Senior Scientist - Asbestos & Exposure Measurement (Band 3/SEO)

Job summary

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Great Britain’s independent regulator for work‑related health, safety and welfare. We work to prevent death, injury and ill health in workplaces by setting standards, conducting inspections and investigations, carrying out world‑class research, and providing evidence‑based guidance for industry. Our scientific teams play a key role in shaping national policy, supporting regulatory activity, and improving workplace health outcomes.

We are seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Senior Scientist with expertise in asbestos to join the Fibres & Minerals Team, within HSE Science & Research Centre at Buxton, Derbyshire.

In this role, you will contribute to the scientific work that underpins HSE’s regulatory, forensic and investigative functions in relation to asbestos and other hazardous fibres, dusts and minerals.

Your expertise will support essential HSE research that informs the implementation and evidence base for the Control of Asbestos Regulations, and you will be in a position to influence HSE’s technical guidance and policy decisions.

You will help develop new approaches and capabilities to address emerging workplace health risks and support wider activities across HSE and with external partners.

This role requires flexibility and the ability to plan, prioritise and manage your workload independently, whilst collaborating with colleagues across the team and wider Group to ensure high-quality scientific outputs.

Regular travel with overnight stays will be required for site visits and meetings. You will also have opportunities to develop your expertise through conferences, professional memberships, and by contributing to reports, publications and presentations. Practical site experience of asbestos surveys, duty‑to‑manage activities and clearance testing is essential.

The HEC Group comprises a wide range of technical disciplines and collaborative working is essential. You will work closely with colleagues across the Group and with teams throughout HSE to support a diverse programme of scientific work.

Job description

As a Senior Scientist, you will lead and deliver site and laboratory-based research, to support the implementation of, and evidence base for HSE’s Control of Asbestos Regulations.

You will ensure high scientific standards and the reliable generation, interpretation and communication of research data. You will also gather evidence and contribute to HSE asbestos incident investigations, providing innovative scientific support to regulators, prosecutions, industry and HSE research projects, with the aim to prevent death, injury and ill-health arising from work activities.

You will confidently lead HSE regulatory, forensic and investigative projects requiring asbestos expertise, working collaboratively with colleagues across the Exposure Measurement Team, the wider Health – Exposure & Control (HEC) Group and teams cross HSE.

The role includes providing high-quality scientific advice to regulatory, policy and operational colleagues on workplace exposure measurement and interpretation. You will also support commercial and externally funded projects by applying your technical knowledge to ensure that work is delivered to customer requirements and quality standards.

You will produce high-quality scientific outputs, including reports, publications, presentations and contributions to conferences. You will play an active role in sharing knowledge, mentoring colleagues and supporting the development of technical capability across the team.

The role requires you to plan, manage and prioritise your workload effectively to ensure timely delivery. You will be expected to work in accordance with quality systems, health and safety procedures and HSE’s governance requirements.

This role involves working with asbestos in both controlled laboratory environments and during site-based activities. You will be required to wear close‑fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when carrying out certain tasks and must therefore be able to successfully complete face‑fit testing. You will also be required to undertake relevant health surveillance or medical assessments necessary to meet statutory and organisational requirements for working with asbestos.

You will support the wider Exposure Measurement Team with routine technical services and may provide technical support to other government departments, as required.

Responsibilities

As a Senior Scientist in the field of Fibres & Minerals at HSE, your key responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:

• Working with asbestos in both laboratory and site environments, including the use of close‑fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE), completing face‑fit testing, and undertaking required health surveillance and medical assessments.
• Leading and delivering high-quality site and laboratory-based research and ensuring robust scientific standards in the generation, analysis and interpretation of data.
• Applying asbestos expertise to support workplace exposure assessments, regulatory requirements, incident investigations and enforcement casework.
• Ensuring laboratory procedures, quality standards and governance requirements are current, appropriate and adhered to, including contributing to relevant quality and safety audits.
• Communicating scientific findings clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences, including regulators, policy colleagues, industry stakeholders and scientific peers.
• Collaborating effectively with colleagues across the Exposure Measurement Team, the wider HEC Group and other HSE groups to deliver priority research and analytical work.
• Supporting routine analytical services and, where appropriate, providing scientific advice to other government departments.
• Training to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person for asbestos related site activities.
• Undertaking regular travel to support site work, meetings and training requirements.

Person specification

Essential Skills & Criteria:

• Experience of leading and delivering site and laboratory based scientific work, to investigate workplace exposures or support regulatory, forensic or investigative work, including the generation, validation and interpretation of analytical or research data.
• Ability to design, plan and manage scientific projects, including preparing proposals or business cases and delivering work to agreed time, quality and customer requirements.
• Experience of communicating scientific information through reports, publications, presentations or other methods to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, follow documented procedures, maintain scientific and quality standards, undertake continuing professional development.

This role is based at HSE’s Science and Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire. Because the work involves significant site‑based activities, including practical asbestos analysis and site‑based preparation, you will be required to work on site for at least 60% of your time initially, although this may reduce in the future. Remote working may be possible for some tasks, but the role cannot be carried out predominantly from home.

This position is full‑time only.

Licences

A full UK driving licence is required for this role, as you will be expected to travel to sites and transport equipment and samples as part of your duties. Adjustments will be considered for applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability but can meet the travel requirements of the role by other suitable means.

Qualifications

You must hold:
A degree in a suitable science subject such as chemistry, materials science, environmental science, geology, forensic science or a related discipline.

And

The BOHS Certificate of Competence in Asbestos or equivalent.

You must be willing to undertake, the training required to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person (NAP) for asbestos‑related site activities. This involves training in asbestos enclosure entry, exit and decontamination.

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:

• Government Science and Engineering Career Framework – Technical Oversight and Management – Overseeing Technical Work - Conducting and managing asbestos site work.
• Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - Building and Applying Knowledge - Applying Knowledge - Adapting to challenging site situations.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,686, Health and Safety Executive contributes £13,814 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
• 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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Application Information

As part of your application, you will be invited to complete an anonymised CV which should include your career history, experience, and qualifications. Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the Essential Skills and Criteria as listed within the advert.

You will also be asked to complete an anonymised Personal Statement, of no more than 1000 words which demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria of the job advert. Use specific examples from your own experience to show your technical expertise and the impact of your work, particularly your experience and skills in the field of asbestos.

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

The Sift will take place from w/c 6 April 2026, when you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place in person at our Buxton site on Wednesday 22 April and/or Thursday 23 April 2026. You will be assessed against the Behaviours, Technical skills and Experience detailed in the job advert.

Please see link to the Government Science and Engineering Career Framework for further information on the Technical skills.

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.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk .

Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK

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 HSE Terms and Conditions document.

Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual Civil Service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, 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

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.

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. Determine your eligibility here.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Laurie Davies
• Email : laurie.davies@hse.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HR.RESOURCINGTEAM@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:
HR 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/civilservicecode…

Attachments

HSE Terms and Conditions - CSJ Advert Annex Opens in new window (pdf, 116kB)