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GOV.UKNoise & Vibration Research Scientist (SD Band 3/SEO)
Health and Safety Executive
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 31st August 2022
Details
Reference number
201921
Salary
£39,334 - £45,865
GBP
Grade
Senior Executive Officer
Band 3
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
HSE - Science Division (SD) - Health Group, Exposure Assessment & Control (EAC)
Type of role
Analytical
Health and Safety
Operational Delivery
Operational Research
Project Delivery
Science
Health and Safety
Operational Delivery
Operational Research
Project Delivery
Science
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
Number of posts
1
Contents
Location
HSE Science Division, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9JN
About the job
Summary
PLEASE NOTE THE CLOSE DATE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 31ST AUGUST 2022 WHICH MEANS A CHANGE TO THE SIFT AND INTERVIEW DATES
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.
At the Health and Safety Executive, we believe everyone has the right to come home safe and well from their job. That’s why our mission is to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health.
We don’t just inspect workplaces and investigate incidents, we campaign for better Health & Safety practice, we develop and review guidance and regulations, we provide specialist products and services both here and overseas, and we produce crucial research and statistics, all towards our goal of helping Great Britain work well.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Physicist or allied scientific discipline with experience and understanding of human exposure to noise and vibration in the workplace to join the Exposure Assessment and Control (EAC) Team at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
EAC is part of HSE Science Divisions’ Health Group whose purpose is to prevent worker ill health caused by exposure to chemical, physical and biological hazards.
This excellent opportunity will be based at our Science & Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire. The Centre is an internationally renowned scientific facility for health and safety, employing scientific, medical and technical specialists in a purpose-built laboratory at our 550-acre site.
More details about the services available at the Science & Research Centre and HSE can be found on our website here: www.hsl.gov.uk
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.
At the Health and Safety Executive, we believe everyone has the right to come home safe and well from their job. That’s why our mission is to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health.
We don’t just inspect workplaces and investigate incidents, we campaign for better Health & Safety practice, we develop and review guidance and regulations, we provide specialist products and services both here and overseas, and we produce crucial research and statistics, all towards our goal of helping Great Britain work well.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Physicist or allied scientific discipline with experience and understanding of human exposure to noise and vibration in the workplace to join the Exposure Assessment and Control (EAC) Team at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
EAC is part of HSE Science Divisions’ Health Group whose purpose is to prevent worker ill health caused by exposure to chemical, physical and biological hazards.
This excellent opportunity will be based at our Science & Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire. The Centre is an internationally renowned scientific facility for health and safety, employing scientific, medical and technical specialists in a purpose-built laboratory at our 550-acre site.
More details about the services available at the Science & Research Centre and HSE can be found on our website here: www.hsl.gov.uk
Job description
You will provide a vision for the future of the science of human exposure to noise and vibration and its control.
You will develop, lead and ultimately ensure delivery of a diverse range of applied research and other work in the field of noise and vibration exposure and control. The portfolio of work that you lead will be designed to meet the challenges of health risk management in workplaces and will be developed in collaboration with others in HSE and also external stakeholders.
EAC is a multidisciplinary team and as well as working to reduce ill health caused by exposure to noise and vibration you will also apply your expertise in the other disciplines of the team which include occupational hygiene, aerosols, respiratory protection and ventilation.
You will lead other members of project teams, including technically developing and managing laboratory and sometimes field based activities and team members.
You will be self-motivated and inspire others to strive for quality outcomes.
You will develop, lead and ultimately ensure delivery of a diverse range of applied research and other work in the field of noise and vibration exposure and control. The portfolio of work that you lead will be designed to meet the challenges of health risk management in workplaces and will be developed in collaboration with others in HSE and also external stakeholders.
EAC is a multidisciplinary team and as well as working to reduce ill health caused by exposure to noise and vibration you will also apply your expertise in the other disciplines of the team which include occupational hygiene, aerosols, respiratory protection and ventilation.
You will lead other members of project teams, including technically developing and managing laboratory and sometimes field based activities and team members.
You will be self-motivated and inspire others to strive for quality outcomes.
