Specialist Inspector - Human Factors Engineering (Band 3/SEO)
Health and Safety Executive
Apply before Midday on Monday 13th January 2025
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About the job
Job summary
Within HSE, Chemical, Explosives an Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) Human Factors (HF) Specialists ensure employers across Great Britain work safely, protecting people and places. In this role, you can utilise your technical HF knowledge and experience to influence not only individual employers but whole industry sectors – you get the reward of making a difference and doing work that actually saves lives.
As part of a national team, our HF roles are unique. They suit those who appreciate variety and a challenge, whilst enjoying flexibility and having the support of experienced HF professionals and the widest range of health and safety experts in Britain.
Although the core part of your work will be in regulating onshore major hazards industries, such as chemicals and explosives the role will also allow you to apply your skills across a diverse range of industries including manufacturing and utilities, as well as new technologies, gig economy and net zero projects.
The role will give you the chance to collaborate with technical specialists from multiple other disciplines, e.g., mechanical engineering and process safety, allowing you ample opportunities for continuous professional development in a diverse and stimulating environment.
Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Job description
Key Responsibilities;
- Undertake HF inspections, applying your experience and knowledge to identify risk and underlying issues on site, enabling you to make effective decisions on the adequacy of existing control measures. You will have the opportunity to persuade, influence and enforce at all levels to achieve compliance with the law.
- Assess the adequacy of safety reports for upper tier COMAH sites, both for new sites and where modifications to a site are planned.
- Play an integral part of investigation teams working across industry to seek out accident and incident root causes and identify recommendations to ensure that lessons are learned.
- Act as an expert witness, giving your specialist opinion on HF aspects of accidents and incidents.
- Contribute to the production and revision of HF guidance and standards for HSE and other industry bodies.
- Prioritise continuing professional development, both technically, and in non-technical skills and be able to partake in cross division HF training and coaching.
Inspections and investigations may take you to sites across Great Britain, thus requiring regular travel and overnight stays.
Specialist Training Programme (STP)
On joining HSE, all new specialist inspectors are required to complete a 2-year Specialist Training Programme (STP). This comprises of legal training and assessment to prepare you fully for your regulatory role.
Person specification
Essential skills and criteria;
- Practical experience of undertaking HF projects in the workplace, specifically in the control of risks within major hazards industries.
- Practical experience of applying the principles of HF to engineering design projects.
- Practical experience of assessing human reliability, both qualitatively and quantitively, in the context of major accident risk assessments to ensure reliance on human performance is proportionate to risk.
- Practical experience of using HF methods for the management of workload, fatigue, staffing levels, organisational change, and critical communications.
- Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams, assessing the importance of HF issues alongside other stakeholder’s concerns.
Further information on HF Topics enforced by HSE can be found on the following link to the HF Delivery Guide
Licences
Qualifications
OR
• Degree in an engineering subject or psychology, and relevant post-graduate qualification in Ergonomics, Human Factors or Organisational Psychology.
Memberships
OR
• The academic and professional qualifications to apply and achieve Chartered status.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
Benefits
- 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
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Information
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a CV that displays your career history, experience and qualifications. Please note that your CV is for information purposes only and you will not receive a score for this.
You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement of up to 1250 words which demonstrates how you meet the essential skills and criteria listed within the person specification.
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
At sift, you will be assessed on your Personal Statement. The sift is due to take place week commencing 13th January 2025.
Interview Information
At Interview, you will be assessed against your experience and the three behaviours listed in this advert.
As part of your interview, you will also be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation. Further details of this will be provided with your interview invite, if you are successful at sift.
Interviews are due to be held week commencing 27th January 2025.
If you are selected for interview, you be asked to provide your proof of qualifications, this must be provided prior to interview. Failure to provide this information, could result in your interview being delayed or your interview being cancelled and your application withdrawn.
AI Tools & Platforms
During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and Tools to support them in writing their Behaviours, CVs and Personal Statements. However, all information submitted must be factually accurate. This includes presenting the ideas and experience of others, or those generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.
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.
Due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and, Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the 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.
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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
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.
We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all disabled applicants who provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post.
If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or medial 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 t 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 your 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.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Job contact : Elaine Skilling, Principal Specialist Inspector (HFE)
- Email : elaine.skilling@hse.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk
Further information
HR 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/
