Scientist – Human Safety

Job Title: Scientist – Human Safety

Location: Colworth R&D, Sharnbrook UK – hybrid

JOB PURPOSE

At Unilever, we are committed to developing safe & sustainable products for our consumers. As a Toxicology Safety Scientist in our Safety, Environmental & Regulatory (SERS) team, you will provide scientific expertise to assure the safety of Unilever ingredients for consumers who use our products and the workers who make them.

You will be joining a team of safety scientists, where you will be supported in your own development, while also being expected to help others grow in their roles. You will work as part of multidisciplinary teams (including biologists, bioinformaticians, computational chemists, and mathematical modellers), to apply novel, mechanistic approaches to safety assessment.

In this role, you will lead defined technical workstreams or projects, applying established and emerging safety risk assessment methodologies to assess the human health risks associated with ingredients in consumer goods. You will represent Unilever externally providing ingredient stewardship for key ingredients/products and championing evidence based, exposure-led risk assessment based on industry best practice. Through industry working groups you will contribute to the development of regulations based on the best available safety science.

You will work alongside some of the industry’s most respected scientists, learning new risk assessment approaches, growing as a professional and enjoying opportunities to publish and present. In addition, of course, you will have fantastic career opportunities within a successful global company that is focused on winning every day.

The role is based in the dynamic environment of our SERS team at Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook located near Bedford.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assess human safety risks associated with ingredients with an emphasis on applying novel (non-animal) approaches.
• Deliver transparent, well documented, exposure-based risk assessments to enable robust decision-making. This will include clearly communicating the outcomes of these risk assessments, providing input to broader communication to maintain trust in the safe use of Unilever products.
• Contribute to the evolution of our approach to exposure-driven risk assessment including working with external groups.
• Build an understanding of the wider issues surrounding the use of ingredients and products.
• Provide stewardship of strategically important ingredients by promoting robust exposure led human health risk assessment using best practice approaches.
• Actively engage with external stakeholders, such as trade associations and regulators, to represent Unilever’s interests and contribute to the development of industry best practices in human health risk assessment and regulatory frameworks for key products and ingredients.

ALL ABOUT YOU

You’ll need to be able to work effectively and with impact in cross-disciplinary teams and in multi-cultural environments, be flexible and willing to adapt within a fast-changing business environment.

We would expect the successful candidate to have:

• A degree (BSc/MSc or equivalent) in Toxicology or a related discipline with relevant experience in commercial product safety or industrial/occupational health
• Experience of toxicology/consumer safety risk assessment and its application in an industrial context (FMCG, healthcare setting)
• Awareness of novel, non-animal approaches to safety assessment and their potential application for decision-making
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills including ability to convey scientific subject matter in a simple manner
• Evidence of a creative, problem-solving mindset
• Highly self-motivated, with a proven track record of collaborating effectively in interdisciplinary teams
• Ability to work with scientists from other disciplines as part of multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong team player, as both a leader and a team member
   

Desirable
 

• Knowledge of risk assessment of biocides and/or substances produced via biotechnology processes
• Post graduate experience or a higher degree/ qualification (e.g., PhD)
• Knowledge/Experience of product safety regulations and ingredient stewardship
• Project leadership experience

ABOUT SERS

We want consumers to be confident that our products are safe for them and their families, and better for the environment. The scientists at SERS play a key role in ensuring that our products are safe, and our business is environmentally sustainable. SERS’s world-class reputation for safety and sustainability science plays a key role in Unilever achieving its purpose, by working across the business to build safety and environmental sustainability into everything we do; find out how at SERS.unilever.com.

Location

Colworth Science Park is a vibrant scientific community with a strong academic and technical population of PhDs, professors, and early-career scientists.  The site offers a range of facilities, including a restaurant, gym, and a nursery, and supports an active social and wellbeing culture. Employees can take part in a variety of social and recreational activities, such as lunchtime walking or running groups, set within the surrounding countryside. Colworth is well connected, with London and its many attractions reachable in approximately 40 minutes by train from Bedford. There is also a morning and afternoon bus shuttle service from Bedford train station to Colworth Science Park.

NOTES

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Hellman's, Clear and Vaseline.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together for better business performance. We want to push boundaries, and have the flexibility needed to keep adapting in an ever-changing, more dynamic world. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. 

As part of your hiring journey, we are happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments, to improve your recruitment experience.

To find out more, including more information about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here.

Recruitment Fraud

Cyber criminals advertise fake job adverts with prestigious employers as a way of stealing information or even defrauding individuals out of money. In the most sophisticated cases, they will set up fake websites, which have a similar address to companies like Unilever. They even conduct fake telephone interviews and then offer candidates a role with the proviso they pay a fee for background checks or to cover work visa costs.  These types of attacks are becoming more common as more people are looking for employment in the economic climate. 

How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scan for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and act to close them down. 

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat. 

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!