Scientific Laboratory Technician (Band 6/AO)

Buxton, Derbyshire, SK179JN

Job Summary
At HSE, we work with one goal in mind – to help keep Britain’s workforce safe and healthy. Our work touches virtually every sector of Great Britain’s industries. Combining specialists from numerous fields, we strive to keep people and their working environments safe.

We don’t just inspect workplaces and investigate incidents, we campaign for better Health & Safety practice, we craft 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 an enthusiastic and motivated individual, with an interest in science to join the Health – Exposure & Control Group (H-EC Group), at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Science Division.

Specifically, the role will be to provide scientific support to the HSE Asbestos Proficiency Testing Schemes (PT) undertaken within the Fibres and Minerals Team, within the H-EC Group.

This exciting opportunity is a full time position and will be based in the Science Division of the HSE at our research laboratory in Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9JN.

Job Description
You will provide essential daily scientific support duties in the Fibres and Minerals Team, specifically but not limited to the Proficiency Testing Schemes (PT).

The PT scheme is a service on offer from HSE. The PT scheme is a quality assurance tool used to assess the performance and accuracy of laboratories, organisations, or individuals conducting specific tests or measurements. It involves the participation of laboratories in a program where they are provided with samples or test materials to analyse, without knowing the correct results beforehand.

Your role will be to provide routine laboratory support within a small team in the delivery of the asbestos PT scheme offered by HSE. This will predominantly involve the production of samples for five international PT schemes and other HSE delivery.

You will be trained and work towards obtaining qualifications in British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) Identification of Asbestos in Bulk Samples P401 and P403 Air sampling and Fibre Counting, or equivalent. This will enable you to support analysis and fibre counting work within the Fibres and Minerals Team.

You will be working in a controlled and safe laboratory environment with asbestos and other potentially hazardous materials e.g. crystalline silica on a daily basis. You will be required to assist in packing and despatch of the scheme samples and quality control samples, as required. Upon successful training the role may include site visits.

As you develop in the role you may be required to work in a laboratory environment for prolonged periods at a microscope. There may be periods of lone working in both the laboratory and office.

For this role, you will

• Be required to work towards obtaining qualifications in British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) Identification of Asbestos in Bulk Samples P401 and P403 Air sampling and Fibre Counting, or equivalent. Full training will be supported and fully funded by HSE. These qualifications are a level 4 qualification in the BOHS qualifications framework, equivalent to NVQ Level 4 (HNC). You will be required to travel for training and examinations.
• Demonstrate discipline in adhering to safety, quality and operational procedures.
• Apply strong attention to detail to ensure accurate and error-free results.
• Be self-motivated and strive for quality outcomes, whilst ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality.
• Have periods of lone working both in an office and laboratory environment.
• Be handling asbestos and potentially other hazardous materials (e.g. crystalline silica) on a daily basis, in a controlled and safe laboratory working environments.
• Be required to travel for site visits, meetings and/or training, which may include overnight stays.
• Proactively contribute to the work of the whole team and be open to taking on new and different roles and responsibilities.
• Be required to have routine health surveillance and vaccinations, dependent on tasks associated with role.

The H-EC Group has a diverse range of technical disciplines requiring flexible and collaborative working; you will be expected to assist colleagues not only across the H-EC Group but also across HSE as part of their programmes of work.

Person specification
Essential Skills And Criteria
You will have

• The ability to follow and adhere to safety, quality and operational procedures.
• The ability to demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good organisational skills with the ability to work efficiently, manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Experience of using software packages, including Office 365, Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Adaptability to change, the ability and willingness to learn.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Delivering at Pace

Alongside your salary of £26,455, Health and Safety Executive contributes £7,664 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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
• 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
• 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.

Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application Information
You Will Be Invited To Submit

• A Personal Statement of up 750 words. Within your statement, please demonstrate the required essential skills listed in this advert using specific examples of things that you have done that demonstrate these essential skills, thinking about the role you are applying for.
• An example of up to 250 words on the behaviour Delivering at pace. This example should provide us with an understanding of the actions and activities that you have done (or would do) that demonstrates the Civil Service behaviour Delivering at Pace.

Details about the Success Profiles, along with the definitions of behaviours and examples of the behaviours expected at an Administrative Assistant (AA), Administrative Officer (AO) / Band 6 grade or equivalent can be found here.
Application Guidance
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/
Sift Information
At Sift, you will be assessed on your personal statement and the behaviour Delivering at Pace.

The sift will take place on the week commencing 28th April 2025.
Interview Information
At Interview, you will be assessed on the Behaviours listed in the advert and Strength based questions.
Interviews will take place in person at HSE Buxton, SK17 9JN during week commencing 12 May 2025. Please note dates may be subject to change.
AI Tools & Platforms
During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and Tools to support them in writing their Behaviours, CVs and Personal Statements. However, all information submitted must be factually accurate. This includes presenting the ideas and experience of others, or those generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.
Sponsorship
This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.
Further Information
Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.