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 c