Careers

In the State Laboratory, we have a culture of high performance and continuous improvement, which encourages high levels of engagement and personal development. We support the well-being and work-life balance of staff with policies that include flexible working hours, part-time working options, career breaks, blended working, and sports and social activities. The State Laboratory is committed to championing an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects modern Ireland and the people we serve.

We strive to create a culture where everyone has equal access to opportunity and feels comfortable and confident to be themselves at work.

The State Laboratory embraces innovation in order to continuously improve, deliver best in class services and to tackle the many challenges and opportunities that arise. Developing expertise in chemistry is essential for the future success of the Laboratory and this requires training, on-the-job learning, a research culture, participation in international working groups and attendance at conferences and workshops. To succeed, expertise in disciplines including IT, Finance, HR, Health and Safety, and Communications is also essential.

All staff employed in the State Laboratory are civil servants. If you would like to receive notifications about new recruitment campaigns, please email your interest to careers@statelab.ie.

The State Laboratory provides excellent career opportunities for chemistry graduates and postgraduates who want to work in superb laboratory facilities utilising innovation and the latest technologies to perform high-quality analysis and make a real difference. The changing requirements of our clients means we are constantly improving and developing methods and investing in the new equipment. This means staff are continuously learning throughout their career. Chemistry staff have the opportunity to pursue further studies up to Ph.D. (NFQ Level 10).

There are two entry routes for chemistry staff.

Laboratory Analyst

Minimum qualification requirement: NFQ Level 7 grade 2.2. with chemistry as a significant component of the final year. Candidates in their final year of a Level 8 chemistry course are eligible to apply.

Minimum experience requirement: None

Typical profile of new entrants to the grade: Recent graduates from NFQ Level 8 courses with 0-5 years experience.

Chemist Grade III

Minimum qualification requirement: NFQ Level 8 grade 2.2. with chemistry as a significant component of the final year.

Minimum experience requirement: One year. Postgraduate study counts towards the experience requirement.

Typical profile of new entrants to the grade: This is a career grade with a salary scale spanning 17 points. New entrants are assigned work and responsibilities commensurate with their experience.

New entrants to the grade include the following categories:

• Graduates from NFQ Level 8 courses with 1-15 years’ experience in private or public sector laboratories.
• Graduates from NFQ Level 9 and Level 10 courses with 0-15 years’ experience in private or public sector laboratories.

We have a number of roles which support The State Laboratory’s ability to provide a comprehensive analytical chemistry and advisory service to Government Departments and Offices.

These support roles fall into the Civil Service Grade structure of:

• Clerical Officer
• Executive Officer
• Administrative Officer
• Higher Executive Officer
• Assistant Principal

Recruitment for these positions is carried out when a need for a position becomes available.

Often these are specialised roles in the Support Sections of Finance, HR, ICT or Laboratory Services.

For more information on the Civil Service Career Path, please visit Publicjobs.ie

There are two research opportunities to join the State Laboratory, these are in conjunction with the Chemical and BioPharmaceutical Sciences TU Dublin at Technological University Dublin. The Greening of Regulated Analytical chemistry Methods (GRAMS) project, funded by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland, is bringing together expertise to increase sustainability and green chemistry in regulated analytical test methods, with the State Lab as a testbed. The open roles are for a postdoc and a Masters by Research (MPhil), both with interests and expertise in analytical chemistry, green chemistry, mass spectrometry and method validation.

The roles will involve desk and laboratory research, managing laboratory consumables, producing peer-reviewed publications, and writing further follow-on grant proposals to further their career and the outputs of the project. The successful candidates will join a collaborative team and mainly be based in the State Laboratory facilities in Backweston, Celbridge Co Kildare.

Further details can be found at the links below.

• To apply for the postdoctoral position, follow the link to the TU Dublin Online Recruitment System https://shorturl.at/cnbRn
• To apply for the MPhil position follow the link https://shorturl.at/UhWQI