Responsibilities
As part of your role you will:
• Develop and lead the delivery of a portfolio of work for HSE and other stakeholders on noise and vibration exposure and control in humans within the wider context of workplace health risk management. This will include working with colleagues/end users from original idea stage through project approval to final delivery of outputs.
• Lead and develop the technical capacity and professional standing of noise and vibration science and keep up to date with developments in the worldwide community. Also, to identify suitable continuous professional development (CPD) and training opportunities.
• Act as project technical lead as appropriate including identifying skills and resource required from other colleagues and working with them and project manager to direct and suitably deploy resource.
• Work with and encourage team colleagues to conduct innovative research and development that is aligned to SD’s business and science strategies.
• Present findings of research to HSE, industry stakeholders and scientific peers in the UK and internationally.
• Travel for site visits and meetings as required, as well as taking the opportunity for attendance at conferences both within and occasionally outside the UK.
• Apply your expertise in other technical areas within the context of health risk management e.g. aerosols, ventilation, RPE if required.
Person Specification:
You will have:
• Significant, relevant and recent practical experience of leading laboratory and workplace based research on noise and vibration exposure in humans, including leading and managing other project team members
• The ability to undertake or contribute to research in other technical areas. Experience in health sciences an advantage.
• Significant experience of developing projects from initial idea to final delivery including for example writing research proposals, obtaining ethics approvals, business cases and/or applications for funding.
• Excellent communication skills, enabling you to manage and collaborate effectively, maintain positive professional working relationships, engage with others and influence at all levels both within HSE and with external collaborators and stakeholders.
• Outstanding organisational and preparedness skills for planning, scheduling and undertaking a varied workload, including the ability to work on multiple projects at any one time, to maximise productivity and ensure delivery to time, cost and quality.
• The ability to work both as part of a multidisciplinary team and autonomously across boundaries of the Science Division and rest of HSE, promoting cross-functional team working and effective communication to identify solutions and ensure work can be delivered.
Desirable past experience / skills:
• Demonstrable experience of delivering work in other scientific disciplines in the context of health risk management, ideally including aerosols and ventilation.
• Data analysis capability including, familiarity with noise and/or vibration data acquisition systems, the ability to write code e.g. Matlab, Visual Basic, Python, R script, and develop and operate databases (e.g. Access).
• Develop and lead the delivery of a portfolio of work for HSE and other stakeholders on noise and vibration exposure and control in humans within the wider context of workplace health risk management. This will include working with colleagues/end users from original idea stage through project approval to final delivery of outputs.
• Lead and develop the technical capacity and professional standing of noise and vibration science and keep up to date with developments in the worldwide community. Also, to identify suitable continuous professional development (CPD) and training opportunities.
• Act as project technical lead as appropriate including identifying skills and resource required from other colleagues and working with them and project manager to direct and suitably deploy resource.
• Work with and encourage team colleagues to conduct innovative research and development that is aligned to SD’s business and science strategies.
• Present findings of research to HSE, industry stakeholders and scientific peers in the UK and internationally.
• Travel for site visits and meetings as required, as well as taking the opportunity for attendance at conferences both within and occasionally outside the UK.
• Apply your expertise in other technical areas within the context of health risk management e.g. aerosols, ventilation, RPE if required.
Person Specification:
You will have:
• Significant, relevant and recent practical experience of leading laboratory and workplace based research on noise and vibration exposure in humans, including leading and managing other project team members
• The ability to undertake or contribute to research in other technical areas. Experience in health sciences an advantage.
• Significant experience of developing projects from initial idea to final delivery including for example writing research proposals, obtaining ethics approvals, business cases and/or applications for funding.
• Excellent communication skills, enabling you to manage and collaborate effectively, maintain positive professional working relationships, engage with others and influence at all levels both within HSE and with external collaborators and stakeholders.
• Outstanding organisational and preparedness skills for planning, scheduling and undertaking a varied workload, including the ability to work on multiple projects at any one time, to maximise productivity and ensure delivery to time, cost and quality.
