General Support Technician with Joinery Skills (Band 5/EO)

Overview

We are looking for a General Support Technician with Joinery Skills to join our Technical Support Team, part of the Major Hazards Capability Group (MHCG) in the Science Division. This opportunity will be based at the HSE Science and Research Centre, our research laboratory and unique outdoor testing facilities, in Buxton, Derbyshire. The MHCG includes teams of scientists and engineers working on fire and explosions, hazardous materials, mechanical engineering, and materials science, focusing on safety research for new technologies such as green energy and batteries, and investigating incidents. The team supports the group and the wider HSE by building test equipment for research projects and incident investigations, and by collecting and managing evidence from incident sites to enable research and investigations. This role is varied and interesting.

Responsibilities

• Joinery and related manufacturing/assembly to support project work and facilities maintenance.
• Practical tasks such as moving, constructing, and decommissioning large-scale test equipment.
• Operation of overhead cranes; opportunities may exist to operate other plant such as mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) or forklift trucks.
• Attend incident sites across Great Britain to collect and escort evidence and maintain the chain of custody, including accurate record-keeping; may involve other on-site support.
• General maintenance and upkeep of facilities and equipment, including responsibility for a relevant work area.
• Support the management of the team’s work, including helping to write safety-related documents such as risk assessments to maintain safe systems of work.
• Act as a safety lookout during experimental testing.
• Travel across Great Britain to collect and/or deliver evidence that may be used in criminal investigations; includes driving cars/vans and overnight stays approximately 2–3 times per month.

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience in a range of joinery tasks, with a focus on safety for yourself and others in the work environment.
• Experience in general practical tasks using hand and power tools to undertake simple manufacturing, maintenance or fitting tasks.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills to interact professionally with scientists, engineers, HSE Inspectors, project managers and other colleagues—both written and verbal.
• Ability to plan, organise, and prioritise work effectively.
• Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn bespoke databases.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team, with a focus on personal and professional development.
• Willingness to work in a range of environments including outdoors, warehouses, workshops, and offices.
• Level 2 Qualifications (e.g., GCSEs) including Maths, Science and English at grades A-C or 9-4.

Working Arrangements and Requirements

Part-time working hours are available; the role requires a minimum of 30 hours per week. A full UK driving licence is required. The role involves travel across Great Britain and may require overnight stays.

Benefits and Equality

HSE offers learning and development tailored to your role, flexible working options, and a culture that promotes inclusion and diversity. Benefits include competitive pay, access to the Civil Service pension, 25 days of annual leave (30 days after 5 years) plus bank holidays and Civil Service privilege leave, parental leave, and various employee schemes (e.g., Cycle to Work, EdenRed vouchers).

Security and Nationality

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and baseline personnel security standard checks. The job is open to UK nationals, certain other nationalities with the right to work in the UK, and others as defined by civil service nationality rules. See the Civil Service recruitment information for details.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. We welcome applications from disabled people, and we offer workplace adjustments to support recruitment and employment processes.