AWE

Graduate Trainee - Environment, Safety and Health & Quality (ESH&Q) - Environment

Job posted: Sep 19, 2024
Berkshire, Connecticut, United States
  • Salary average
    £31,000
  • Type of employment
    Contract, Full-time
  • Remote
    n/a

Company

We are AWE. We're a team of remarkable people achieving an extraordinary mission: keeping the nation safe and secure.

Our work is critical. We are responsible for delivering the next warhead for the UK's nuclear deterrent; working at the forefront of nuclear technologies that keep the nation safe.

AWE's support for the government's strategy takes many facets: from supporting the weapon programme for the nuclear deterrent, supporting the UK's counter terrorist programme, identifying where there may be nuclear tests taking place around the world, and building an expert group of individuals in order to give the UK real depth in nuclear science and technology.

Start an extraordinary career at AWE; grow your skills, learn from industry experts and become part of a community at one of the most unique companies in the UK.

Why choose AWE?

As part of our People Promise, AWE (one of the best 25 big companies to work for in the UK) has a range of benefits to suit you. These include:

  • Time to recharge your batteries with 270 hours of annual leave (plus every other Friday off work)
  • Opportunities for Professional Career Development that include funding for the annual membership of a relevant professional body, access to mentors and training
  • Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
  • A generous defined contribution Group Personal Pension (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your own contribution)
  • Life Assurance
  • Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending
  • Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring for your family
  • A host of voluntary & core benefits to suit your health and wellbeing – more information available on our careers site

Application Process

After completion of your initial application, if eligible, you will be invited to complete our online assessment stage. Practice assessments will be available so you will be fully equipped with the knowledge of what is expected at this stage ahead of completing the live assessments.

Those successful at this stage will be invited to our virtual assessment centres running throughout the period 14th October to 14th December 2024, and into January/February 2025. We will be running pre-assessment centre webinars to provide guidance on what to expect.

We recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as our positions have been filled, the scheme will close to new applications. So, please apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out!

Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.

Eligibility

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us and we'll need to know if you've lived outside of the UK at any point in the last 10 years.

Placements

Our Undergraduate scheme is for those studying at university, who are required to complete a formal placement year as part of their course. It is a great opportunity for you to sample what it's like to work in world-class facilities, gain some technical knowledge and develop your skills and behaviours that will enable you to have a world-class future.

We look to take on placement students into a vast array of exciting roles at AWE including:

Analytical Radiochemistry, Data Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Nuclear Safety, Logistics, Cyber Security, Project Management, Materials Science and Physics.

Defence Scholarship Scheme

AWE each year recruits a number of students studying throughout their degrees to join us on our Defence Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme at AWE.

We recruit various engineering and science disciplines onto the programme whereby you undertake a summer placement at AWE, as well as receive tuition fees funding for up to 3 years of your course, and an annual financial bursary.

AWE recruits for scholarship places each summer, so please look out for opportunities to apply or register your interest.

Apprenticeships

Start your career with an employer who genuinely wants to invest in you and work with you to develop your potential. You will have the opportunity to work in world-class facilities, gaining knowledge, skills and behaviours that will enable you to have a world-class future.

Our apprenticeships, vary from level 3 Advanced to level 6 Batchelors Degree covering a broad spectrum of skills: from Engineering to Project Management. Regardless of your chosen path, from day one you will be on a programme that develops not just your technical capability, but also the skills required to be successful in your future roles.

You will receive 1-2-1 support and training that will provide you with both the knowledge and understanding of the role and also the work placements, giving you the opportunity to develop whilst in the role.

AWE is excited to announce their new Match Me tool, a quiz designed to support students in choosing the perfect apprenticeship role to apply for. Take the quiz and find out where your skills best align, then make an application. Roles are open now, don't delay.

AWE Match Me Quiz

Graduates

Evolve is our flagship Graduate Programme and we have opportunities across our six programmes; Engineering, Science, Environment, Safety and Health & Quality (ESH&Q), Finance, Project Management and Corporate and Operations.

As an Evolve graduate you will take part in a Core Development Programme alongside technical and pathway specific development. The programme is designed to provide broader, soft skills and understanding that will set you up for success in your career.

You will also complete rotational placements that are designed to provide you with technical knowledge and expertise across several disciplines within your chosen programme area. This additional core development will enhance your leadership skills and business acumen.

