Deputy Director Policy Group – Health and Safety Executive

Job summary

The role sits within HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division (EPD) and is one of four Deputy Directors working with the Director and G6 Head of Divisional support as a Senior Leadership Team collectively responsible for delivering HSE’s policy functions, setting direction, designing regulatory interventions, driving communications and leading stakeholder engagement to coordinate delivery of HSE’s strategy. The Division restructured last year, moving from a topic-based split of policy, health at work, operational strategy, communications and insight and service design to a new functional model.

A key part of the role in the Division’s senior team is showing strong leadership to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Divisional delivery

As Head of the Direction and Policy Group (DPG) the DD is the primary lead for HSE’s policy activity, charged with defining policy problems, setting our policy intent and strategic direction, determining the impact of proposed policy solutions and monitoring the efficacy and impact of our policies. The role requires the DD to play a pivotal role in Cross Whitehall interactions to deliver HSE priorities and the Government’s goals, leading on HSE’s international policy and the interface with trade, and the interaction with the UK’s Devolved Governments. The DD also acts as HSE’s Head of Policy Profession with oversight of the development of our policy professionals across the organisation.

Job description

As Head of Policy Profession, the post holder should be able to draw on wide personal experience to support the work and development of our teams in supporting Ministers and our DWP Sponsorship team in wider Westminster activities, liaising with other Departments cross Whitehall, acting as a focal point where necessary, and maintaining relationships with OGDs and our DWP Sponsorship team.

Current priorities include:

• Responsibility for leading HSE’s delivery and contribution to the government’s growth agenda, the regulators action plan and the annual simplification plan
• Leading the delivery of Cross Whitehall policy programmes on Growth, Chemicals, Net Zero, Regulatory Reform and deliver targeted activity on specific legislation such as the Control of Asbestos Regulations and proposed changes to the Approved Code of Practice for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, including those relating to workplace temperature
• Coordinating HSE’s provision of health and safety expertise to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) through specific topics and the wider Net Zero Regulators forum
• Supporting HSE’s work In our role as a statutory consultee in planning contexts.
• The postholder is responsible for the management and oversight of around 15 teams, under 3 x HSE Band 1s (G6) totalling circa 65 people
• Critical to the success of the work is being able to support the flexible deployment of this resource, on a project management basis, to a range of work under the direct leadership of the teams or led by others across the Division
• The work also requires interactions with other parts of HSE including the Director of Regulation’s office and HSE’s Legal Services Division to delivery organisational priorities.
• Leading delivery of HSE’s policy function, setting direction and defining policy intent
• Providing timely and high quality support to Ministers, both directly and through development of our teams, in a broad range official business
• Working across the Division and organisation to support the development of interventions that deliver on the policy intent
• Acting as HSE’s Head of the Policy Profession, ensuring the development and maintenance of HSE’s policy skills, capability, capacity and performance.
• Driving a culture of efficient and effective use of the policy capabilities in the Division with clear expectations on performance and quality at team and individual level to champion a culture of trust, empowerment, and continuous improvement
• Taking responsibility for key deliverables in HSE’s business plan, holding teams to account for timely delivery to plan to meet organisational objectives
• SRO for legislation and lead responsibility for HSE’s delivery of legislative changes and updates to SIs etc, having the final policy quality check before SIs are made.
• Working with the Director to support strong cross OGD connections and engagement in and delivery of relevant Government priorities, particularly with Defra, DBT, and DESNZ
• Key role in stakeholder engagement with external organisations, such as NGOs with interests in chemical regulation.

Person specification

Essential Criteria to address in your statement of suitability:

• The ability to think creatively and give authoritative risk based policy advice that facilitates practical solutions meeting the priorities of the organisation and wider stakeholders.
• Outstanding problem-solving skills, the ability to work with focus and pace, adapt to ever-changing environments and react quickly to emerging challenges.
• A track record of providing strategic input into sensitive and difficult matters, including politically charged and fast moving situations.
• Brings wider policy experience and knowledge to bear in directing our own teams, supporting senior stakeholders.
• Is able to demonstrate sound judgement and credibility at all levels with experience in understanding what matters to senior/executive level leaders or Ministers, and communicating effectively across complex organisational structures in ways that resonate at their level.
• Build and lead inclusive high performing teams that demonstrate accountability and innovation by acting as a visible and authentic role model, providing inspiring, confident and empowering leadership that is inclusive, supportive and improves others’ skills and performance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Health and Safety Executive contributes £24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career within the Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Servant, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.

Contract

This role is being offered on a permanent basis.

If you are not currently a Civil Servant, there will be a minimum 6-month probationary period.

Pensions

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package.

A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit www.civilservicepensions.org.uk for more details.

Generous parental leave

Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more then the statutory minimum offered by many other employers.

Childcare benefits

(policy for new employees as of 5 April 2018) the Government has introduced the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Working parents can open an online childcare account and for every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2000 a year for each child or £4000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay a registered childcare. Existing employees may be able to continue to claim childcare vouchers, so please check how the policy would work for you here.

Onsite facilities

Opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteen (where applicable).

Sick Pay

Occupational Sick pay.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Recruitment process

The closing date for receipt of applications are 23:55 7th September 2026.

To apply you will need to complete the online application process via Civil Service Jobs

• Complete your comprehensive CV online via Civil Service Jobs (CS Jobs). This should concisely cover your career history, current substantive pay band (if in civil service)/ latest remuneration and provide details of associated responsibilities, your main achievements and qualifications.
• A supporting statement. This should set out why you are interested in the post, and how your experience matches the essential criteria of the person specification. Complete this within the statement of suitability section of your application form within CS Jobs (this should be no longer than 1250 words).
• A completed equal opportunities form (Annex B) attached in your CS Jobs application. Your information will be treated as confidential and used for statistical purposes. It will not be treated as part of your application or disclosed to anyone involved in assessing your application. If you do not wish to declare any particular characteristics you can choose ‘prefer not to say’.

If you encounter any problems please email hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk

If you have any questions, wish to have an informal discussion, or have any difficulty with the dates shown in the indicative timeline, please contact:

Sarah.hawes@hse.gov.uk

Personal data

In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and / or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward. Please also remember not to give anyone’s information or details (e.g. referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.

Application Process

The panel will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Essential Criteria’ section. If you do not address any or all of the criteria it may affect your application.

You will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible after the dates indicated in the timeline.

Assessment

Assessment is a two-stage process. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a series of assessments, which will include psychometric tests. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

• You will be offered the opportunity to have an informal conversation with Rick Brunt prior to the final interview.
• Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Selection Process

In addition to Rick Brunt, the panel will also consist of:

• Michael Jennings, HSE Legal Director
• Kerstin Parker, Director for Private Pensions and Arm’s-length bodies, DWP

Offer

• Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final interview
• We will send you a copy of any report for any assessment that you may have undergone as part of the process (where applicable).

Indicative Time Line

We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Advert Closing Date: Monday 7th September 2026 23:55
Shortlist Meeting: Week Commencing 14th September 2026
Assessments: Week Commencing 28th September & 5th October 2026
Panel Interviews: Week Commencing 12th October 2026

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Reserve lists

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitable vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.

Further Information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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 : SCS Recruitment
• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact fiona.stewart@cabinetoffice.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission via info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

Deputy Director Policy Group - Health and Safety Executive Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 587kB)HSE 472536 Deputy Director Policy Group – Health and Safety Executive Accessibilty Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)