Safety Health & Environment Advisor

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: £31,931 to £34,709 per annum dependant on experience 

Band: D

Hours: Full time 

Contract Type: Open Ended

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell, Oxfordshire

Closing Date: 14th November 2021

Interview Date: 26th November 2021

STFC Safety Health and Environment (SHE) Group is a small team that provides advice and support across all sites. 

We are looking for someone wishing to embark on a new career in SHE, or an early career SHE Advisor, based at the STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), Harwell, Oxfordshire. 

We are particularly interested in individuals who have a successful track record of working as scientists or engineers in a research setting – academic or industrial, and perhaps looking for a new career or new challenge supporting scientific endeavour. We will actively support successful candidates develop as rounded SHE advisors as well as financially supporting their qualification as SHE professionals. 

This is an opportunity for SHE Group to add to our experience base from any of the following professions: contractor management; auditing; occupational hygiene; chemical safety; engineering disciplines (construction, electrical, mechanical); waste management; or environmental management. 

This is a busy, varied and exciting role working closely with all departments giving great opportunities to use and develop your skills to make a difference to UK science. 

List of Duties / Work Programme / Responsibilities

• Provide SHE advice and guidance to management, employees, tenants, and science facility users and support them in discharging their responsibility for the implementation of the STFC SHE Management System.
• Contribute to the development of the STFC’s documented SHE Codes based upon experience of internal application, audit findings, external good practices, and legislative changes identified through horizon scanning.
• Contribute to the delivery of effective, efficient and professional SHE services to all those working from STFC sites: staff, contractors, tenants, visitors and science facility users.
• Investigate SHE incidents, including injuries, near misses, fires, environmental and vehicle incidents; ensuring these are reported, investigated appropriately and actions established to minimise the likelihood of their recurrence.
• Undertake audits to drive continuous improvement in the documented SHE Management System, its policies and procedures, across STFC sites.
• Communicate and liaise closely with the key partners in the STFC SHE Management System, in particular, safety and environment committees, trade union safety representatives, Departmental Safety Contacts, those appointed to key SHE roles, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and emergency services.
• Assist in the preparation and delivery STFC specific on-line and face to face SHE training programmes.

Contacts and Communication

• Post holder will work and engage with scientists and engineers through to managers and Directors.
• As a small specialist team the post holder will work with all members of the STFC SHE Group and its’ customers.
• The post holder will support engagement with regulatory authorities from a health and safety perspective for the RAL site, for example the local Fire Service, Environmental Health and Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Person Specification

The below criteria will be assessed at Shortlist (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I)

Essential:

• Educated to degree or HND level in a science or engineering discipline (S)
• Experience working successfully in a science or engineering environment in an academic or private sector (S,I)
• Understanding how SHE hazards are managed and controlled in a science or engineering environment (S,I)
• Strong oral and written communication skills (I)
• Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills deployed with staff at all levels. (I)
• Strong IT skills and specific experience of the Microsoft office software suite, SharePoint etc. (S,I)
• Proactive with a high degree of self-motivation and independence, able to deliver under pressure and against tight deadlines. (I)
• There will also be a requirement to visit and work at other STFC sites as appropriate to the individual’s responsibilities within the STFC SHE Management System. (I)

Desirable:

• Knowledge of SHE management systems and safe systems of work. (I)
• Background knowledge of construction/engineering safety management (S,I)
• Experience planning, undertaking and reporting audits (S,I)
• Successful development and delivery of face to face and/or on-line training (S,I)
• A recognised Health and Safety qualification for example a National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety or NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate

If you would like to discuss this role informally do not hesitate to contact Graeme Finlan, 01925 603147, e-mail graeme.finlan@stfc.ac.uk or Julie Black, 01235 446378, julie.black@stfc.ac.uk 

About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) 

The STFC is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world. 

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake ground-breaking projects in an outstanding diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving progressive advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale. 

For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/ 

You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/ 

About UK Research Innovation (UKRI) 

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. 

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation. 

More information can be found at www.ukri.org. 

How we support EDI in the workforce 

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’. 

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. 

How to apply 

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application. 

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us. 

Additional Information

• Organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) – Safety, Health & Environment
• Contract Type: Open Ended
• External Closing Date: Nov 14, 2021
• Minimum Salary: Pound Sterling (GBP) 31,931
• Hours: Full-time