City/Town
Leeds
Region
Yorkshire and the Humber
Vacancies
2
Salary Minimum
£29,751
Post Type
Permanent
Job ID
33219
Closing date
08 Mar 2026
Published date
23 Feb 2026
Grade
Staff Grade 3
Role type
Science
Security check
Basic Check
Job description
If you’re an analytical scientist with a passion for the natural environment this is an exciting opportunity for you. We’re looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced analyst to come join us in our Monitoring Laboratory based in Leeds. You’ll be part of a small team carrying out on site waste sampling in the field and analysis of the waste samples back in the laboratory.
We really do value a diverse workforce. We want to be an organisation that represents modern Britain and all the communities we serve. We want everybody to feel included, fairly treated and duly recognised for the contribution they make.
Your main duties will include:-
- Work as part of a team to provide a world class service.
- Support your technical lead within your department
- Follow strict procedures to provide high quality data.
- Promote health, safety and wellbeing ensuring the provision of safe working practices in line with Environment Agency guidance.
- Clearly communicate with senior team members.
- Attend site visits when requested which includes nights away
- Provide laboratory analysis of the samples collected in the field to provide high quality data for the Environment Agency.
You’ll be working within a small team alongside approximately 65 other Analytical staff and 10 Customer Services colleagues. We provide analytical services to the Environment Agency and external customers which includes the analysis of environmental samples from across England and around the coastline and provide a bespoke Forensic Waste Service. If you’d like to know a bit more about our work, please take a look at our website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about
Through experience to date you will ideally be able to demonstrate the following:
- Working in an analytical laboratory to UKAS standard
- Experience of sampling within the waste industry or landfill sites and understand the challenges of field-based working.
- Your own development and training.
- Ability to work with strict procedures to ensure samples comply with chain of custody.
- Excellent communication skills are essential.
- Ability work within tight timescales and to strict quality criteria.
- Awareness of WM3, waste classification - guidance on the classification of waste would be an advantage.
- Experience of analysis used to classify waste samples.
- Full, clean, UK driving licence
You’ll be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support you need to succeed in your new role.
We support flexible working hours and practices to help you strike a good balance between your work and personal life. You’ll have access to a Local Government Pension scheme as well as a host of other employee benefits.
You will be based at the Leeds Laboratory in Leeds but will be required to go out sampling and stay away from home a few nights per month.
For further information on this role, the employee benefits and work of the Environment Agency, please download the candidate pack.
If you have any questions, please contact the hiring manager: Toni.Webster@environment-agency.gov.uk.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.