Senior Toxicologist

Job summary

The Radiation, Chemical, Climate and Environmental Hazards Directorate (RCCE) provides evidence and advice to protect health from these hazards. To support evidence-anchored advice for Health Security, RCCE undertakes research work with various university partners and other organisations including within Health Protection Research Units (HPRUs) supported by the National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR).

The Toxicology Department provides public health advice to other parts of UKHSA, the Department of Health and Social Care, Government, Local Authorities and other stakeholders on the risks to health from chemicals, particles and bioaerosols. The Department undertakes research that underpins chemical regulation, policy development and public health protection from environmental hazards.

This post is in the General Toxicology and Biomonitoring Programme in the Toxicology Department. This group provides public health advice to colleagues within UKHSA, Government, and to the public, on the health effects of chemicals in water, soil and air including from industrial processes. We also advise on the public health aspects of the approval and use of pesticides, veterinary medicines, cosmetics and consumer products. The Group provides the Secretariat, jointly with the Food Standards Agency, for three Government expert advisory committees, and has an active biomonitoring research programme.

Job description

The main duties and responsibilities of the post are:

• To critically assess toxicity data on chemicals especially following inhalation exposure to support UKHSAs input to the derivation of Environmental Assessment Levels
• To provide advice on the health effects and risk assessments of chemicals in air, including from industrial processes, drinking water and land, and communicate this advice in a manner appropriate to the recipient
• To provide advice on the public health impacts of chemical regulation in collaboration with UK Government departments
• To provide advice on the use of human biomonitoring in public health protection
• To contribute to the development of the scientific content for the UKHSA Compendium of Chemical Hazards and a public-facing website to provide information in the potential health risks from chemicals.
• To contribute to the General Toxicology and Biomonitoring Programme’s advice to Government Departments and Agencies on contamination of land and water, and from waste processes

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The job entails working within the General Toxicology and Biomonitoring programme to provide advice on the health effects of chemicals in air including from industrial processes, drinking water and land. The team works closely with the regional RCCE chemicals teams in England and Wales, providing advice and support during contamination incidents involving chemicals, and in response to Environmental Permit application consultations from the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. The post holder will get the opportunity to input in various aspects of the groups work and provide toxicological advice as necessary to support the work of UKHSA.

They will also be required to have toxicological experience in chemical risk assessment, national chemicals regulation or human biomonitoring, to develop advice in these areas as necessary to support the work of UKHSA.

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day‑to‑day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Masters qualification (or equivalent) relevant to the field of toxicology and/or equivalent experience of working at a similar level in a relevant toxicology area
• Knowledge and practical experience of chemical risk assessment, or regulatory toxicology, or exposure science and human biomonitoring
• Ability to critically assess literature data and other information relevant to assessing the toxicity of chemicals.
• Good scientific report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences.
• Ability to establish good working relationships
• Ability to meet deadlines, and plan work over short, medium and long-term timeframes

Desirable Criteria:

• Inclusion in UK Register of Toxicologists
• Experience in public health
• Experience in industry
• Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
• Able to handle difficult situations
• Able to deal with media enquiries

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,148, UK Health Security Agency contributes £12,789 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
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

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 will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift
Competency Based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 6 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications, we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Masters qualification (or equivalent) relevant to the field of toxicology and/or equivalent experience of working at a similar level in a relevant toxicology area
• Knowledge and practical experience of chemical risk assessment, or regulatory toxicology, or exposure science and human biomonitoring
• Ability to critically assess literature data and other information relevant to assessing the toxicity of chemicals.
• Good scientific report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

Stage 2: Interview
Competency Based

You will be invited to a single face to face interview Chilton (Didcot).

In exceptional circumstances we may offer virtual interviews

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview .

You will be asked to prepare and present a 10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be what you would bring to this role, your skills and potential training needs. You will also be expected to complete a short written exercise on the day of your interview to test your scientific writing.

Interview dates to be confirmed.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton (Didcot). We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month)working at our office.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our site in Chilton (Didcot). You will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Eligibility Criteria

External : Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see:

Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Civil Service - Senior Executive Officer.

£44,148 - £50,121 (Outer London)

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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.

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

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Nigel Poole
• Email : Nigel.Poole@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the
basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's
Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment
Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should
contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can
contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for
further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/