Specialist - Chemical Hazard Evaluation - 30921

Environment Agency; London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Environment Agency is seeking a Specialist in Chemical Hazard Evaluation to assess the environmental risks of chemicals under UK regulations. The role involves evaluating chemical dossiers, summarising studies, and contributing to guideline development while ensuring a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Qualifications

• At least two years of applied experience assessing environmental effects of chemicals.
• Experience in a regulated industry sector.
• Ability to analyse complex scientific data.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate ecotoxicity and environmental fate information.
• Summarise and present environmental effects studies.
• Provide quality assurance review and alternative interpretations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

First degree in a scientific discipline

Job description

Specialist - Chemical Hazard Evaluation - 30921

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Job Description

Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone? Then the Environment Agency is the organisation for you! We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.

We are recruiting a regulatory scientist to assess the environmental hazard and risk of industrial and consumer chemicals under the UK REACH and CLP Regulations.

Working in a team of science specialists in our Chemicals Assessment Unit (CAU), you will:

1. Evaluate the reliability and relevance of ecotoxicity and environmental fate information and safety assessments in chemical dossiers and reports prepared by companies or other regulatory authorities to identify key regulatory endpoints;
2. Summarise and present endpoints from environmental effects studies, fate data, and modelled estimates;
3. Describe study test methods, highlighting data limitations and uncertainty;
4. Use data to conclude on appropriate environmental classifications under CLP and whether UK REACH registration standard information requirements are met;
5. Provide quality assurance review and alternative interpretations (where necessary);
6. Contribute to priority setting and identify areas of further research;
7. Inform test guideline development and support our work implementing animal replacement methods;
8. Work to defined timescales to deliver outputs on time and within resource;
9. Build relationships and consult with colleagues in other teams and government bodies.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be asked 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 will be available to support you with your incident role.

The team

The Chemicals Assessment Unit is in the Research part of the Chief Scientist’s Group. We are a dispersed team with hub office locations.

The team provides scientific support to HSE and UK Government on environmental matters relating to the UK REACH, CLP Regulations, and POPs Convention. We assess the environmental hazards and exposure of industrial and consumer chemicals, propose action to manage identified risks, and work closely with global partners and other regulatory authorities.

Experience/skills Required

You must have at least a first degree in a scientific discipline relevant to the assessment of environmental hazards and risks of chemicals, such as chemistry, biology, or environmental science. You will have at least two years of applied experience assessing the environmental effects and/or fate of chemicals and their risk assessment, possibly in a regulated industry sector, either at a national or international level.

You will need to analyse complex scientific and numerical data to identify key information to inform conclusions and be confident following standard guidance.

The role requires excellent writing, communication, and organisational skills to ensure deadlines are met.

In your answers to the competency questions, please demonstrate your relevant experience of environmental hazard and risk assessment of chemicals, including specific examples of how you have applied such knowledge in the context of the REACH and CLP regulations.

Contact and additional information

You will have an office base location, but the working location is flexible/hybrid. You will need to be confident in your ability to work remotely and collaborate effectively. Some travel and overnight stays may be required.

Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack, which includes more information on how to answer competency questions.

Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions. If the number of applications is high, an initial sift using competence 1 will be conducted. Feedback is generally not available at sift stage.

Interviews are expected to be held during July via MS Teams. This may include you being asked to participate in a technical exercise using data.

Please contact [e-mail] for further information.

Competency 1: Scientific Knowledge

Description: Applies scientific knowledge (various disciplines, depending on team role) to provide sound, science-based evidence to our internal and external customers.

Question: Describe how you have applied your scientific expertise in a way that is relevant to the environmental hazard or risk assessment of chemicals, including the depth and type of your knowledge.

Competency 2: Data and Information Management

Description: Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops, and shares data, material, or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.

Question: Describe an example of when you have had to analyse and interpret complex environmental hazard data for a chemical, considering data reliability and relevance, and share your findings with others to enable a decision to be made.

Competency 3: Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives, and taking sound and timely decisions.

Question: Tell us about a significant piece of work you’ve done where you encountered an important problem that you had to solve, describing your thought process for dealing with it and the outcome.

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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.