Operational Support Officer (Band 6/AO)

Job summary

Operational Support team members provide high-quality operational, administrative and technical support within office-based environments for Inspection, Investigation, and Specialist Divisions, delivering key functions that contribute to regulatory operations across these divisions. Cross divisional support is also provided to Chemical, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) and Energy Division (ED) on an ad hoc basis, making Operational Support colleagues the backbone and integral part of a host of regulatory support work.

They work as part of a collective team within specific office locations, whilst aligned to and supporting delivery via a functional operating model. Every colleague is assigned to up to three of the division’s six priority workstreams.

Work Pattern

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

You will contribute to the delivery of HSE’s Strategy and plan of work by undertaking a range of business support tasks and processes, against stringent service level agreements, in direct support of both front line and other HSE staff, including providing support to other parts of HSE, on both a local and national basis. You will do this by:

Targeting & Intelligence (T&I): Workstream activities relate to the provision of inspection premises as part of the annual inspection programme. This consists of actioning visit requests in a timely manner through triage of potential sites and creation of visit packs in support of Inspectors, ahead of visits. Cases must be created and accurately recorded on the correct corporate system for inspection recording.

Additionally, and irrespective of workstream, team members take on additional responsibilities as set out in the Support Service Guide and within local offices. These include but are not limited to:

• Point of contact for inspectors at location in relation to operational support tasks.

• Handling priority calls from the emergency services, and members of the public, via Customer Services.

• Effectively manage evidence at local HSE sites, for all Divisions, ensuring continuity, accurate tracking and timely safe destruction for sensitivity, security, and capacity purposes.

• Supporting local estates activity, including PPE provision, incoming/outgoing post, and general office resilience tasks.

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Skills

• The ability to organise effectively, manage tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to adapt within in a working environment when priorities change and stay focused when working on multiple tasks
• Attention to detail and ability to complete tasks accurately

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

For details of HSE locations please see here HSE Offices

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,499, Health and Safety Executive contributes £8,256 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.

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 Strengths.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.

Application Information:

Test Information: Please note that the test is NOT timed. Upon submitting your short application form, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service verbal test. Please complete the online test as soon as possible, within 24-48 hours is recommended, to allow time to complete your full application.

You must complete the online tests and your full application formby 12:00 Midday on 22 June 2026. 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.

There will be maintenance for online tests on Sunday 7th June from 16:00 to 19:00 p.m and Sunday 21st June midday to 1.00 p.m . This means you will be unable to access the online tests between these times. Your progress will be saved, and you will be able to continue once the tests are available again.

Following the online tests you will be asked to provide two 250-word statements on the two Behaviours listed in the advert. Please note that your examples do not need to be work-related - you can tailor your answer to projects, education or life examples you feel best reflect your experience.

Application Guidance

It is recommended that candidates use the STAR approach in your answers - Situation, Task, Action, Result (see below for more information) to structure your example and to refer to the Success Profiles Behaviours (Level 1 AA/AO) guide which can be found on gov.uk

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to apply https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Please access the following link for guidance and further information on the Civil Service Tests, including practice tests: Civil Service online tests - GOV.UK

Sift Information

The sift will take place from Week Commencing 22 June 2026 where you will be assessed on the Behaviours.

In the event of a high number of applications, at sift we will assess on the lead behaviour Delivering at Pace only and you will not receive a score for Working Together. The lead behaviour will also be used in the event of a tie breaker following interview.

Interview Information

Interviews will take from week commencing 6 July 2026. This is a blended interview consisting of Strengths and Behaviours.

Please note that these dates could be subject to change due to panel availability.

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. Offers will be made in merit order, by location.

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

Furthermore, existing Civil Servants must gain written approval from their Line Manager prior to applying for this campaign. At the point of offer, you will be asked to provide this evidence. Offers will be revoked if the appropriate approvals cannot be produced when requested.

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.

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.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 : DSU.recruitment@hse.gov.uk
• Email : DSU.recruitment@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:

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/civilservicecode…

Attachments

HSE Terms and Conditions - CSJ Advert Annex Opens in new window (pdf, 116kB)