About the job

Job summary

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. We look forward to receiving your application

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

CRD employs around 450 scientific, policy and support staff in Bedford, Bootle, Bristol, Edinburgh, York and other areas across the UK. This is an exciting time to join CRD with opportunities to develop and shape our regulatory schemes for the future. Our primary role is to deliver regulatory schemes intended to protect the health of people and the environment, balancing the economic and social benefits that chemicals offer to society and helping to ensure the safe and sustainable use of chemicals.

We also have a role through guidance, partnership working and leadership to raise awareness and promote behavioural change to help improve the control of hazardous substances in the workplace.

To achieve this and deliver improved regulatory outcomes, we work closely with small and large businesses, and key stakeholders, ranging from industry bodies and multi-national chemical businesses, other government departments (in particular Defra) and other regulators across Europe and internationally.

Specifically, CRD regulates pesticides, biocides, industrial and consumer chemicals, detergents and the export and import of dangerous chemicals. Additionally, through intervention in the supply chain we seek to prevent the adverse effects of chemicals on people and the environment.

With a world-class reputation for safeguarding the health and safety of people at work, HSE is adapting and evolving to meet the new challenges following our departure from the EU. At CRD, we work with one goal in mind – to protect human health and the environment from the effects of potentially harmful substances and mixtures.

To help us meet these challenges, we require a number of ambitious Regulatory Scientists to join our Environmental Team.

Job description

We have  opportunities for regulatory scientists to work in our Environmental Teams where work will be undertaken principally across the Biocides and Pesticides  regimes.

The CRD Environmental area is made up of Efficacy, Environmental Fate and Behaviour and Ecotoxicology disciplines. These teams evaluate the effectiveness of pesticides and biocides, how chemicals behave in the environment and what the environmental impacts are. Our Environmental scientists work closely with scientists from our Human Health and Delivery Teams.

We have opportunities for environmental regulatory scientists to work in the following areas:

• Environmental fate and behaviour
• Ecotoxicology

The Environmental Fate and Behaviour Team is made up of a team of 28 scientists who are involved in the evaluation data examining degradation and mobility of substances in soil, water, sediment and air. Using information on the properties of individual chemicals and mixtures, you will be involved in preparing exposure assessments and supporting HSE Ecotoxicology specialists in assessing environmental risks. These assessments are used to support HSE regulatory decisions. 

The Ecotoxicology Team is made up of a team of 21 scientists who are responsible for evaluating data submitted on the toxicity of pesticides, biocides or other chemicals to a wide range of non-target organisms such as birds, mammals, aquatic organisms, bees, non-target arthropods, earthworms and soil macro and micro-organisms as well as non-target terrestrial plants. In addition, data on exposure are also evaluated and these data, along with the toxicity data are used in carrying out the associated regulatory risk assessment.

For further details on these roles, please refer to the candidate pack, which can be found as a link towards the end of this advert. 

Please note we will match successful candidates to roles according to your qualifications and background/experience. Depending on business needs, we may also have other regulatory scientist roles that we will consider you for. It is also expected that successful applicants will be flexible to respond to business needs and may need to work across the teams when required.

No laboratory or field work is involved in these roles. There may be opportunities to undertake visits to testing facilities, field trials and external events for training and development.

You will join a structured training programme which will take approximately 18 to 36 months, will introduce you to all the elements of your role, enabling you to gain in-depth knowledge of the regulation of chemicals and develop valuable experience in regulatory science. As you become proficient, you will have the opportunity to apply for through-grading to Band 4.

Key Responsibilities

• To apply your scientific knowledge and skills to prepare written technical evaluations of data to meet internal quality standards.

• To provide scientific and regulatory advice and guidance to colleagues, applicants, stakeholders and members of the public.

• To analyse and interpret scientific information against relevant regulations, guidance and models in order to make robust regulatory decisions.

• Understanding and applying the relevant regulations, guidance and models. 

• Presenting your summaries, decisions and conclusions to a variety of internal and external stakeholders e.g. expert groups and other Government Departments.  

• To communicate scientific and regulatory information effectively.

• Working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams.

This is not an exhaustive list and there may be other tasks/responsibilities that will be required as part of these roles.

 
HSE has now adopted hybrid working which will allow us all to work both in the office and at home and we will provide you with the necessary equipment to support you when working from home. However, please note that these posts are an office-based role, and they are not a remote location based or home worker post; as such, successful candidates will need to be in a position to attend the office from appointment date onwards and will be required to attend the office regularly and potentially at short notice. Successful candidates will also be expected to undertake some face-to-face training upon joining HSE and this will be office based.

Please note - we have specified that part-time positions are available however the minimum number of hours per week is 30. 

For further information about the team you will be joining, please see our attached candidate pack. 

Person specification

• Drive, determination and good planning skills which enable you to deliver at pace and to target.

• Ability to communicate, enabling you to collaborate effectively and engage with others.

• Ability to work flexibly and as part of a team.

• Sound analytical skills with the ability to write/present effective technical information in a clear, concise and timely way.

• Initiative and decisiveness, supporting your ability to make effective decisions, while being open to challenge and involving others.

• Commitment to learning and development, including on the job learning.

• IT skills, including experience in using Microsoft Office.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,316, Health and Safety Executive contributes £7,375 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

We will recruit in three stages:

Application and online tests

Upon submission of your short application form you will be invited to complete a Numerical Reasoning test followed by a Verbal Reasoning test.

You will need to pass the Numerical Reasoning test to progress further.  If you successfully pass both tests you will then be invited to complete and submit your full application form.

As the closing date for receipt of applications is 12:00 on Monday 18th March 2024 you should ensure you allow enough time to complete all stages of the application process and we would therefore advise that you complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online test and full application form before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the tests will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.  Please note, these tests are not timed.

As part of your application form you will be asked to complete 250 words against each of the following technical questions:

• How you have used your scientific knowledge and skills to evaluate a range of data and;
• How you have demonstrated clear oral and written communication of scientific information and presented clear conclusions and decisions.

In addition to your technical question responses, you will also submit a CV and personal statement (750 words) in which you should provide additional evidence to explain how your experience meets the person specification.

Useful Information:

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Within your application form you will be asked to confirm your preference on your preferred location. 

Sift

The sift will take place from the WC 18th March 2024 where we will assess your technical skills, CV and personal statement. Please note your CV will be used for information purposes only and not scored. 

Assessment/Interview stage

Interviews are expected to take place during the w/c 8th and 15th April 2024 (please note these dates may be subject to change).

You will be invited to an interview where you will be assessed against Strengths, the Behaviours as outlined in the job advert together with your technical skills and experience for the role. 

Please note that interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Further Information

Please note - A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached document.

Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.

If you have a disability and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; 
Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.