Toxins Chemist

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Toxins Chemist. The purpose of this role is to conduct chemical analyses, data reporting, and associated laboratory support duties on the marine biotoxin statutory monitoring programmes and to help develop the team’s expertise and capacity through participating in associated R&D activities in the area of analytical chemistry for food contaminants, particularly algal biotoxins.

This post will contribute to team delivery of key food safety work that supports public health protection and aquaculture sector sustainability.

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

Welcome to Cefas (youtube.com)

Job description

Your main duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Receipting and preparation of shellfish samples for testing, including shucking, box handling and dispatch.
• Extraction and analysis of shellfish for natural marine toxins.
• Shellfish extract clean-up using manual and automated solid phase extraction technologies.
• Daily operation of instrumental chemical detection tools to include quantitative high performance liquid chromatography, with various detectors.
• Major focus on the application of tandem mass spectrometry methods for lipophilic and hydrophilic marine toxins, plus cyanobacterial toxins.
• Assisting in trouble shooting of instrumentation problems, quality control and quality assurance issues.
• Assisting with investigations into performance issues and partaking in analytical research projects as requested.
• Supervision of placement students within the framework of ISO17025.
• All routine laboratory work conducted according to UKAS accredited procedures (ISO17025).
• Adherence to laboratory health, safety, and environment requirements.
• Assistance with general laboratory maintenance activities (accreditation, general housekeeping, calibration of equipment, preparation of reagents) as required
• Support to programme coordinators in data handling, collation and reporting.
• Flexible work, responding to needs of business unit, group and/or team as and when required.

In addition, Cefas reserves the right to ask staff to take on additional duties and responsibilities which are commensurate with their grade. Management will have a discussion with staff to explain the changes that are to be made. A new job description will be issued if required.

Person specification

Person Specification and Essential Criteria section

The following are essential criteria required for this role and you must be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in the following areas:

• Practical and/or theoretical experience with analytical chemistry.
• Experience with the use of chromatography techniques.
• Previous laboratory experience, preferably working in a chemical testing laboratory to strict quality controls.
• Ability to work to written methods and procedures.
• Flexibility, including working flexible hours with some early starts (07:30) and the ability to work well in a team.
• Good timekeeping and IT skills.
• High focus on precision and accuracy.
• Must have the ability to open and process bivalve shellfish.
• Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines.

****** NB As this job will involve the physical opening and processing of bivalve shellfish, it is not suitable for anyone with a shellfish allergy. The successful candidate will be expected to have and maintain up to date tetanus immunisation. Hepatitis A vaccination will be recommended.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

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

• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• •Practical and/or theoretical experience with analytical chemistry.
• •Experience with the use of chromatography techniques.
• •Previous laboratory experience, preferably in a chemical testing laboratory to strict quality controls.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,744, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science contributes £8,616 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).

• Generous annual leave entitlement – Cefas offers 25 days' annual leave on entry (rising to 30 days over first 5yrs) for full-time new entrants to the Civil Service Employees receive 8 public holidays a year, plus an additional day to mark the King's birthday.
• Access to learning and development tailored to your role.
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Eligible to join the Civil Service Pension scheme – more information can be found on the CSP website http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/
• Skills and Personal Effectiveness Allowances (SPEA) to recognise the development of capability and enhanced responsibility that it is possible to build up over time spent working at a particular grade (minimum of two years). These are non-consolidated.
• Biannual Personal Performance Payments (non-consolidated) linked to individual performance.
• Spot Performance Payments (non-consolidated) linked to outstanding work delivered, outstanding results achieved or outstanding contribution.

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you are asked to provide a CV (job history, qualifications, past skills and experience), a maximum 750-word personal statement on how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification and essential criteria section, and a maximum 250-word response to the advertised question below concerning the advertised lead behaviour – Delivering at Pace.

The question for applicants to respond to on their application form is:

How do you balance the need for speed with managing quality?

• For guidance on Civil Service Success Profiles, this video tells you what you’ll need to provide throughout the assessment process with supporting guidance on each step. Link – Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• For guidance on how to construct your CV, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link - CV

• For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Statement

• For guidance on how to construct your lead behaviour statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Behaviours

We would recommend the STAR model to structure your answers. We find this allows you to best demonstrate your skills and experience, we can get to know you and can support you to show your skills and experience to answer questions linked to the advertised success profiles.

What STAR stands for

• Situation - the situation you had to deal with

• Task - the task you were given to do

• Action - the action you took

• Result - what happened as a result of your action and what you learned from the experience

How to use STAR

You can use the STAR method to structure the examples you give to questions. You can use it to highlight particular skills and qualities you have that the employer is looking for.

When using STAR, remember:

• you can use examples from work, home or volunteering

• keep examples short and to the point

• if shortlisted be prepared to answer follow-up questions about the examples you give at the interview stage

Sift

The sift panel will use the information in your CV and personal statement to assess your experience and how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification and essential criteria section. The sift panel will also assess the lead behaviour statement for Delivering at Pace.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour – Delivering at Pace. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview schedule and details will be confirmed on release of the sift results.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the three advertised behaviours, three advertised technical skills, four strengths and experience. It is also important to inform prospective applicants that the interview questions will be provided to all shortlisted candidates in advance of the planned date and time of interview. The only questions that won't be provided are the strengths questions because strengths are defined as things people are good at and that energise us. It is important for shortlisted candidates to provide spontaneous responses that reveal genuine preferences and behaviours, rather than rehearsed examples.

The three advertised behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace - Lead behaviour
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

The three advertised technical skills are:

• Practical and/or theoretical experience with analytical chemistry.
• Experience with the use of chromatography techniques.
• Previous laboratory experience, preferably in a chemical testing laboratory to strict quality controls.

These technical skills will be assessed through questions at interview as well through a pipetting test exercise. Shortlisted applicants will be taken to a laboratory and given a pipette, flask of water, balance and weighing boat and asked to pipette a given volume of water onto the balance three times and record the value each time. This exercise will test shortlisted applicants' familiarity with a pipette, understanding of volumes (microlitre vs millilitre), and precision in pipetting (a key skill for a lab chemist).

Please be aware that interviews will take place in person at the Cefas Weymouth Laboratory.

If scores are equal following interview, an assessment of the lead behaviour – Delivering at Pace will be used by the panel.

A date has not yet been confirmed for the interviews to take place.

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Please be aware that this role will be contractually based at Weymouth. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the laboratory or office locations listed in this advert in order to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business needs.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Please note this vacancy is a lab-based role and therefore there is a requirement for the post holder to be on-site on a daily basis. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

As stated in the job description section of this advert -

This job will involve the physical opening and processing of bivalve shellfish, it is not suitable for anyone with a shellfish allergy. The successful candidate will be expected to have and maintain up to date tetanus immunisation. Hepatitis A vaccination will be recommended.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra and Cefas does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Salary

New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

Feedback

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.

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.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 : Amanda Miles or Alec Wilson
• Email : resourcing@cefas.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

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 Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here