Scientific Officer - Clean Water Chemistry

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a key public body's Analytical Services team at their Gelvin Grange laboratory. Operating within an ISO 17025 accredited environment, you will play a vital role in ensuring the effective chemical analysis of water matrices, directly supporting environmental sustainability and public health compliance across the region.

This position offers hands‐on technical exposure with advanced instrumentation and the chance to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within a highly professional scientific team.

Working as part of the Analytical Services team, the post holder will be responsible for the collection and chemical analysis of wastewater, trade effluent, sludge, and soils. Key duties include:

• Analysis & Data Integrity: Carrying out chemical analysis within agreed turnaround times, utilizing advanced instrumentation (such as Mass Spectrometry and ICP-OES). Ensuring all results are checked, recorded, and accurately transcribed onto the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• Quality & Accreditation: Maintaining the laboratory's quality management system in strict accordance with ISO 17025, UKAS, and NIEA requirements. Conducting investigations into deviations or non-conformities, and participating in internal quality audits.
• Resources Management: Maintaining day‑to‑day expenditure against agreed budgets, managing stock levels of chemicals/consumables, and liaising with suppliers for equipment servicing and preventive maintenance.
• Stakeholder & Customer Relations: Providing internal and external customers with evidence‑based scientific comments, building strong relationships with key stakeholders (including UKAS auditors), and supervising/mentoring students or scientific Higher Level Apprentices.
• Health & Safety: Ensuring full compliance with all laboratory safety procedures, risk assessments, and COSHH requirements when handling hazardous chemicals and acids.

Candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

• Qualification: A third‑level qualification (HNC/HND/Degree) in Science, Chemistry, or Environmental Science.
• Experience: At least 1 year of practical analytical chemistry experience within a laboratory operating under a formal Quality Management System.
• Technical Knowledge: Clear knowledge and understanding of chemical analytical techniques and the ISO 17025 standard.
• Health & Safety: Practical knowledge of health and safety requirements relevant to a laboratory environment.
• IT Literacy: Demonstrable proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Professional Membership: Current membership of (or a willingness to achieve membership of) a relevant professional body.

• Practical knowledge of chemical analysis specifically within the water industry.

• Salary: Competitive
• Position Type: Temporary (6 Months Initially)
• Location: On‑site at Gelvin Grange, L'Derry
• Hours & Flexibility: The post holder will be required to work flexible hours, including standby/on‑call, weekends, and bank holidays as required by site operations.

Please Note - This position is subject to a Basic Access NI check. A criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining the position. This will be considered in line with Access NI code of practice & MCS Group's Access NI policies.