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Synthetic Chemist Research Technician (Chemistry & Energetics)

Dstl
London
2 days ago
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Dstl, Porton Down, Salisbury Wiltshire SP4 0JQ

This position will require 100% attendance on-site due to the nature of this role.

Job Summary

Synthetic Chemist Research Technician (Chemistry & Energetics) – Exciting Opportunity!

Are you passionate about chemistry and excited by the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of energetic materials research? Do you thrive in a fast-paced research environment?

Dstl is seeking a Synthetic Chemist Research Technician to join our dynamic team, working at the forefront of Chemistry and Energetics.

In This Role

You'll work collaboratively to achieve set objectives while managing the housekeeping of our Synthetic Chemistry laboratories. Your role will involve maintaining and operating a range of scientific and analytical equipment, keeping stock levels in check through regular audits, and ensuring chemical inventories are accurately tracked via a database. Additionally, you’ll facilitate the safe and timely disposal of laboratory and general waste.

You Will Have Experience In

Operating within a chemistry laboratory and working to health and safety processes.
A strong appreciation of the importance of health and safety.
An ambitious, hard-working demeanour and willingness to work with others across different fields.

If you're ready to be a key part of an innovative laboratory environment, we’d love to hear from you!

Dstl will provide you full training on Dstl practices, processes and ways of working to enable you to confidently fulfil the post. You will also have the opportunity to work in unique environments, with friendly scientists who are delivering work for the benefit of wider UK defence and security.

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.

Interested to find out more? See the full Job Profile in the candidate information pack on CSJobs.

Job Description

In this role you will:

Work to the highest health and safety standards, meeting all relevant regulatory and quality standards.
Work effectively as a member of a team, meeting set objectives.
Carry out general housekeeping of the various laboratories occupied by Synthetic Chemistry.
Use and maintain a variety of general laboratory scientific and analytical equipment.
Ensure chemicals and consumables stock levels are maintained through regular audits and replenishing stock.
Maintain chemical inventories tracking and updating the information using a database.
Facilitate disposal of laboratory and general waste, ensuring safe and timely disposal.

A full list of accountabilities/skills can be found in the candidate info pack at the bottom of this page

In This Role You Will

Work to the highest health and safety standards, meeting all relevant regulatory and quality standards.
Work effectively as a member of a team, meeting set objectives.
Carry out general housekeeping of the various laboratories occupied by Synthetic Chemistry.
Use and maintain a variety of general laboratory scientific and analytical equipment.
Ensure chemicals and consumables stock levels are maintained through regular audits and replenishing stock.
Maintain chemical inventories tracking and updating the information using a database.
Facilitate disposal of laboratory and general waste, ensuring safe and timely disposal.

A full list of accountabilities/skills can be found in the candidate info pack at the bottom of this page

Person specification

We Are Looking For Someone Who Has

Experience in operating within a chemistry laboratory and working to health and safety processes.
A strong appreciation of the importance of health and safety.
An ambitious, hard-working demeanour and willingness to work with others across different fields.
Strong communication and problem solving skills.
A willingness to get involved in hands-on work, maintaining high standards of safety and quality.
Experience of working to a high standard and has pride in their work.
An ability to work flexibly, independently and as part of a team.
A desire to learn on the job and further develop their personal and professional skills.

Dstl will provide you full training on Dstl practices, processes and ways of working to enable you to confidently fulfil the post. You will also have the opportunity to work in unique environments, with friendly scientists who are delivering work for the benefit of wider UK defence and security.

Interested to find out more? See the candidate information pack attached below.

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.

Behaviours

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

Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace

Alongside your salary of £23,892, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £6,921 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.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Sifting will take place week commencing the w/c 16th June 2025 with interviews to be arranged from the 30th June 2025.

At the application stage we will be assessing the Personal Statement and CV. Interview will be assessing your skills, experience and the 4 behaviours.

Behaviours

Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team and we will do all we can to support you.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

Name : Dstl Recruitment Team
Email :

Recruitment team

Email :

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.
Seniority level Seniority level Entry level
Employment type Employment type Part-time
Job function Job function Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries Defense and Space Manufacturing
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