Chemical Analyst
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 5th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
About OPSS
Do you care about the safety of products and want to protect people and places? Can we use your skills, knowledge and experience to enable UK business to thrive? If the answer is yes, then we would like to hear from you!
We are the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department for Business & Trade (Previously the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy). We are here for the purpose of making regulation work to deliver real world impact. Regulation is a powerful Government tool to address market failures, influence behaviour and promote positive action. Crafted and delivered well, regulation can be an enabler of growth, innovation and efficiency.
Since early 2018 we have been building a positive and creative team that enjoys a position of influence and respect within an organisation that continues to grow, most recently with the addition of construction products regulation planned.
Our primary purpose is to protect people and places from product-related harm, ensuring consumers and businesses can buy and sell products with confidence.
Further information can be found on our website here
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. We embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (DCS) for people with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
We are Inclusive
We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible and recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation if required to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Job description
Our Team:
We are a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers delivering testing capability across the whole portfolio of OPSS regulatory requirements. The team works across our testing laboratories which include mechanical, electrical, chemical, flammability, materials and metrology facilities. We seek to implement fit for purpose practices and procedures to deliver robust, scientific outputs. In collaboration with other internal evidence teams including those in science, engineering, research and analysis, our outputs inform the development of policy, and the delivery and enforcement of product regulations across the OPSS remit.
The Role:
We require a Chemical Analyst to manage the day-to-day operation and maintenance of specialist instrumentation, which predominately sits within our chemical and materials test laboratories. You will have a strong focus on analytical method development, sample preparation, delivery of compliance testing, asset management and implementing routine checks, procedures and training to ensure laboratories run efficiently and are maintained to a suitable standard. This is a key post at our newly refurbished Teddington site, working closely with our lab-based teams and reporting directly to the Laboratory Operations Manager.
The role will be based in Teddington and working arrangements will be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role. This is a laboratory-based role that requires a minimum of 80% office attendance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Analysis of samples e.g., cosmetics, toys, packing material, plastics, textiles, using HPLC, GC, FTIR and UV spectroscopy, wet chemistry, GC/LC-MS.
- Interpret and manage analytical data to support decision-making and enforcement action.
- Prepare and manage relevant laboratory risk assessments and standard operating procedures
- Carry out routine maintenance, daily performance checks and periodic calibration of equipment.
- Support general lab operations and delivery, ensuring work aligns with ISO/IEC 17025 standards.
- Develop and maintain a scientific and technical profile by attendance and participation in relevant external networks, meetings and training events.
Person specification
Personal Attributes & Skills
Essential criteria
- A degree in analytical chemistry, chemical analysis, or equivalent chemistry-based qualification with relevant practical experience.
- Experience working within a laboratory facility and competency with method development, sample preparation and data interpretation.
- Good working knowledge of analytical laboratory equipment, particularly HPLC, GC and GC/LC-MS.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with drafting and reviewing technical information for specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities with excellent attention to detail.
- Capacity to build effective networks and relationships across teams.
Desirable criteria
- Experience working in a regulated laboratory environment.
- Professional recognition as a Registered Science Technician, Chartered Scientist or Chartered Chemist.
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:
- Applying Knowledge in Interview: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-science-and-engineering-career-framework
- Technical and Commercial Leadership:
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Technical and Commercial Leadership:
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.
Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.
To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the Essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
- A Personal Statement up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your technical skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the personal attributes & skills criteria.
- A Technical Statement up to 250 words: Technical and Commercial Leadership: Refer to the GSE Career Framework for more information https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-science-and-engineering-career-framework
It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Technical and Commercial Leadership Skill statement.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.
Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Candidate Support
You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.
Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.
Further Information:
- A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
- Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
- The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
- New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
- Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant who has details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
- A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
- Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
- Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
- This role may be considered as a secondment opportunity. Please reach out to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this advert to discuss.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Jas Chahal
- Email : OPSS.Recruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: Resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints