Operational Support Team Leader (Band 5/EO)

Job summary

We are looking for individuals skilled in organising and leading, to effectively manage the delivery of a broad range of administrative support functions and are keen to become successful leaders.

This is a fixed term appointment, for up to 23 months, with the option to complete a Level 3 Business Administration orTeam Leader Apprenticeship during the course of this appointment.

Hours

Please note that if you choose to undergo the Apprenticeship, the role will be full-time only due to split between working and learning requirements. However, there is an option to work part time with a minimum of 30 hours per week without the apprenticeship element.

Job description

We have 3 positions available for Operational Support Team Leaders, which will initially specialise in specific workstreams. These are:

• Bristol: initially specialising in the delivery of HSE’s Targeting and Intelligence procedures.
• Sheffield: initially specialising in the delivery of HSE’s Fee For Intervention procedure and processing of Freedom of Information and, Environmental Information disclosure requests.
• Newcastle: initially specialising in the delivery of HSE’s Targeting and Intelligence procedures.

As an Operational Support Team Leader, you will:

• Provide leadership, management and direction to a team of operational support staff.
• You will work closely with Senior Administrative Managers, Heads of Operations and regulatory colleagues across operational divisions to understand and support delivery of inspections investigations in accordance with the yearly HSE workplan.
• You will be responsible for ensuring adherence to agreed deadlines and completion of regular and timely data quality checks, managing and mitigating risks given essential GDPR considerations.
• As a line manager, you will lead and proactively engage in personal and team development and performance management.

Person specification

You will work closely with your Senior Administrative Manager to lead and motivate operational support staff, encouraging consistent high-quality service delivery.

Essential Skills and Criteria:

You will have:

• A track record of driving a culture of teamwork, continuous improvement, and high performance.
• Effective communication and leadership skills with experience of working with others, delivering at pace, managing a quality service, and making improvements to service delivery.
• Building the capability of staff through development, training, and support by ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and standards for all staff within your management command.
• Ability to coordinate resource to support essential office-based tasks, keeping workloads and resources under constant review to ensure business priorities are understood and met.
• Identifying potential business risks, appropriately escalating as required. Able to demonstrate developing and sustaining contacts outside your immediate team, identifying opportunities to share knowledge, information and learning, while responding positively to change.
• Experience of ensuring arrangements are in place and adhered to for office security, secretariat, business continuity, health and safety; liaising with facilities management and HSE's estates teams as appropriate.
• Able to showcase consistent application of performance and attendance management procedures. Taking timely formal disciplinary and informal action as necessary with the support of your Senior Administrative Manager.

Apprenticeship Information

Apprenticeships are available for Level 3 Business Administration or Level 3 Team Leader for this position.

This is a development route so to be eligible to apply for the apprenticeship, the training and development you receive must provide you with significant new skills and learning. This is an essential requirement for apprenticeship funding and means you must not already hold a similar or higher qualification, be working towards a similar or higher qualification, or be significantly experienced in the management, business, or administration modules.

If you hold a similar or higher qualification or are currently working towards a similar or higher qualification in the Business Administration or Team Leader modules, you will be unable to enrol onto the apprenticeship programme.

In addition you must:

• Be aged 16 or over (there is no upper age limit).
• Have the right to work in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK/EU/EA for 3 consecutive years before starting the apprenticeship.

For candidates aged 19 and over, for these programmes, in line with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) HSE has agreed that it is a learner-led decision to complete Functional Skills (Level 2 Maths and English). This means that if you cannot evidence you have this already, you now have the option to complete the Functional Skills or opt-out if you prefer. We wish to encourage learners to continue with Functional Skills, especially if you feel it would be beneficial in improving your literacy or numeracy skills or it may be helpful for your future career ambitions to have an English and Maths qualification but for this pathway it is not mandatory.

For candidates aged 16-18, you will be required to provide evidence of a level 2 equivalent qualification in Maths and English (i.e., GCSE Grade A-C). If you do not hold or are unable to provide evidence of this, you will be required to undertake Functional Skills exams (Level 2 Maths and English) as part of the apprenticeship programme.

Hybrid Working

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.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,657, Health and Safety Executive contributes £9,171 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, Strengths and Experience.

IMPORTANT TEST INFORMATION

Upon submitting your short application form, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Management Judgement 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 the test, 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 25th March 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.

Application Information

Following the test, as part of your application, you will be invited to complete:

• An anonymised Personal Statement of up to 750 words demonstrating how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria and;
• Up to 250 words on the Lead Behaviour 'Managing a Quality Service'.

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 week commencing 25th March 2026.

You will be assessed on your Personal Statement and the Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service.

IMPORTANT: Please note an initial sift will be conducted on your Behaviour. If you meet the benchmark for the Behaviour, you will be progressed to a full sift in which the Personal Statement will also be scored. If you do not meet the standard for the Behaviour, you will not receive a score for your Personal Statement.

Interview Information

Interviews are expected to take place virtually (via Teams) from week commencing 20th April 2026.

At interview, you will be assessed on your Behaviours alongside Strength-based questions.

Please note specified dates may change due to panel availability.

Please be advised that offers will be made in Merit Order by Location.

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 preemployment 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

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. 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. 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 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)