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Job summary

Are you a chemist looking for an opportunity to develop your analytical skills in a new and challenging role? Would you enjoy working in a unique environment providing analysis and support to the Royal Navy and armed forces worldwide? This post offers that opportunity.

The Institute of Naval Medicine is the Royal Navy's centre of excellence for occupational health advice, information, training and research. Working in the Environmental and Industrial Hazards Laboratory you will join a team of scientific specialists providing high quality scientific analysis and advice to the Royal Navy and other UK armed services.

We are seeking a Scientific Officer in the Environmental & Industrial Hazards Support Group, primarily based in a laboratory environment, with the occasional requirement to deploy in support of military operations in the land, maritime and air domains, including embarkation on HM Submarines as a member of the Environmental and Industrial Hazards submarine sea-trials and hazardous materials response teams.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The role is approximately 90% laboratory-based; the remaining time involves field deployment, where you will apply your expertise in real-world operational settings.

The primary role of the chemistry laboratory is the analysis of potable water samples and other environmental samples for the protection and ongoing health monitoring of the armed services. The successful candidate will be responsible for the routine preparation & analysis of samples, Quality Control and data processing of results and issue of reports. Other duties include equipment maintenance and investigation, general laboratory upkeep, follow-up of non-conforming work and other actions resulting from the Quality System. As an accredited laboratory we conduct internal audits, and you will also be expected to join this team and contribute to this crucial task which is key to maintaining the quality of the laboratory’s output.

The secondary element of the role is membership of the hazardous materials response, and submarine trials teams. In these teams you will work alongside military and civilian personnel ashore and at sea, including deploying on submarines, to conduct surveys, audits, investigations, and training. These roles require travel within the UK and overseas.

This is a multifaceted, exciting, and rewarding analytical chemistry role that has genuine impact for UK Defence. It is an excellent opportunity to learn from a team of highly experienced and enthusiastic analysts and would appeal to anybody wanting to develop and apply their skills in both a routine laboratory and field setting. Recent laboratory experience is desirable, however full training will be provided in all aspects of the role.

Operational deployments may involve work on Royal Navy platforms, including submarines, and in constrained or austere environments. Candidates must be willing and able to travel and deploy as required. This role would suit individuals who are motivated to see their work applied operationally, can adapt to dynamic environments, and are comfortable working alongside military teams.

Due to the nature of the role, candidates must be eligible for Security Clearance and meet the requirements for deployment and embarkation at sea.

Duties and Responsibilities

While the primary role is laboratory based, the successful applicant may be required to undertake further training to deliver field work in the UK and overseas, on land, air and maritime operations (including submarines) upon completion of training for the primary role.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working within an ISO 17025 accredited environment to carry out chemical analysis to a high standard in accordance with the laboratory Quality System

• Undertaking analysis of water and other samples using documented analytical methods and ensuring that all work is carried out to the requirements of the Quality System including successful participation in external quality assurance schemes

• Assisting in the maintenance of the laboratory Quality System, including method development and validation, monitoring and continuous improvement of processes, internal auditing, and management of non-conforming work

• Ensuring that stocks of necessary materials are maintained

• Maintaining and developing technical expertise in all aspects of the chemistry laboratory’s work including a working knowledge of relevant legislation and military policy

• Delivering training to service personnel, especially in sampling techniques and potable water topics

• Other laboratory tasks as required such as sample receipt, sample kit preparation and laboratory housekeeping

• Delivery of the Submarine Atmosphere Trials Technician (SATT) role, encompassing:

• • Undertaking submarine trials (Atmosphere Control Acceptance Tests and Submarine Atmosphere Investigations).
  • Undertaking Atmosphere Control Equipment Audits (ACE)
  • Delivery of training to Royal Navy personnel on submarine courses

• Deliver the role of Helicopter Environmental Protection Officer (HEPO), as part of an on-call duty commitment, to respond to incidents involving hazardous materials, associated exercises, and training delivery

Once competence is achieved, delivery of the SATT and HEPO roles may attract additional allowances.

Person specification

The successful candidate will be focused and dedicated to producing a high quality of work. You must be able to work independently with minimum supervision, making decisions regarding your own work and priorities, and be a considerate team worker, offering or providing help to other team members when required. While the primary role is laboratory based, the successful applicant may be required to undertake further training to deliver field work in the UK and overseas, on land, air and maritime operations (including submarines) upon completion of training for the primary role. This role requires the capability to traverse perform traversing activities such as climbing steep ladders and accessing awkward compartments. A full UK driving licence is essential for the SATT and HEPO roles.

Desirable criteria

• As the post is primarily routine laboratory analysis, 12 months recent laboratory experience is desirable, preferably of an analytical nature

• Experience of organic and inorganic analytical techniques including GC-MS, IC, ICP-MS and ICP-OES.

• Experience of working in an ISO 17025 accredited environment

Qualifications

Degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline.

Licences

A full UK driving Licence (Category B))

Qualifications

Degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline

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:

• Applying scientific and technical knowledge
• Understanding and complying with statutory requirements and standards
• Overseeing the technical work of others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 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).Furthermore, we offer a range of excellent benefits including but not limited to the following:

• Leave entitlement - 25-day annual leave allowance per year increasing by 1 day per year (maximum 30 days per year). In addition, 8 statutory Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day per year.
• Professional Development - We are committed to your continued professional and personal development with learning as one of our core values.
• Health and Wellbeing – for a small fee staff can use the exceptional onsite gymnasium facilities.
• We also offer an excellent range of family-friendly benefits, for example, enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year
• pension contribution is 28.97%

The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD 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 at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details using the template provided on the CS jobs dashboard (part two of the application) to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (maximum 500 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the job advert. Review the Person Specification carefully, as your statement will be assessed against these requirements.

