Specialist Inspector - Human Factors Engineering (Band 3/SEO)

Job summary

Within Chemical, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD), Human Factors (HF) Specialists ensure industry manage the risks they create, thus 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. We don’t just inspect workplaces and implement the law, we review guidance and regulation, provide specialist services and steer crucial research in our field. 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 premises and installations, 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 also 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.

Working 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 or a 9 day fortnight although flexibility is needed during the first 2 years due to training requirements, with advance notice given.

Travel

This post can be based in any of the advertised locations however, Inspections and investigations may take you to sites across Great Britain, thus requiring regular travel and overnight stays.

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

Specialist Training Programme

You will be supported by your manager and colleagues to understand your role in HSE, develop your skills, and support you in your continuing professional development. For the legal requirements of the role, you will be enrolled on the Specialist Training Programme (STP) and will be required to study for and successfully complete a formal assessment. We also have a strong focus on ongoing technical CPD and training in our core subject areas.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Criteria

• Breadth and depth of 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 quantitatively, 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
• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels of an organisation
• Ability to make effective decisions and be accountable for them
• Be organised and self motivated, able to plan and deliver a workload to deadlines with a high level of autonomy
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams, assessing the importance of HF issues alongside other stakeholder’s concerns

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.

Licences

At time of application you must hold a full driving license that permits you to drive in the UK unless a case for reasonable adjustments can be made under the Equality Act 2010. Should a reasonable adjustment be required, please answer yes to this criterion.

Qualifications

Degree in Ergonomics or Human Factors.
OR
Degree in an engineering subject or psychology, AND relevant post-graduate qualification in Ergonomics, Human Factors or Occupational/Organisational Psychology.

Memberships

Registered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF) or Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS).
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

Technical skills

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

• Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - Technical Oversight and Management - Technical Delivery/Project Management
• Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - Technical Oversight and Management - Overseeing Technical Work
• Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - Building and Applying Knowledge - Applying Knowledge

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,063, Health and Safety Executive contributes £15,951 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a CV that displays your career history, experience, and qualifications.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement of up to 1000 words which should demonstrate how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria detailed in this job advert.

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 from 25th May when you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place from 15th June when you will be assessed against the behaviours and technical skills detailed within the job advert.

You will also be asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation. Further details will be provided with your interview invite if you are successful at sift.

This vacancy is using the Government and Science and Engineering Career Framework, for further information on the Career Framework, please follow this link.

Interviews will be held face to face, the location will be confirmed if you are successful at sift stage. In exceptional circumstances, we will be able to offer you a virtual interview.

Please note that sift and interview dates are subject to change based on panel availability.

Further Information

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.

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 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

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.

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.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 : Elaine Skilling
• Email : elaine.skilling@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)