• The ability to work both as part of a multidisciplinary team and autonomously across boundaries of the Science Division and rest of HSE, promoting cross-functional team working and effective communication to identify solutions and ensure work can be delivered.
Desirable past experience / skills:
• Demonstrable experience of delivering work in other scientific disciplines in the context of health risk management, ideally including aerosols and ventilation.
• Data analysis capability including, familiarity with noise and/or vibration data acquisition systems, the ability to write code e.g. Matlab, Visual Basic, Python, R script, and develop and operate databases (e.g. Access).
Licences
A full driving licence that enables you to drive in the UK is essential. However, HSE is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by another means.
Qualifications
First Degree (BSc/MSc) or equivalent in Physics or allied relevant scientific area.
Memberships
Membership of relevant professional organisations e.g. Chartered institute of ergonomics and human factors
Institute of Physics
Institute of acoustics
Institute of Physics
Institute of acoustics
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Apply scientific/technical knowledge
Benefits
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Free on site parking at HSE Buxton.
• Subsidised on site refreshment facilities.
We invest in our people with;
• Competitive rates of pay.
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 27.1%, far more than in the private sector.
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career.
• 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave.
• Parental leave benefits: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay.
Allowances
This post is eligible for Excess Fares Allowance. A successful internal candidate currently based at another office may be entitled to Excess Fares Allowance in line with HSE policy (http://intranet/finance/expenses/excess-fares-allowance-policy.htm)
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Free on site parking at HSE Buxton.
• Subsidised on site refreshment facilities.
We invest in our people with;
• Competitive rates of pay.
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 27.1%, far more than in the private sector.
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career.
• 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave.
• Parental leave benefits: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay.
Allowances
This post is eligible for Excess Fares Allowance. A successful internal candidate currently based at another office may be entitled to Excess Fares Allowance in line with HSE policy (http://intranet/finance/expenses/excess-fares-allowance-policy.htm)
Things you need to know
Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.See our vetting charter.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Within your application form please complete a CV that concisely outlines your career history, skills experience and qualifications. Please note that your CV will not be assessed and will be used for information purposes only.
You will also be asked to complete a Statement of Suitability of up to 1000 words, which demonstrates how your technical skills, experience and qualifications meet the job description and requirements of the responsibilities, person specification and essential qualifications for the post.
Sift
The sift will take place during the week commencing 5th September where you will be assessed on your Statement of Suitability
Interview
If you are successful at sift you will be invited to attend an in person interview at HSE's Science &Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire..
Interviews are scheduled to take place on Monday, 3rd October 2022. where you will be assessed on the two behaviours together with your technical skills and experience.
Please note that as part of the interview, you will be required to have prepared in advance, and deliver, a 10 minute presentation on scientific work you have delivered in the field of human exposure to noise and /or vibration.
Please be advised that these dates are subject to change.
Useful Guidance
Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Statement of Suitability https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/
Please Note: A reserve list will be held for the period of up to 12 months.
Further Information
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 across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.
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
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
You will also be asked to complete a Statement of Suitability of up to 1000 words, which demonstrates how your technical skills, experience and qualifications meet the job description and requirements of the responsibilities, person specification and essential qualifications for the post.
Sift
The sift will take place during the week commencing 5th September where you will be assessed on your Statement of Suitability
Interview
If you are successful at sift you will be invited to attend an in person interview at HSE's Science &Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire..
Interviews are scheduled to take place on Monday, 3rd October 2022. where you will be assessed on the two behaviours together with your technical skills and experience.
Please note that as part of the interview, you will be required to have prepared in advance, and deliver, a 10 minute presentation on scientific work you have delivered in the field of human exposure to noise and /or vibration.
Please be advised that these dates are subject to change.
Useful Guidance
Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Statement of Suitability https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/
Please Note: A reserve list will be held for the period of up to 12 months.
Further Information
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 across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.
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
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
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.
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Helen Chambers
- Email : helen.chambers@hse.gov.uk
Recruitment team :
- Email : hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk
Further information
If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address: HSE Resourcing Team 2.3 Redgrave Court Merton Road Bootle Merseyside L20 7HS If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecodecomplaints/
