Quality Principal - Quality Unit - BCH Scientific Services

An opportunity has arisen for a Quality Principal working within the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire Scientific Services Unit. The successful candidate will be employed by Bedfordshire Police but the home base can be within the Headquarters of any of the three forces. There however is an expectation that all sites will be routinely visited on a weekly basis.  

The role holder will manage an assigned portfolio of work that will assist in the delivery of ISO 17025 and/or 17020 accreditation into forensic disciplines new to scope and ensure on-going compliance and continual improvement of existing forensic disciplines, under supervision of the Quality Manager. The role holder will also contribute to achieving the vision, purpose and values of Bedfordshire Police, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies.

The successful candidate will have a scientific and/or forensic background through either relevant A-level, degree or industry experience and have quality and technical experience of working within a successfully accredited quality environment. They must have an understanding of International Accreditation Standards e.g. BS EN ISO/IEC 17025, BS EN ISO 17020 and their applications within an operational environment.

There is no requirement for shift or weekend work attached to this role, core office hours between Monday and Friday apply. The role will require regular travel within Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire.

It is mandated for successful candidates to provide DNA (mouth swab) and / or fingerprint reference sample for anti-contamination purposes.

JPS endeavour to reflect the diverse communities we serve and to build an inclusive workforce where everyone is valued and respected. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented or minority groups.

For further information or an informal chat please contact Ash BEAUMONT on 01480 422224.

'Please note: There may soon be a Quality Officer post available. If you express an interest in this role too we may retain your details and contact you in due course.'

If you are an internal applicant working within BCH (Bedfordshire Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary or Hertfordshire Constabulary), please upload either your CV or a completed internal role summary form. This form can be found in the attached documents. Please note you will still be required to evidence against the entry requirements mentioned on attached role profile.

If you are an external applicant, please ensure you upload your CV and evidence against the entry requirements. Please see attached role profile for guidance. To ensure the recruitment process is fair and equal, please do not include any personal details on your CV, other than your name. An internal role summary form should not be completed. 

If you are successful at shortlisting, you will be required to evidence against all personal qualities and the entry requirements as stipulated in the role profile.

This vacancy is live to those at risk of redundancy and will remain open to redeployees until the conditional offer stage throughout the recruitment process. Any redeployee that wishes to apply should apply through the Redeployment Portal and provide a statement no more than 500 words against the entry requirements only. Please see attached role profile for guidance. Redeployees will take priority over other applicants at any point during the recruitment process up until conditional offer. 

This force is a Disability Confident Leader. Should you require any workplace adjustments for your recruitment journey with us which you have not informed us of, please contact us on 01438 757777 or email us on careers@bch.police.uk and we will be happy to support you.  If you have a disability and you meet the minimum criteria for the position you are applying for, you will be entitled to an interview under the ‘Offer an Interview Scheme’. 

Everyone at Beds, Cambs and Hertfordshire Constabularies take personal responsibility to help create an inclusive workplace, where police officers and staff respect one another, feel valued for their differences and can be themselves. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments, wherever needed so everyone feels welcome and can flourish. 

It is recommended that you download and store a copy of the role profile as this will no longer be available once the advert has closed. We try to speak to our applicants however, we may receive a high number of applications that can delay our response.  Please assume that you have not been shortlisted for the role if we have not responded 4 weeks after the closing date.

All applications must be submitted through our online recruitment website by clicking the apply button below.