Senior Assistant Scientist Organics Screening - 32486

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY; Leeds; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental agency in Leeds is looking for a Senior Assistant Scientist to support organic analysis and maintain laboratory standards. This permanent role involves conducting screening analysis, improving methodologies, and supporting team development. Ideal candidates should have relevant scientific qualifications, experience in ISO17025 laboratories, and strong communication skills. This position supports flexible working hours, ensuring a balance between work and personal life.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Local Government Pension scheme

Training and support for career development

Qualifications

• Experience working in a quality-managed laboratory environment.
• Ability to balance priorities in a busy work setting.
• Proficiency in LCMS and GCMS techniques.

Responsibilities

• Deliver organic screening analysis adhering to ISO17025 standards.
• Implement improvements to methodologies and assist less experienced colleagues.
• Support incident response efforts when needed.

Skills

Technical knowledge articulation

Organizational skills

Communication skills

LCMS and/or GCMS techniques knowledge

Health and safety understanding

Education

Relevant science degree

Tools

Laboratory management software

Job description

Overview

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Role

Senior Assistant Scientist Organics Screening - 32486

Senior Assistant Scientist Organics Screening - 32486

Details

• Number of jobs available: 1
• Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
• City/Town: Leeds
• Building/Site: DEFRA GRP EA OLYMPIA HOUSE LABORATORY, LS12 6DD
• Grade: Staff Grade 3
• Post Type: Permanent
• Role Type: Science
• Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Part Time Term Time, Compressed Hours, Other
• Salary Minimum: £29,751
• Closing Date: 04/01/2026, 23:55 hours

Job description

We value a diverse workforce. We want to be an organisation that represents modern Britain and the communities we serve. We want everybody to feel included, fairly treated and recognised for their contribution. This is an exciting time to join the Environment Agency's Monitoring Laboratories (ML) as we expand our low-level organic screening capabilities to deliver an increase in demand for this critical environmental monitoring tool. The team is currently expanding to meet new workstream demand from the Environmental Agency. As such you will be part of a team of skilled analysts who will run work routinely by using your knowledge of the techniques involved in the analysis of Organic compounds. You will be part of the wider Organics team and may be involved in other non-screening analysis as required.

You will be required to:

• Ensure your work area adheres to the high-quality standards of an ISO17025 laboratory.
• Support the technical leads in investigating and finding solutions to sometimes complex problems.
• Implement improvements to existing methodologies.
• Become proficient in screening analysis techniques across a range of water matrices.
• Work alongside the technical leads on any future developments within the Screens Team.
• Form close working relationships with less experienced members of the team and support them to learn and build their knowledge.
• Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training, and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.

This is a permanent role working Monday - Friday

The team

You will be part of a team delivering the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme. Once developed you will become part of our core Leeds operational team alongside approximately 60 other staff. We provide analytical services to the Environment Agency and external customers including the analysis of sediments, soils, biota and waters from across England and around the coastline.

To find out more, please look at our website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about

Experience/skills required

Essential:

• Able to articulate technical knowledge in a clear way that allows you to train and develop others.
• Enjoy working in a busy environment, balancing priorities to achieve results.
• Experience of working in a laboratory environment which operates a quality management system
• Good organisational skills and an ability to plan and prioritise your work to deliver key objectives
• Knowledge and experience in LCMS and/or GCMS techniques.
• Strong communication skills to allow you to operate effectively in a team working environment
• Understand the health and safety requirements of working in a laboratory environment

Desirable:

• Experience in screening techniques and knowledge of organic substances and their impact on the environment
• Experience of investigating quality control breaches in a laboratory
• Preferably operating under ISO17025 quality management systems.

Contact and additional information

You'll be welcomed into the team and given the training and support you need to succeed in your role. We support flexible working hours and practices to help you strike a good balance between work and personal life. You'll have access to a Local Government Pension scheme as well as a host of other benefits.

Our laboratory is off the M621 and well served by public transport links with free onsite parking. Occasional travel may be required for training/courses.

For further information please download the candidate pack. Interviews will be on site at our Leeds laboratory in late January. If you have any questions, contact the hiring manager: [e-mail]

Competencies

Competence 1

Embraces Change

Description

Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.

Question: Describe a time when you faced a major change in your work environment or responsibilities. How did you adapt, and what steps did you take to ensure a successful outcome?

Competence 2

Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Description

Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.

Question: Please give an example of when you have solved an Organic technical problem which could have comprised the quality of the data produced.

Competence 3

Achieves Results

Description

Your response to these competency questions will be used to blind sift your application for interview. Please consider use of the STAR technique to structure your response using examples.

Question: Tell me about a time when you had to meet a challenging target. How did you prioritise your tasks, overcome obstacles, and ensure successful delivery?

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit for more information.

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. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the . Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.