You will have access to a wide network of support and guidance during your time on the Evolve programme. You will be supported by a dedicated line manager and Evolve pathway lead who will help your transition into the business, provide pastoral support and work with you on your development journey. You will also be assigned a buddy and there will be opportunities to network and socialise with others on the Evolve programme through regular team meetings, pathway meetings and throughout the core development programme.

We also offer broader opportunities and initiatives within the business which can be undertaken alongside main placements and the core development programme. For example:

  • Evolve graduates were involved in supporting AWE's social media campaign for British Science Week.
  • Become an Ambassador: All Evolve graduates are encouraged to become STEM ambassadors and support related initiatives in local schools encouraging children of all ages into STEM.
  • Depending on your specific placements, you may have the opportunity to interact with UK and overseas partners and customers.

Responsibilities

  • Continuously develop understanding of environmental legislation and obligations

Contract

40 hours per week

Candidate requirements

  • Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
  • The role also provides the opportunity to develop an understanding of how AWE interacts with its regulators
  • You will gain a strong feeling of satisfaction that you are making a real difference to yourself, to AWE and to the safety and security of the UK
  • You will have the opportunity to socialise with other graduates and undergraduate placement students through organised events, the on-site Recreation Society, and ad-hoc activities
  • You like working with others and you are dependable
  • All graduates also receive a core programme of leadership, business and soft skills' training
  • The placement process will ensure that you develop the technical expertise required as well as a full understanding of our complex operations
  • Quality - Science or Engineering based degrees and interest in quality
  • The first three months of the ESH&Q pathway will be spent immersing yourself within the ESH&Q function understanding fully about AWE business as a whole and the ESH&Q function
  • Following the initial three months you will specialise in one of the following two technical disciplines
  • Gain experience in sustainability assessment tools including Sustainability Appraisals and Defense Related Environmental Assessment Methodology
  • Develop understanding of AWE's approach to sustainability including plans for reducing carbon, enhancing biodiversity and embedding the principles of the circular economy
  • Gain knowledge of radioactive waste management and application of Best Available Technique
  • Previous environment graduates have typically held degrees in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography, or Geology, however, other STEM disciplines would be considered
  • Continuously develop understanding of environmental legislation and obligations
  • Gain experience of Environmental Risk Assessment and risk based inspections in line with relevant legislation, industry standards and AWE's policies, procedures and guidance
  • Develop understanding of AWE's Environmental Management System and gain practical implementation in operational areas

Skills used at work

    Job description

    Start an extraordinary career at AWE; grow your skills, learn from industry experts and become part of a community at one of the most unique companies in the UK.

    Our two-year Evolve graduate development scheme offers you an exciting opportunity to join our ESH&Q pathway. Here you will use your skills, develop new ones and work with remarkable people, in unique facilities, on extraordinary products.

    How Evolve will help accelerate your career

    The first three months of the ESH&Q pathway will be spent immersing yourself within the ESH&Q function understanding fully about AWE business as a whole and the ESH&Q function. Following the initial three months you will specialise in one of the following two technical disciplines:

    • Environment
    • Nuclear Safety Case
    • Quality

    *Please note you will need to pick one of these options when applying. This job vacancy applies to the Environment discipline.

    Within each technical discipline you will experience a variety of placements where you will develop a core set of technical skills for your chosen discipline and make a genuine contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure.

    About the Environment role

    As a graduate environmental specialist, you will work as part of a team to implement AWE's Environmental Management System, certified to ISO 14001(internationally agreed and recognised standard for Environmental Management Systems). The role will involve undertaking environmental risk assessments to identify appropriate control measures, ensuring compliance with Environmental Permits and driving environmental improvements through the delivery of AWEs Environmental Sustainability Strategy, including climate change resilience and transition to net zero plans.

    The role offers the facilities opportunity to work across the whole project lifecycle including; design of new facilities, large modifications of existing facilities, production, research & development facilities and decommissioning facilities. The role also provides the opportunity to develop an understanding of how AWE interacts with its regulators.

    As an Environmental Specialist you will be working alongside other environmental professionals interfacing with regulators, management, facility operators, infrastructure project delivery and technical support as part of an integrated team.

    The Environmental Specialist will:

    • Develop understanding of AWE's Environmental Management System and gain practical implementation in operational areas.
    • Gain experience of Environmental Risk Assessment and risk based inspections in line with relevant legislation, industry standards and AWE's policies, procedures and guidance.
    • Gain knowledge of radioactive waste management and application of Best Available Technique.
    • Develop understanding of AWE's approach to sustainability including plans for reducing carbon, enhancing biodiversity and embedding the principles of the circular economy.
    • Gain experience in sustainability assessment tools including Sustainability Appraisals and Defense Related Environmental Assessment Methodology.
    • Continuously develop understanding of environmental legislation and obligations.

    AWE has corporate membership to the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Management (IEMA) and fully supports progression to Chartered Status through IEMA or other appropriate Professional Institute to suit your discipline.

    Previous environment graduates have typically held degrees in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography, or Geology, however, other STEM disciplines would be considered.

    How Evolve will help accelerate your career

    As a member of our Graduate Development community, you will be involved in activities linked to our current or future nuclear warheads, nuclear threat reduction, manufacturing solutions or our huge building and infrastructure programme that is delivering the facilities to enable the creation of new products.

    Due to AWE's critical role, further technical details of our work are classified. But rest assured, you will be doing remarkably interesting things as part of our expert team.

    Placements into real projects will be central to your development. The placement process will ensure that you develop the technical expertise required as well as a full understanding of our complex operations. It is flexible to allow a specific focus in a particular technical or business area.

    All graduates also receive a core programme of leadership, business and ‘soft skills' training. You will be supported to start working towards your professional registration.

    What AWE can offer you

    • AWE has a highly inclusive culture. You will be supported by colleagues and management to bring your unique contribution to our work.
    • You will undergo ‘DV' security clearance to allow you to work on classified programmes.
    • From Day 1 you will be collaborating with like-minded people on challenging problems, and you will encounter many professional and personal development opportunities.
    • Depending on your specific placements, you may have the opportunity to interact with UK and overseas partners and customers.
    • There is a vibrant early careers community at AWE. You will have the opportunity to socialise with other graduates and undergraduate placement students through organised events, the on-site Recreation Society, and ad-hoc activities.
    • You can join any of our six staff-led Equity, Diversity and Inclusion working groups to help guide our supportive work culture.
    • You will gain a strong feeling of satisfaction that you are making a real difference to yourself, to AWE and to the safety and security of the UK

    What you will get

    • We will give you a competitive total reward package including salary element of £31,000 per annum and benefits including a market leading contributory pension scheme.
    • Generous holiday entitlement (270 hours of leave annually including bank holidays)
    • Excellent work/life balance
    • Nine-day working fortnight (this means you will not work every other Friday)
    • A salary-sacrifice benefit scheme
    • A welcome payment
    • An option of an interest free loan of £1,000 as well as regular Graduate pay reviews
    • A structured and supported career progression
    • Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending across retail, hospitality and leisure
    • Life Assurance
    • Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services

    Alongside these benefits, you will get the opportunity to learn from some of the top leaders in their field.

    What we are looking for

    • You are the sort of person who likes getting stuck into interesting problems.
    • You are curious about what you see and eager to learn new things.
    • You ask questions when you do not understand something and are resilient in the face of setbacks.
    • You like working with others and you are dependable.
    • You are comfortable working in a classified environment on defence projects.
    • You welcome the chance to develop a work style that embraces AWE's cultural behaviours: we connect with respect; we keep our promises; we are safe and secure; we embrace simplicity
    • You must be able to join AWE in September 2025. We recruit on a rolling basis which means as soon as our positions have been filled, we will close.
    • Candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role
    • You are a UK national who has not lived overseas within the last 10 years
    • You are a recent graduate or will graduate by September 2025.

    You will graduate with a minimum of a 2:2 in your degree, typically in any of these science or engineering subjects:

    • Environment - Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography or Geology
    • Nuclear Safety - Science or Engineering. Typically, but not limited to; Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear materials, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or Physics but we would welcome individuals who have a science or engineering degree with an interest in safety.
    • Quality - Science or Engineering based degrees and interest in quality

    Accepted degree subjects

    Any

    Additional job details

    Location: Berkshire

    Salary: £31,000

    Contract, dates and working times: Fixed term Full-time

    How to apply

    Please only make one Graduate role application. We encourage you to take the time to reflect on which programme you feel matches your aspirations and motivations. We can only progress one application per candidate, so we encourage you to think about which role you feel you are most suited too.

    Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants.

    Any inclusion information you provide us will be used to encourage and support you through the application process and will be held only for this purpose in accordance with GDPR.

    Contact us

    If you have questions during the application process, please reach out to the Early Careers Team

    Click Apply to start your application now. This job will be available on Prospects until 7 October 2024

    Don't forget to mention Prospects to employers when you contact them.

    Closing date: 7 October 2024

    Job posted: Sep 19, 2024

    Expiration date: Sep 19, 2025