Company Description

Eurofins Forensic Services (EFS) is the largest forensic service provider in the UK and Europe. We are part of Eurofins Scientific, which is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries, to make life and our environment safer, healthier and more sustainable. From the food you eat, to the water you drink, to the medicines you rely on and forensics. Eurofins laboratories work with the biggest companies in the world to ensure the products they supply are safe, their ingredients are authentic, and labelling is accurate. Eurofins is dedicated to delivering testing services that contribute to the health and safety of society and the planet, and to its corporate responsibility to protect the environment and ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire network of Eurofins companies.

In over 35 years, Eurofins has grown from one laboratory in Nantes, France to 61,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of ca. 900 laboratories in 61 countries. Eurofins companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products. In 2022, Eurofins generated total revenues of EUR 6.7 billion, and has been among the best performing stocks in Europe over the past 20 years. 

Job Description

Salary:                Competitive                 

Location:            Wakefield, UK                

Contract:            Permanent

Hours:                37.5 per week full-time                      

Closing date:     2nd February 2024

Job Purpose

To be responsible for the examination and/or analysis of drugs exhibits and samples, following SOP’s and strategies set by Reporting Scientists. The role will also include some casework support activities, such as lab cleaning and reagent preparation where necessary. The Drugs Examiner will report to the Casework Lead within the Forensic Drugs division. 

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Carry out examination/analysis of exhibits following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) whilst working within own documented competencies and to required timescales.
• Adhere to all Reporting Officer case strategies, customer Operational Protocols and the Eurofins Quality Manual at all times
• Ensure all notes are accurate, contemporaneous and signed/dated as per SOP’s.
• Be responsible for the integrity and continuity of exhibits while under ownership.
• Communicate with other team members throughout the lifetime of the case.
• Recognise potential quality and Health and Safety issues arising during examinations, and raise to the Reporting Officer at the earliest opportunity.
• Carry out lab cleaning, instrument set up and preparation of reagents when required.
• Fully adhere to the Forensic Regulators Codes of Practice and Conduct.  

Qualifications

Knowledge, Experience and Technical Skills

Required

• A recognised qualification in a relevant scientific subject
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Previous experience, preferably laboratory-based, in a scientific capacity
• Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced, challenging environment
• Understanding and acceptance of the requirement for full adherence to the Forensic Regulators Code of Practice

Desirable

• Demonstrative knowledge of health & safety, such as COSHH assessor
• A demonstrable understanding of forensic techniques and analysis utilised in the analysis of drugs, such as drugs legislation, FTIR, GCMS, TLC and chemical tests 

Behaviours

• Demonstrate ownership of issues that arise day to day, only escalating when necessary to the Casework Team Lead
• Continious Improvement ethos, striving for improving processes
• Display patience, determination, attention to detail and integrity at all times
• Exhibit high levels of concentration, accuracy and reliability
• Able to manage a demanding workload; show good organisational skills and high levels of personal resilience with the ability to work to deadlines under pressure
• Communicate and work co-operatively with others, focussing on a collective rather than individual goals
• Demonstrate initiative, adopting a pro-active attitude to continuous improvement
• Demonstrate effective lab space and equipment management to ensure the most effective use of resource.

Additional Information

Company Benefits

In return for your hard work and loyal service, we will offer you genuine career and salary progression through our Career Pathways programme, a competitive salary, and a selection of employee benefits via our flexible benefits menu which includes cycle to work, give as you earn, buy and sell holiday. In addition, we also offer the following:

• Life Assurance (3 times annual salary)
• Scottish Widows Company Pension Plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Employee Service Recognition Rewards
• Celebrating employee work anniversaries at Eurofins 
• Perk box membership providing access to discount vouchers, reward & flexi points and wellness hub
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Healthcare Cash Plan membership
• Enhanced company sick, maternity and paternity pay scheme
• Refer a friend scheme
• Subscription to mental wellbeing support

Important Notice for Candidates

Due to the highly sensitive nature of the work we undertake on-site, applicants should note that security clearance will be required for this role. To gain security clearance you must have five years continuous residency in the UK. Security clearance is undertaken by a third party to police personnel vetting standards (NPPV3 and SC), as such any criminal convictions may prevent you from gaining security clearance.

Further information on the security clearance process and requirement can be found at https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/police-forces/warwickshire-police/areas/warwickshire-police/about-us/about-us/police-national-vetting-service/.

In addition, they may be required to undertake drug and alcohol testing prior to commencing employment. The organisation treats personal data collected during the recruitment process in accordance with its data protection policy.  Information about how your data is used and the basis for processing your data is provided in the organisation’s applicant privacy notice.

Find out more in our Eurofins career page: https://careers.eurofins.com/