Website Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Summary
Analytical Chemistry Team CBAAC (2 posts) – Career Level 2/3
Successful candidates will be part of a highly skilled and motivated team, providing critical support to scientists, working collaboratively to grow and mature the capability. As a laboratory technician they will support the day-to-day operations of the various laboratories across the Analytical Chemistry Facility by performing routine technical tasks using tried and tested tools and techniques and providing direct support to experimental work. They will receive appropriate training to work safely and securely in our laboratories, within an ISO 17025 quality system.
Implementation Team MAS (1 post) – Career Level 2
The microbiology laboratory technician will support both practical laboratory scientific research and safe systems of laboratory working within our world class high-containment laboratories. The successful applicant will be passionate about a career in the microbiological sciences, somebody who has excellent interpersonal skills and who works well in a fast-paced goal-oriented driven team. Comprehensive safety induction and training will be provided.
Job description
Analytical Chemistry Team
• Adhere to working within ISO 17025 laboratories, ensuring clear audit trails are maintained
• Ensure specific activities related to ISO 17025 accreditation are completed daily e.g. recording fridge temperatures and balance calibrations and ensuring information is recorded accurately
• Carry out general housekeeping of the various laboratories occupied by Analytical Chemistry and work of a series of self-contained tasks
• Use and maintain a variety of general laboratory equipment
• Ensure chemicals and consumable stock levels are maintained through regular audits and replenishing stock through use of Dstl’s standard and non-standard procurement processes
• Maintain chemical inventories for all laboratory and track and update the information using the electronic chemicals repository
• Facilitate disposal of laboratory and general waste to ensure safe and timely disposal
• Provide technical support to the Analytical Chemistry Facility and projects through preparation of customer swab kits, preparatory and maintenance of sorbent sampling tubes for customers and updating their status on an in-house database
• There may be potential to train and develop skills in sample preparation activities, analytical instrument maintenance and sample analysis
Implementation Team (MAS)
In this diverse and interesting role the successful applicant will have responsibilities including: the provision of technical support to our world-class scientists, general housekeeping, management of laboratory waste streams, stock control and inventory management. As an integral part of the team you will work alongside our Workplace Managers to help ensure the safe operation of our containment facilities. Full training for the role will be provided alongside the option of further study for an industry recognised qualification (i.e. NEBOSH General Certificate).
Job Dimensions
The Analytical Chemistry (AC) Team currently consists of approximately 30 staff managed by 2 Team Leaders. The expertise within the team includes Lab Assistants, Lab Technicians, Analytical Chemists, Senior Analytical Chemists, Principal Analytical Chemists and a Technical Leadership team. You will be part of the AC Team working within CBR Division’s Chemical and Biological Analysis and Attribution Capability, where you will interact with scientists of mixed disciplines.
The Implementation Team currently consists of 12 staff who are responsible for the safe operation of approximately 45 highly specialised laboratories (operating at containment levels 2, 3 and 4) in support of around 100 staff. The team comprises 4 lab technicians and 7 Workplace Managers who report to a Team Leader.
Responsibilities
We are looking for someone who has:
• A desire to learn on the job
• A willingness to get involved in hands on work, maintaining high standards of safety and
quality
• Delivers to a high standard and takes pride in their work
• Ability to work flexibly, independently and as part of a team
• Desire to develop their personal and professional skills through training and mentorship
Technical Skills
Qualifications
Analytical Chemistry Team
Essential
• GCSE (or equivalent) in English, Mathematics and Science
Desirable
• A-Level (or equivalent) in Chemistry
Implementation Team
Essential
• GCSE (or equivalent) in English, Mathematics and Science
• A-Level (or equivalent) in Biology
Desirable
• NEBOSH – General certificate
Skills
Essential
• Proven record as a good team player
• Effective time management
• Proactive and takes ownership for delivery
• Flexible approach and ability to deliver at pace
• Computer literacy skills
Desirable
• Proficient in the use of MS Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint)
Experience
Essential
• Experience of working in a team
Desirable
• Experience of working in chemistry laboratories or microbiological containment facilities (as appropriate to role)
• Experience of working within a quality system
Important Information
This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.
Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be British Citizens who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to understand the work you will undertake to protect us from any security threats. For this reason, we regret that only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners across the enterprise. We work closely with the Defence and Security Industry on many projects, so it would be great to work with you via one of our partners.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- State which role you are interested in.
- This role will require good communication and organisation skills and the ability to effectively prioritise tasks. Please give two examples of when you had to demonstrate these skills.
- Please detail what interests you in the role and how you believe you meet the knowledge, skills and experience requirements.
- Teamwork is fundamental in the work we do. Please give examples (no more than three) of where you have worked within a team. You should give examples of the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
Reference number: 129321