Health & Safety Advisors Chemical/Explosives

Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ

We are looking for Health & Safety Advisors In our Counter Terrorism & Security Division (CTS) if you have a background in Chemical & Explosives Safety we want to hear for you 

You will support the CTS Safety Team, which includes Senior Safety Advisors, to ensure a culture of continuous safety improvement which is related to delivery of science & technology projects, as well as the facilities and laboratories in which our staff operate. 

Commitment

Dstl’s Executive leadership are fully committed to fostering and leading a strong safety culture that delivers against our vision and enables our vital support to UK Defence and Security. In doing so,  we are looking to all our employees to embrace this intent and be a partner for success. If we all make that collective commitment it will allow our thinking and innovation in science and technology to flourish; if done correctly, the management of health, safety and wellbeing will enable the supercharging of Dstl’s scientific and technological prowess.

Our People are Dstl’s greatest asset; your health, safety and welfare are of paramount importance and Dstl’s Safety and Environment Management System is configured to ensure this. Everyone has a responsibility for their health, safety and welfare and that of their colleagues and others who may be affected by our actions. We encourage and empower all our employees so speak up when they have any concerns regarding Health, Safety and Wellbeing so we drive a Safety First approach.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.

As a Health & Safety Advisor – specialising in Chemical and Explosives Safety, you will work closely with staff across the Counter Terrorism & Security Division (CTS), to give first line advice and provide assurance that all work is conducted in accordance with Dstl Safety Policies and Regulatory requirements.  

In this role you will:

•    Provide practical health & safety advice, specifically relating to chemical and explosives safety, to staff across CTS Division and our wider business. This may include advice on novel chemical mixes or explosives.  
•    Support Senior Safety Advisors as well as other specialist safety professionals in the delivery of safety compliance in high-hazard areas. Work in these areas may include chemistry, explosives, weapons, lasers or radiological hazards.   
•    Support the CTS Safety Principal in delivering an effective programme of audit and assurance identifying chemical and explosive safety related issues, whilst recommending and monitoring the delivery of corrective actions.
•    Support the CTS Division Safety Team in conducting fact finding and Division-led investigations to identify root causes, emerging safety trends and ensuring that lessons 

As a Health & Safety Advisor – Chemical Safety, you will work closely with staff across the Counter Terrorism & Security Division (CTS), for provide the first line of advice and give assurance that all work is conducted in accordance with Dstl Safety Policies and Regulatory requirements.  

In this role you will: 

•    Provide practical health & safety advice, specifically relating to chemical safety, to staff across CTS Division and our wider business. 
•    Support Senior Safety Advisors as well as other specialist safety professionals in the delivery of safety compliance in high-hazard areas. Work in these areas may include chemistry, weapons, explosives, lasers or radiological hazards.   
•    Support the CTS Safety Principal in delivering an effective programme of audit and assurance identifying chemical safety related issues, whilst recommending and monitoring the delivery of corrective actions.
•    Support the CTS Division Safety Team in conducting fact finding and Division-led investigations to identify root causes, emerging safety trends and ensuring that lessons are identified, captured and used to aid learning and prevention of recurrence of further chemical safety related incidents. 

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, 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.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Please see full job descriptions attached at the bottom of this page 

Health & Safety Advisor – Chemical and Explosives Safety

We are looking for someone who has:

•    A good knowledge of chemistry and explosives safety, with experience of providing practical health & safety advice to both technical and non-technical staff, to deliver safe and secure outcomes. 
•    Knowledge of COSHH regulations and explosives regulations. Providing practical safety advice to those involved in the procurement, storage, handing and disposal of chemicals and explosives. 
•    Practical experience of providing advice to those preparing COSHH assessments and explosive risk assessments. Knowledge of containment systems and ventilation systems or working in processing areas for the above mentioned hazards.   
•    Experience of supporting or conducting routine safety investigations, including root cause analysis, to identify resolutions and reduce the likelihood of further chemical or explosive related incidents occurring. 

Health & Safety Advisor – Chemical Safety

We are looking for someone who has:

•    A good knowledge of chemistry, with experience of providing practical health & safety advice to both technical and non-technical staff, to deliver safe and secure outcomes. 
•    Knowledge of the safe storage, handling, use and disposal of chemicals including COSHH regulations and supporting others preparing COSHH assessments. Knowledge of chemical containment and ventilation systems. 
•    The ability to build professional working relationships, providing safety advice and influencing others to bring our staff on the journey of continuous improvement. 
•    Experience of hazard preparedness, specifically relating to chemicals and in training others in this area.  

Please see full job descriptions at the bottom of the page 

• A HNC/HND or degree in chemistry or a closely related physical science.

• Hold a recognised safety qualification at the National Qualifications Framework Level 3 (NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety).

• Hold recognised qualification/training with regard to COSHH.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Alongside your salary of £27,620, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes
£7,457 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Benefits 

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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.

Job contact :

• Name : Dstl HR Recruitment Team
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk