Job Description

Do you want to help everyone to breathe healthier indoor air?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team in Allergy Standards Ltd. (ASL), a thought leader in indoor air quality. ASL is an award-winning international certification body which is based in Dublin, which develops scientific standards to test consumer products as being suitable for people with asthma and allergies. 

We run the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program around the world, and count some of the world’s most innovative companies amongst its clients, including Dyson, LG, 3M, Volvo and many more. 

We also provide e-learning and business services to our air-aware clients.

ASL is looking for an experienced, insightful Science Lead with a passion for problem-solving and communicating.

Key Functions of the Role:

Act as custodian of ASL’s certification standards and related testing protocols

• Provide leadership in the scientific area for the company – identify new areas of research that should be addressed or incorporated in our standards, and explore new opportunities/areas of business in the scientific space.
• Carry out ongoing review of ASL’s standards, updating them where necessary.
• Assess opportunity and need for new standards.
• Coordinating the development of new standards.
• Convene and participate in meetings of ASL’s Scientific Committee, which makes decisions on new standards and updates to existing standards.

Grow ASL’s reputation as a thought leader in the field of IAQ and asthma/allergies

• Coordinate research activities.
• Write up research and secure publication/presentation as appropriate at relevant conferences.
• Help to proactively set the company’s research and scientific priorities to align with the overall mission and goals of the organisation.
• Produce scientific and education content, white papers, research papers for publication, conference presentations, etc.

Ensure that ASL delivers excellence in its testing and consultancy services

• Lead the science team, including overseeing all testing commissioned (there is a team of two that manages testing on a day-to-day basis), deciding what testing is needed on products, and deciding whether products have met certification standard requirements.
• Manage ASL’s consultancy work (much of this is outsourced, but equally this role could deliver some consultancy work where relevant).
• Address scientific issues that arise in standard development and product testing, finding and implementing solutions.

Build network of scientific experts and lab partners

• Manage relationships with our lab partners, and work to bring new partners on board.
• Keep the company competitive, by staying updated on technological advances and industry trends.
• Build networks in relevant scientific fields, ensuring that ASL has suitable networks of experts to consult as need arises.

Qualifications and Capabilities:

• PhD level education. Field could vary – areas of interest include analytical chemistry, biological sciences, physics/air-flow/fluid mechanics, chemistry/toxicology, research engineer, research scientist in environmental field. The focus of our certification standards is to improve the indoor air environment in a way that benefits those with asthma and allergies.
• Industry experience rather than a purely research background would be desirable. Some prior lab-based experience would be advantageous.
• A practical rather than a solely theoretical approach to questions/challenges.
• Hands-on – ready to explore methodologies and make decisions rather than outlining options.
• Comfortable with navigating uncertainty and complex situations, and making judgement calls in that context.
• An understanding of and interest in the commercial context in which we operate.
• Capable of representing the company to clients, in conferences, and in media, but willing to step in and do day-to-day work where needed
• A comfortable communicator – able to explain complex science in a way that is comprehensible to the general consumer.