Health & Safety Advisor – General Safety Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBR) Division
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 26th May 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
As a Health & Safety Advisor (General Safety), you will work closely with staff across Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBR) Division to provide assurance that work is conducted safely and securely, and in accordance with Dstl safety policies and regulatory requirements.
You will be part of CBRs Safety Team working alongside other safety advisors, to ensure a culture of continuous safety improvement which is key to the delivery of science & technology projects as well as in the infrastructure and workplaces in which our staff operate.
Commitment
Dstl’s Executive leadership are fully committed to fostering and leading a strong safety culture that delivers against our vision and enables our vital support to UK Defence and Security. In doing so, we are looking to all our employees to embrace this intent and be a partner for success. If we all make that collective commitment it will allow our thinking and innovation in science and technology to flourish; if done correctly, the management of health, safety and wellbeing will enable the supercharging of Dstl’s scientific and technological prowess.
Our People are Dstl’s greatest asset; your health, safety and welfare are of paramount importance and Dstl’s Safety and Environment Management System is configured to ensure this. Everyone has a responsibility for their health, safety and welfare and that of their colleagues and others who may be affected by our actions. We encourage and empower all our employees so speak up when they have any concerns regarding Health, Safety and Wellbeing so we drive a Safety First approach.
Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.
We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.
Job description
In this role you will:
- Provide practical health & safety advice on a range of matters to staff across the Division and our wider business.
- Support specialist Safety Advisors and other safety professionals in the delivery of compliance in high-hazard areas.
- Support the delivery of an effective programme of audit and assurance specifically identifying safety issues and recommend and monitor delivery of corrective actions.
- Support the Divisions Safety Team in conducting fact finding and Division-led investigations, to identify root causes, emerging safety trends and ensuring that lessons are identified, captured and used to aid learning and prevention of recurrence of safety incidents.
- Support facility and workplace management teams in resolving safety critical faults and defects with regard to the infrastructure in which we work.
- Assist the Divisions Operations & Assurance Leader to provide a level of assurance that all staff within the Division are fulfilling their obligations under health & safety legislation
Important Information
Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.
This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.
Please see full job descriptions attached at the bottom of this page
Person specification
We are looking for someone who has:
- Knowledge of the delivery of practical health & safety advice, building relationships with both technical and non-technical staff to deliver safe and secure outcomes.
- Experience of supporting or conducting routine safety investigations, including root cause analysis to identify resolutions and reduce likelihood of further occurrences of safety incidents.
- The ability to work productively with others, build good relationships and promote inclusivity to ensure that colleagues are brought along on the journey of continuous safety improvement.
- Experience of providing advice on various safe systems of work (SSoW), highlighting areas for improvement and also ensuring that documents are regularly updated following incidents, changes to circumstances or legislation.
- Experience of supporting other safety professionals on workplace visits and safety tours/inspections, ability to record areas for improvement, monitor progress and follow actions through to successful completion.
- Good verbal and written communication and report writing skills.
Please see full job descriptions at the bottom of the page
Qualifications
• Hold or be capable of applying for Technical Membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (or equivalent).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Benefits
Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:
Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Sifting will take place week commencing the 27th May with interviews being held in June
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.
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 : Dstl HR Recruitment Team
- Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk
Further information