Candidates will be called for interview at the Institute of Naval Medicine, dependant upon meeting sift criteria. This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours. The candidates should be aware that the examples provided for the behaviours should ideally be in the "STAR" format (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

You may use any layout—narrative, bullet points, or a mix—and choose whether to address each criterion individually or combine examples. Focus on evidencing what you have done, the skills and experience applied, and why you are suited to the role. Highlight technical and behavioural competencies, relevant achievements, and any life experience or passion that aligns with the position.

At sift, applicants will be sifted against their CV, Personal Statement and following Behaviour:

• Delivering at Pace

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours and Technical Skills:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Technical Skills:

• Applying scientific and technical knowledge
• Understanding and complying with statutory requirements and standards
• Overseeing the technical work of others

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

The successful candidate will be subject to a six-month probation period and will be expected to pass SMERAS training during this time which includes the following:

• Standing for extended periods whilst under instruction
• Entry into water from 1.7m platform and 25m swim in simulated sea states
• Navigating steep stairs and vertical ladders up to 5 metres in length in a moving platform
• Training and working in confined compartments with reduced head clearance
• Exposure to simulated weather and environmental conditions in the training environment, including wind, darkness, thunder, lightning and rain.
• Exposure to strobe lighting during training.

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Candidates will be required to complete an online Numerical and Civil Service Judgement test.

The Civil Service Judgement Test is not bankable and therefore must be taken on every vacancy where it is applied.

Should you be invited to complete the online tests, please allow sufficient time to complete the tests and the remainder of the full application form; only candidates who are successful at the test stage will be invited to complete the remainder of the application by clicking ‘Submit Application’. Your full application must be completed by 23:55 on the closing date of the vacancy. Late submissions cannot be accepted. The tests are not timed, as they work by giving you harder questions if you answer the previous question correctly, and easier if you get it wrong. You should allow up to an hour for each test, and each test must be completed before you will be invited to complete the second part of your application. Internet access will be required for the duration of the test.

Candidates that reach the minimum required pass mark will have their results saved as a banked score against the following tests:

• New Civil Service Verbal Test
• New Civil Service Numerical Test

When a candidate has a banked score, they’re not asked to re-take the same test providing it is set at the same level. Scores will be banked for a 6-month period from the date of test completion. If a candidate is invited to take the same test against multiple vacancies, the banked score will be recognised against all vacancies, and all active applications will progress.

CSJT scores cannot be banked as each test is generated from the behaviours required for a specific role which will vary between recruitment campaigns.

If you require any particular arrangements (for example due to a disability or health problem) to be made in order for you to complete the online test you MUST contact the DBS Enquiry Centre on 0800 345 7772 BEFORE accessing the online test. Opening times Mon -Friday 0800- 1600 hrs.

CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Please read this document prior to completing your application.

Please note: internal candidates must include their staff number when prompted during the application process.

Should you have any queries relating to the vacancy information or sift and interview process, please contact the recruiting line manager using the contact details listed on the vacancy. Please do not direct vacancy related queries to the recruitment team as they will be unable to advise.

FURTHER INFORMATION

CV’s

Should the selection process require a CV, you will be prompted to complete the required criteria during the application process. CV’s sent directly to the recruiting line manager will be deleted immediately to maintain anonymity.

Civil Servants (all grades)

Applicants should monitor their Civil Service Jobs application centre regularly for updates.

Some of MoD’s Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS) changed from 3 February 2014. Those TACOS changes applied to Broader Banded and Skill Zone staff who were new recruits to MoD or who were appointed to a post on substantive promotion, progression or advancement. On the same basis, the TACOS for Departmental Retained Grades changed with effect from 01 September 2014.

Applicants should be aware that any move across the Civil Service on or after 5 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

Please see link below to Civil Service Recruitment Principles http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/201…

Please see the MOD Privacy notice which informs how we will use your personal data, explains your rights and gives you information you are entitled to under Data Protection legislation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-privacy-…

Non Civil Servants

All employees joining MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period effective from the employment start date.

COMPLAINTS

Please be aware that the selection and interviewing of applicants is the responsibility of the Recruiting Line Manager (RLM) and not the Defence Business Services (DBS) Resourcing team. DBS does not play any part in the selection and interview process itself.

Therefore, if you wish to discuss your feedback, or you are dissatisfied with your markings, you should in the first instance raise this with the Recruiting Line Manager of the vacancy.

If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint. by writing to DBS at the following address:

Defence Business Services

Scanning Hub

Room 6124

Tomlinson House

Norcross Lane

Blackpool

FY5 3WP

FOR EXTERNAL VACANCIES If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address:

Civil Service commission

Room G/8

1 Horse Guards Road

London

SW1A 2HQ

Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk

Cabinet Office Fraud Checks

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 whose details are found to be held on the IFD will be refused employment

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Samuel Batchelor-Lea
• Email : samuel.lea103@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

Navy Candidate Attraction Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 7954kB)Defence Internal Brief Notice (2) Opens in new window (docx, 39kB)Science_and_Engineering_Professional_Framework Opens in new window (pdf, 118kB)Navy Candidate Information Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 1513kB)