Inspector

Sports Grounds Safety Authority

Remote

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Health And Safety

Flexible

£54,238 per year

Job summary

The SGSA is recruiting for the role of an Inspector.

SGSA Inspectors work from home and cover a specific geographical area. Consideration will be given to the geographical location of applicants, given the need to align with existing members of the Inspectorate, but applications are welcome from anywhere in England.

The successful candidate will be expected to travel extensively including overnight stays and work flexibly. This will include weekend/evening work for which time off in lieu will be given.

Role Context

Every week millions of people watch live sport events in the UK. This role helps keep them safe.

The SGSA is “a small but ambitious organisation, which is regarded as a world leader in sports ground safety”, as stated by the Government in its response to a recent independent review of the organisation.

We have built this reputation through our exceptional staff, made up of Inspectors and a central Secretariat.

This vacancy offers a rare opportunity to join the SGSA. It is particularly exciting as the successful applicant will be joining us as we look to strengthen our role in the sports safety sector.

Alongside our statutory responsibilities to licence football grounds and maintain oversight of local authorities, over the next year, the SGSA’s priorities include:

Maintaining our commitment to fan safety through licensed standing and addressing the risks associated with persistent standing in seated areas.
Continuing to support grounds and local authorities with stewarding and preparations for Martyn’s Law; and
Developing our support for women’s football;

This is an important time to join the SGSA, and the successful applicant will be integral to the delivery of these priorities.

As part of the Inspectorate team, the new Inspector will contribute to a wide range of work and policies. They will provide independent and expert advice, contributing to setting internationally-recognised guidance and standards.

Job description

The SGSA is the UK Government’s advisor on safety at sports grounds and a world leader in safety and its purpose is to ensure sports grounds are safe for everyone.

The SGSA’s team of Inspectors provide advice, guidance and training on a wide spectrum of spectator safety issues within football grounds, as well as across a range of other sports and each Inspector has a portfolio of grounds that they support.

Inspectors are responsible for delivering the SGSA’s two regulatory functions for their portfolio:

Licensing of football grounds in the Premier League, the English Football League, Wembley Stadium and the Principality Stadium
Overseeing local authorities’ performance in fulfilling their statutory obligations in relation to these grounds.

The Inspectors’ role involves frequent interaction with local authorities, football clubs and other interested parties, with visits to sports grounds on both event and non-event days. They advise, assist and persuade clubs and local authorities on a wide range of ground and spectator safety issues. The nature of the work therefore requires overnight stays, evening and weekend working.

The team of Inspectors have a range of specialist knowledge, experience and expertise and individual Inspectors represent the Inspectorate on project work for the SGSA as relevant to their particular specialism/s.

Inspectors may also be required to contribute to the development of internationally-recognised guidance and standards, develop and deliver training on safety related matters, and undertake other commercial activity both on a national and international basis. This may provide the (optional) opportunity for international travel.

As an overview, the accountabilities, roles and responsibilities for an Inspector are:

Provide the regulatory oversight for a portfolio of football clubs and local authorities to enable and support them in the delivery of their statutory obligations.
Plan and carry out (and maintain up to date, professional and clear records for) a risk-based program of matchday inspections, ground assessments and local authority audits for clubs and authorities within their portfolio in accordance with the relevant SGSA KPI’s.
As necessary undertake interventions, inspections and information gathering with respect to the Authority’s responsibilities under the relevant legislation and in accordance with SGSA policies and procedures.
Produce accurate and clear reports for relevant stakeholders to inform and when necessary direct their decision making: identifying good practice and areas of concern; and making clear recommendations for improvement where necessary.
Provide information and expertise to advise the SGSA’s senior management on licensing decisions.
Share individual areas of expertise as required, including: leading on specific sports/subject areas/professional disciplines, contributing to the formulation of guidance and standards and contributing to / leading relevant internal projects.
Provide advice, guidance, training and interpretation on safety certification and the application of the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds to local authorities, clubs, and other stakeholders.
Contribute to the cohesion, reputation and smooth running of the SGSA: adhering to corporate policies and standard operating procedures; engaging in meetings and change programs; acting as an ambassador and as appropriate spokesperson for the SGSA.
Liaise with stakeholders at all levels, promoting safety at sports grounds and the role of the SGSA both nationally and internationally, including, as required, on a commercial basis.
Demonstrate an on-going commitment to personal continuous professional development relevant to the Inspector role and any individual professional discipline.

Person specification

Essential knowledge, skills, experience, qualifications and education requirements for the role:

Experience in a safety related environment with up-to-date knowledge of spectator safety legislation and guidance (Note: particular weighting will be given to this criteria).
Strong partnership working and stakeholder management skills and experience with a proven ability to negotiate and influence at all levels.
Proven understanding and experience of the use of project and programme management techniques, including risk management.
Experience of using auditing systems and processes with robust record management.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Current and valid UK driving licence, and exclusive use of a car.
Competent in the use of Microsoft 365 applications.

Desirable knowledge, skills and experience:

Degree level or professional qualification in a relevant subject (e.g., surveying, crowd, event, facilities or risk management)
Experience and/or understanding of the application of integrated safety management.
Experience of working with sports at a national and/or international level.
A knowledge of the Women’s football game.
Experience of developing and delivering training.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,238, Sports Grounds Safety Authority contributes £15,712 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Membership of the Civil Service pension scheme, Flexible working.

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

Please download and complete the attached application form, including the equality monitoring questionnaire.

Please email your application form to recruitment@sgsa.org.uk. Applications must be submitted by 23.55 on Sunday 24 May 2026

No candidate will meet every desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you.

All applications will be anonymised before being submitted to the recruitment panel. This is to ensure fairness within the selection process.

Equality monitoring information will not be shared with the recruitment panel.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview with the recruitment panel. Details of this will be provided closer to the time.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

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.

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

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Recruitment
Email : recruitment@sgsa.org.uk

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Salary range

£54,238 per year