Aberdeen, Ashford (Kent), Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bootle, Bristol, Buxton, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Chelmsford, Crewe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxted, Plymouth, Sheffield, Wrexham, York
Job Summary
You will lead a varied portfolio of work and will need to work flexibly and dynamically, often at pace, in line with the demands of the policy areas you are responsible for to ensure that HSE interests and priorities are met. You will be part of the leadership team with responsibility to define and direct policy in emerging areas of work. You will also be expected to review and identify opportunities to improve existing practices and approaches to ensure they best support HSE’s and Government’s wider objectives.
To succeed you will need to quickly establish credibility with both HSE colleagues and a diverse range of external stakeholders by developing a thorough understanding of the underpinning policy, regulatory frameworks and technical and legislative issues and proactively build and maintain collaborative networks. The high-profile nature of HSE’s policy work, the rapid pace of activity coupled with working with uncertainty is particularly challenging. This will require you to be politically astute, tenacious, creative and able to act decisively to keep projects moving forward.
As a team leader you will also be responsible for setting clear objectives, motivating your team to deliver and providing development opportunities and support to individuals to ensure they build capability within their roles. You will be expected to travel to meetings in the UK to build and maintain relationships both within HSE and with external stakeholders. This may sometimes be at short notice and involve occasional overnight stays, and may include international travel.
Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 4 days per week (30 hours).
This role will include occasional travel and office attendance in line with HSE's hybrid working policy.
Job Description
The work requires a person with a flexible approach who is ready to take on new challenges and areas of work when needed and to take advantage of opportunities for improvement and to drive change.
You will need to get to grips quickly with new subjects and to understand not just the technical and legal aspects but the implications for HSE, to demonstrate your analyses are well-informed and authoritative but also to ensure your findings and proposals have influence and impact.
You will need to be confident taking the initiative and make sound decisions based on evidence. You will also need to understanding the implications of science and technology for policy development and implementation.
You will need to work at pace and be able to communicate effectively, you will relish the challenge of achieving objectives through mutually beneficial relationships with a diverse stakeholder community.
Key Responsibilities
- Providing strategic leadership for delivery of work activities in line with business plan priorities, including commissioning work activities within the team to consider policy options and providing strategic direction on the approach and managing team resources to ensure delivery of work to time and quality.
- Build strategic networks with key stakeholders across the area of lead to support delivery of outcomes.
- Support cross divisional planning as the work area lead.
- Flexible and able to work towards group and unit priorities by providing input and direction to multi faceted topics. Coordinating and consulting across HSE and other government departments and with stakeholders as needed.
- Lead and manage the team by maintaining effective performance by setting clear objectives, priorities, standards and expectations; managing employees in line with HSE’s policies and procedures, to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of the team; motivating others through the demonstration of behaviours in line with HSE’s standards and expectations.
The work requires a person with a flexible approach who is ready to take on new challenges and areas of work when needed and to take advantage of opportunities for improvement and to drive change.
You will need to get to grips quickly with new subjects and to understand not just the technical and legal aspects but the implications for HSE, to demonstrate your analyses are well-informed and authoritative but also to ensure your findings and proposals have influence and impact.
You will need to be confident taking the initiative and make sound decisions based on evidence. You will also need to understanding the implications of science and technology for policy development and implementation.
You will need to work at pace and be able to communicate effectively, you will relish the challenge of achieving objectives through mutually beneficial relationships with a diverse stakeholder community.
Key Responsibilities
- Providing strategic leadership for delivery of work activities in line with business plan priorities, including commissioning work activities within the team to consider policy options and providing strategic direction on the approach and managing team resources to ensure delivery of work to time and quality.
- Build strategic networks with key stakeholders across the area of lead to support delivery of outcomes.
- Support cross divisional planning as the work area lead.
- Flexible and able to work towards group and unit priorities by providing input and direction to multi faceted topics. Coordinating and consulting across HSE and other government departments and with stakeholders as needed.
- Lead and manage the team by maintaining effective performance by setting clear objectives, priorities, standards and expectations; managing employees in line with HSE’s policies and procedures, to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of the team; motivating others through the demonstration of behaviours in line with HSE’s standards and expectations.
Person specification
Essential Skills And Criteria
- Experience in policy development and implementation (Lead Criterion).
- Experience of programme and project management in a policy context, with efficient organisational and planning skills.
- Experience in building and maintaining strong, collaborative working relationships both internally and externally to an organisation with the ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders to help shape outcomes.
- Sound analytical skills to identify underlying issues and develop innovative, sustainable solution and proven ability to interpret complex information and write/present technical information effectively in a clear, concise and timely way for non-technical audiences.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
Alongside your salary of £62,898, Health and Safety Executive contributes £18,221 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
We invest in our people with;
- Competitive rates of pay
- Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97%, far more than in the private sector.
- Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
- Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
- 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
- Parental leave benefits
- As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Application Information
Upon submitting your short application form, you will be invited to complete the Verbal Reasoning Test, on successful completion of the test, you will be invited to complete the Work Based Strengths Test. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible, within 24-48 hours is recommended, to allow time to complete your full application. If you successfully pass both tests, you will then be invited to complete the final stage of your application. You must complete the online tests and your full application form by 12pm on the 15th December 2025. If you fail to complete the online test and full application form before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV which should include your career history, experience, and qualifications.
Please note this is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
You will be asked to complete an anonymised personal statement of no more than 1000 words which demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria of the job advert.
Application Guidance
Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/
Sift Information
The sift will take place during week commencing 15th December 2025 where you will be assessed on your Personal Statement only.
In the event of a high number of applications we will complete an initial sift on the lead criterion of 'Experience in policy development and implementation'. Candidates that pass the initial sift will then progress to the full sift where the Personal Statement will be assessed.
Interview information
Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams from week commencing 12 January 2026 when you will be assessed against the behaviours detailed within the job advert.
AI Tools & Platforms
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Sponsorship
This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.
Further Information
Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.
HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.
From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment
. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk .
Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK
It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.
Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual Civil Service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.
HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.
If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk
If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.
Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here
Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : Sally Lloyd Davies
- Email : sally.lloyddavies@hse.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk
Further information
If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address: HSE Resourcing Team 2.3 Redgrave Court Merton Road Bootle Merseyside L20 7HS If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecodecomplaints/
