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

Job summary

Are you an experienced asbestos professional looking to apply your expertise in a role that directly influences national policy, guidance and regulation?

HSE is seeking a Senior Scientist to deliver asbestos-related site investigations, research and regulatory support activities across Great Britain.

Working within the Fibres & Minerals Team at HSE's Science and Research Centre in Buxton, you will use your asbestos knowledge and practical site experience to support the evidence base underpinning the Control of Asbestos Regulations and help improve the management of asbestos risks in workplaces across Great Britain.

We are particularly interested in candidates with practical experience of asbestos surveys, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing. You will apply this expertise to a portfolio of scientific, regulatory and investigative work, including site investigations, workplace exposure assessments, incident investigations and research projects.

You will work collaboratively with scientific, operational and policy colleagues across HSE, providing technical expertise and contributing to the development of guidance, research outputs and evidence-based decision making. The role offers the opportunity to work on nationally significant projects that directly support HSE's mission to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health.

Travel

For the foreseeable future, a significant proportion of the role will involve working at external sites across Great Britain to support site activities, project delivery and training requirements. Regular travel, including overnight stays, will therefore be required. Hybrid working arrangements are available where business needs allow; however, the role cannot be carried out predominantly from home and regular attendance at external sites and HSE's Science and Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN will be required.

This role offers opportunities to attend meetings and conferences within the UK and internationally, supporting professional development and networking.

This is a unique opportunity to combine practical asbestos expertise with scientific, regulatory and investigative work, helping to shape guidance, policy and interventions that improve workplace health across Great Britain.

Working Pattern

Part time hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Job description

As a Senior Scientist, you will apply your asbestos expertise to support HSE's regulatory, forensic, incident investigations and research activities. Working across a programme of site and laboratory-based work, you will contribute to the evidence base underpinning the Control of Asbestos Regulations and help improve the management of asbestos risks in workplaces across Great Britain.

You will deliver asbestos related regulatory, forensic and investigative projects requiring asbestos expertise, ensuring high scientific standards in the generation, interpretation and communication of technical evidence. You will provide expert advice to regulatory, operational and policy colleagues, supporting evidence-based decision making and contributing to the development of technical guidance and policy.

For the foreseeable future, a significant proportion of the role will involve external site-based project delivery activities across Great Britain. As such, practical experience of asbestos surveys, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing are essential to for the role.

You will produce high-quality scientific outputs, including reports, publications, presentations and contributions to conferences and, 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, 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.

Key Responsibilities

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

• Applying asbestos knowledge to support workplace exposure assessments, regulatory requirements, incident investigations and enforcement work.
• Delivering asbestos-related site and laboratory based research, including incident investigations and sampling activities.
• 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.
• Generating, analysing and interpreting technical and scientific data to support regulatory, forensic and investigative activities.
• Communicating scientific findings and technical advice to regulatory, policy, operational and external stakeholders.
• Collaborating with colleagues across HSE to deliver high-quality research, investigative and technical work.
• Ensuring compliance with quality systems, governance requirements, laboratory procedures and health and safety standards.
• Training to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person for asbestos related site activities.

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

Person specification

Essential Skills and criteria

• Demonstrate practical site experience of asbestos surveys, duty‑to‑manage activities and clearance testing and/or asbestos management activities
• Demonstrate practical experience of delivering site and/or laboratory based work to investigate workplace exposures or support regulatory, forensic or investigative activities, including the generation, validation and interpretation of analytical or research data
• Experience of applying technical or scientific knowledge to support workplace investigations, regulatory activities, incident investigations or evidence-based decision making
• Experience of communicating technical and/or scientific information through reports, publications, presentations or other methods to technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver work independently whilst managing competing demands
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, follow documented procedures, maintain scientific and quality standards, undertake continuing professional development. You must also be willing to undertake the training required to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person (NAP) for asbestos-related site activities. This includes training in asbestos enclosure entry, exit and decontamination.

Licences

A full UK driving licence at the time of applying, is required for this role, as you will be expected to travel to sites and transport equipment and samples as part of your duties.

Qualifications

1. The BOHS Certificate of Competence in Asbestos or a combination of recognised asbestos qualifications and professional experience that demonstrates equivalent competence in asbestos surveying, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing.

2. A degree in a suitable scientific discipline, such as chemistry, materials science, environmental science, geology, forensic science, or a related subject.

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:

• Conducting and managing asbestos site work: Applying asbestos knowledge to assess, investigate and manage workplace asbestos risks in a range of site environments.
• Adapting to challenging site situations: Planning and delivering asbestos-related site work safely and effectively, including adapting to changing site conditions whilst maintaining scientific and quality standards.

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 (opens in a new window).

• 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
• 185 hours annual holiday increasing to 222 hours after 5 years' qualifying service, plus public holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave (recorded as 7.4 hours) in addition to your annual leave balance)
• 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 How to Apply

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

Sift Information

The Sift will take place from week commencing 5th October 2026 when you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place in person at our Buxton office during week commencing 19th October 2026 when you will be assessed against the Behaviours and Technical skills detailed in the job advert and, your experience.

As part of the interview, you will be asked to prepare and deliver a short presentation. Further details of this will be sent to candidates invited to interview.

Please note that due to panel availability the Sift and Interview dates may be subject to change.

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 basic (or equivalent) 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.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:
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)