Job description for Occupational Material Safety Specialist

Are you an occupational material safety specialist or toxicologist inspired to work on sophisticated, complex and cutting-edge scientific projects? If so, the SDA have an incredible opportunity for you to join our Naval Authority Technology Group (NATG) at MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol.

As a specialist member of NATG, you will be supporting the evaluation and approval of materials introduced to submarines during design, build, maintenance and in-service phases of their lifecycles. You will work alongside industry specialists, gaining the opportunity to become a recognised authority on occupational material safety, material toxicology and chemical safety management.

This is a unique role that will allow you to work at the forefront of engineering, science and technology to solve unique technical challenges. By linking with fellow minds and allies across the world, you will play a key role in protecting submariner health and provide a significant contribution to the success of our projects.

In the SDA, continuous professional development is actively encouraged. You’ll have access to defined upskilling routes and professional registration within 18 months of taking up the post. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance.

Nationality, visas and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

What you’ll be doing

• Support in-service maintenance and build programmes to establish safe material selection through chemical data reviews
• Support high priority assessments to meet the build timescales, coordinate materials assurance efforts across the enterprise, perform and evaluate assessments and develop material safety policy
• Promulgate safety advice on material safety legislation and compliance against UK legislation
• Ensure materials comply with relevant legislations and policies for naval authority certification
• Support the review of safety limits to support submarine atmosphere control

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Relevant level 4 (or higher) qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience in material safety, toxicology and/or chemical safety management

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Technical Decision Making – Supervised Practitioner
• Technical Risk Management – Supervised Practitioner
• Communicating and influencing
• Changing and improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,747 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/SDA-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. When two (or more) candidates are on equal interview scores, positions will be offered based on the scores assessed at interview, in this order – 1st) Technical competence, 2nd) CV Review, 3rd) Behaviour one, 4th) Behaviour two.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.