific data to support regulatory, forensic and investigative activities.
- Communicating scientific findings and technical advice to regulatory, policy, operational and external stakeholders.
- Collaborating with colleagues across HSE to deliver high-quality research, investigative and technical work.
- Ensuring compliance with quality systems, governance requirements, laboratory procedures and health and safety standards.
- Training to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person for asbestos-related site activities.
Training And Health Requirements
This role involves working with asbestos in both controlled laboratory environments and during site-based activities.
You will be required to wear close-fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when carrying out certain tasks and must therefore be able to successfully complete face-fit testing. You will also be required to undertake relevant health surveillance or medical assessments necessary to meet statutory and organisational requirements for working with asbestos.
You must be willing to undertake the training required to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person (NAP) for asbestos-related site activities. This includes training in asbestos enclosure entry, exit and decontamination.
Person Specification
Essential Skills And Criteria
- Demonstrate practical site experience of asbestos surveys, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing and/or asbestos management activities.
- Demonstrate practical experience of delivering site and/or laboratory-based work to investigate workplace exposures or support regulatory, forensic or investigative activities, including the generation, validation and interpretation of analytical or research data.
- Experience of applying technical or scientific knowledge to support workplace investigations, regulatory activities, incident investigations or evidence-based decision making.
- Experience of communicating technical and/or scientific information through reports, publications, presentations or other methods to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver work independently whilst managing competing demands.
- Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, follow documented procedures, maintain scientific and quality standards, undertake continuing professional development.
- You must also be willing to undertake the training required to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person (NAP) for asbestos-related site activities. This includes training in asbestos enclosure entry, exit and decontamination.
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Licences
- A full UK driving licence at the time of applying, is required for this role, as you will be expected to travel to sites and transport equipment and samples as part of your duties.
Qualifications
- The BOHS Certificate of Competence in Asbestos or a combination of recognised asbestos qualifications and professional experience that demonstrates equivalent competence in asbestos surveying, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing.
- A degree in a suitable scientific discipline, such as chemistry, materials science, environmental science, geology, forensic science, or a related subject.
Behaviours
- We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Technical Skills
- We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Conducting and managing asbestos site work: Applying asbestos knowledge to assess, investigate and manage workplace asbestos risks in a range of site environments.
- Adapting to challenging site situations: Planning and delivering asbestos-related site work safely and effectively, including adapting to changing site conditions whilst maintaining scientific and quality standards.
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £47,686, Health and Safety Executive contributes £13,814 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
We invest in our people with;
- Competitive rates of pay.
- Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97% far more than in the private sector.
- Family-friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career.
- Carer-friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture.
- 185 hours annual holiday increasing to 222 hours after 5 years' qualifying service, plus public holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave (recorded as 7.4 hours) in addition to your annual leave balance).
- Parental leave benefits.
- As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards, and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.
Artificial Intelligence
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. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Application Information
As part of your application, you will be invited to complete an anonymised CV which should include your career history, experience, and qualifications. Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the Essential Skills and Criteria as listed within the advert.
You will also be asked to complete an anonymised Personal Statement, of no more than 1000 words, which demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria of the job advert. Use specific examples from your own experience to show your technical expertise
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