Senior Scientist - Asbestos & Exposure Measurement

Senior Scientist - Asbestos & Exposure Measurement (Band 3/SEO)

Health and Safety Executive

Apply before Midday on Monday 5th October 2026

Details

Reference number

(phone number removed)

Salary

-47,686 - -54,453

Standard.

A[1] Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer

Band 3

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

SEAD (Science, Engineering and Analysis Division) Health Group, Exposure Measurement Unit, Fibres & Minerals Team, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 9JN.

Type of role

Health and Safety

Operational Delivery

Project Delivery Science

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

* [2] Location
* [3] About the job
* [4] Benefits
* [5] Things you need to know
* [6] Apply and further information

Location

Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN.

About the job

Job summary

Are you an experienced asbestos professional looking to apply your expertise in a role that directly influences national policy, guidance and regulation?

HSE is seeking a Senior Scientist to deliver asbestos-related site investigations, research and regulatory support activities across Great Britain.

Working within the Fibres & Minerals Team at HSE''s Science and Research Centre in Buxton, you will use your asbestos knowledge and practical site experience to support the evidence base underpinning the Control of Asbestos Regulations and help improve the management of asbestos risks in workplaces across Great Britain.

We are particularly interested in candidates with practical experience of asbestos surveys, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing. You will apply this expertise to a portfolio of scientific, regulatory and investigative work, including site investigations, workplace exposure assessments, incident investigations and research projects.

You will work collaboratively with scientific, operational and policy colleagues across HSE, providing technical expertise and contributing to the development of guidance, research outputs and evidence-based decision making. The role offers the opportunity to work on nationally significant projects that directly support HSE''s mission to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health.

Travel

For the foreseeable future, a significant proportion of the role will involve working at external sites across Great Britain to support site activities, project delivery and training requirements. Regular travel, including overnight stays, will therefore be required. Hybrid working arrangements are available where business needs allow; however, the role cannot be carried out predominantly from home and regular attendance at external sites and HSE''s Science and Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN will be required.

This role offers opportunities to attend meetings and conferences within the UK and internationally, supporting professional development and networking.

This is a unique opportunity to combine practical asbestos expertise with scientific, regulatory and investigative work, helping to shape guidance, policy and interventions that improve workplace health across Great Britain.

Working Pattern

Part time hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Job description

As a Senior Scientist, you will apply your asbestos expertise to support HSE''s regulatory, forensic, incident investigations and research activities. Working across a programme of site and laboratory-based work, you will contribute to the evidence base underpinning the Control of Asbestos Regulations and help improve the management of asbestos risks in workplaces across Great Britain.

You will deliver asbestos related regulatory, forensic and investigative projects requiring asbestos expertise, ensuring high scientific standards in the generation, interpretation and communication of technical evidence. You will provide expert advice to regulatory, operational and policy colleagues, supporting evidence-based decision making and contributing to the development of technical guidance and policy.

For the foreseeable future, a significant proportion of the role will involve external site based project delivery activities across Great Britain. As such, practical experience of asbestos surveys, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing are essential to for the role.

You will produce high-quality scientific outputs, including reports, publications, presentations and contributions to conferences and, play an active role in sharing knowledge, mentoring colleagues and supporting the development of technical capability across the team.

The role requires you to plan, manage and prioritise your workload effectively to ensure timely delivery, in accordance with quality systems, health and safety procedures and HSE''s governance requirements.

This role involves working with asbestos in both controlled laboratory environments and during site-based activities. You will be required to wear close-fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when carrying out certain tasks and must therefore be able to successfully complete face-fit testing. You will also be required to undertake relevant health surveillance or medical assessments necessary to meet statutory and organisational requirements for working with asbestos.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Scientist in the field of Fibres & Minerals at HSE, your key responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:

* Applying asbestos knowledge to support workplace exposure assessments, regulatory requirements, incident investigations and enforcement work.
* Delivering asbestos-related site and laboratory based research, including incident investigations and sampling activities.
* Working with asbestos in both laboratory and site environments, including the use of close-fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE), completing face-fit testing and undertaking required health surveillance and medical assessments.
* Generating, analysing and interpreting technical and scientific data to support regulatory, forensic and investigative activities.
* Communicating scientific findings and technical advice to regulatory, policy, operational and external stakeholders.
* Collaborating with colleagues across HSE to deliver high-quality research, investigative and technical work.
* Ensuring compliance with quality systems, governance requirements, laboratory procedures and health and safety standards.
* Training to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person for asbestos related site activities.

Training and Health requirements

This role involves working with asbestos in both controlled laboratory environments and during site-based activities.

You will be required to wear close-fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when carrying out certain tasks and must therefore be able to successfully complete face-fit testing. You will also be required to undertake relevant health surveillance or medical assessments necessary to meet statutory and organisational requirements for working with asbestos.

You must be willing to undertake the training required to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person (NAP) for asbestos-related site activities. This includes training in asbestos enclosure entry, exit and decontamination.

Person specification

Essential Skills and criteria

* Demonstrate practical site experience of asbestos surveys, duty-to-manage activities and clearance testing and/or asbestos management activities
* Demonstrate practical experience of delivering site and/or laboratory based work to investigate workplace exposures or support regulatory, forensic or investigative activities, including the generation, validation and interpretation of analytical or research data
* Experience of applying technical or scientific knowledge to support workplace investigations, regulatory activities, incident investigations or evidence-based decision making
* Experience of communicating technical and/or scientific information through reports, publications, presentations or other methods to technical and nontechnical audiences
* Ability to plan, prioritise and deliver work independently whilst managing competing demands
* Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, follow documented procedures, maintain scientific and quality standards, undertake continuing professional development. You must also be willing to undertake the training required to become an HSE Nominated Asbestos Person (NAP) for asbestos related site activities. This includes training in asbestos enclosure entry, exit and decontamination.