Apprenticeship, Assistant Scientist

This is a Level 4 Apprenticeship opportunity within Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) Analytical Services team. During your apprenticeship, you will combine academic study with practical, hands-on experience in a professional laboratory environment, developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for a successful career in analytical science.

Based at NRW's laboratory at Swansea University, you will spend time working across all three Analytical Services departments: Service Delivery, Inorganics and Organics. This rotational approach will provide broad experience of laboratory operations, analytical techniques and quality processes, helping you develop a comprehensive understanding of the services provided by an accredited environmental laboratory.

You will report to the Organics Team Leader, who will support your development throughout the apprenticeship and coordinate your placements across the different departments. Working alongside experienced colleagues, you will contribute to the delivery of accurate, reliable and timely analytical results that support NRW's environmental monitoring and regulatory responsibilities.

This role offers a unique opportunity to develop practical scientific skills while contributing to work that helps protect and enhance Wales' natural resources.

About us: Natural Resources Wales' Analytical Services laboratory is based at Swansea University and provides high-quality analytical testing services that support environmental monitoring, regulation and evidence gathering across Wales. The laboratory is made up of three specialist departments: Service Delivery, Inorganics and Organics. Together, these teams deliver accurate and reliable analytical data that informs environmental decision-making and helps protect Wales' natural resources.

What you will do:

• Support the Analytical Services teams with day-to-day laboratory activities that contribute to the delivery of accurate, reliable and timely analytical services.
• Apply the learning from your apprenticeship to real-world laboratory settings, gaining experience in areas such as sample preparation, use of analytical equipment and techniques, and supporting routine laboratory tasks under appropriate supervision.
• Develop effective working relationships with colleagues across the Service Delivery, Inorganics and Organics teams, contributing positively to team objectives and supporting the smooth running of laboratory operations.
• Support laboratory administration activities, including the accurate recording of data, maintenance of documentation, and use of laboratory information and ICT systems in line with established procedures.
• Help the laboratory meet health, safety and quality standards by following procedures, working safely, identifying issues, and reporting concerns to experienced staff.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills:

• A minimum of five GCSEs at Grade C / 4 or above, including English, Maths and Science.
• A relevant Level 3 science qualification, such as a BTEC Level 3 Diploma or Extended Certificate in Applied Science, or A Levels / AS Levels in science-related subjects.
• Basic ICT skills to record data, maintain documentation and support laboratory processes.
• Sufficient literacy and numeracy skills to accurately record results and follow written procedures.
• An awareness of laboratory environments and an interest in developing technical skills within an analytical science setting.

Welsh Language level requirements:

Essential: Level A1 - Entry level. Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Additional Information:

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date. Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Although we hold a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licence, it applies only to specific roles that meet both the eligibility criteria and salary requirements set out by the UK Government under the Skilled Worker visa route.

Benefits:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme).
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days.
• Generous leave entitlements for all your life needs.
• Commitment to professional development.
• Health and wellbeing benefits and support.
• Weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose.

We are passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We are committed to equal opportunities, and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that our pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year. We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on a variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses. We are a Bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards. Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW, and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills.