Vacancies

The team

The Science Team provides access to robust and relevant scientific advice and novel research for the development of policy, and the delivery and enforcement of product safety regulations across the OPSS remit, including toys, cosmetics and construction products. We work closely with other evidence teams including those in engineering, research, analysis and testing. It is a multidisciplinary team covering specialisms including analytical chemistry, materials science and toxicology. The team is also responsible for chemical risk assessment advice and leads the Office’s access to independent scientific experts in the space of chemicals and materials.

The role

We require a science specialist to join our team efforts in providing chemical science advice and commissioning research with respect to our product safety responsibilities. This desk-based role will predominantly be focused on the chemicals utilised in cosmetics, toys, general products and more, on the UK market. You will support the work of other Science team members, working closely with policy, enforcement and other teams within the Office, for the effective delivery of UK product safety regulations.

The role will also involve offering chemical science technical support during ad-hoc incident responses across the various product areas we regulate.

You will need to be confident in drawing together, interpreting and communicating your findings to a lay audience as well as technical members of the team. You will provide support to cross-cutting research programmes, collaborating with testing, engineering, and analysis teams, and our laboratory facilities, to deliver key evidence to support OPSS’ strategic priorities.

About the Team

The Operational Support Unit (OSU) is the ‘front door’ to the Office. We are a high-demand front-line team. We deliver outstanding customer service to both our internal and external customer base, providing reassurance and building confidence through our response to enquiries and everyday engagement with colleagues.

We work diligently to support other functional teams, undertaking administrative duties to support our regulatory obligations and delivering OPSS purpose. We are also responsible for developing, implementing and supporting processes to underpin multi-functional activities.

Key Responsibilities:

You will work in conjunction with two fellow HEO colleagues to provide managerial support to the team across a number of work-streams, ensuring adherence to service level agreements, service standards and key performance indicators.

You will:

• Lead on the operational delivery of all OSU work-streams
• Develop an in depth understanding of all work-streams in accordance with OSU responsibilities, supporting the team’s delivery and outputs
• Line manage AO & EO colleagues, ensuring delivery of outputs are to the highest standards across all work-streams. You will competently and authoritatively challenge poor performance whilst recognising and celebrating high performance
• Drive our quality assurance processes, ensuring tasks are reflective of the current working environment, disseminated appropriately and completed in a timely manner
• Take forward and review the compilation of all statistics which will be disseminated across wider OPSS, providing accurate reporting for other colleagues
• Add support and constructive feedback to the maintenance of the OSU risks and issues register
• Reactively support major incidents across OPSS
• Build on existing processes and procedures, consider the need for change where appropriate and ensuring they are aligned to our present working environment
• Have an active attendance and contribution, to all relevant meetings to enable the effective management of OSU work-strands
• Act as the team resolution point, problem solving and using initiative to guide and support colleagues
• Receive, process and oversee all evidence handling within our Teddington site, supporting the wider team implement our set standards
• Undertake full training to support the effective management of evidence, such as Forklift Truck licence, Red Snapper and manual handling