Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location The Drinking Water Inspectorate is an independent regulator within Defra and has a landing area in 2 Marsham Street which is rechargeable to the water industry. Generally employees are employed based on working in London, however we support flexible working. About the job Job summary The Drinking Water Inspectorate is the independent regulator of drinking water quality in England and Wales. Established by Parliament in 1990, the strategic objective is to protect public health and maintain public confidence by securing safe and clean drinking water, now and for future generations. The powers and duties under which the Inspectorate operates are established in legislation and are wide-ranging, covering all aspects of the quality and sufficiency of water together with duties in regard of network and information systems of public water supplies as delegated by the Secretary of State and Welsh ministers. Statutory duties in relation to private supplies for the provision of technical advice to local authorities and the authority of appeal are provided on behalf of the Secretary of State and Welsh ministers. The Inspectorate produces its own independent reports for ministers in both England and Wales; reporting on the operational performance of the water companies that it regulates in both countries, and on the performance of local authorities in their duties with respect to private water supplies. These cover assessment of the results of monitoring of drinking water supplied by the water companies month by month; investigation of notified events; and site visits and meetings with companies to audit technical operating practices, procedures and policies for compliance with regulation and enforcement notices. In addition to the statutory function, further non-statutory functions are provided, including an evidence programme; consumer and media advice on information about drinking water safety and regulation as well as the running of an independent website. Job description The DWI is the technical regulator for the water industry in England and Wales delivering drinking water quality regulation, Network Information System (NIS) regulation and the regulatory functions of the Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD), where the DWI will be acting for and on behalf of the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is seeking an engineer, applied scientist or specialist in the design and application of physical, personnel and cyber protective security measures to protect assets and operations against malicious attacks, along with skills in emergency planning. Ideally with experience in the water industry you will provide technical support on matters relating to civil emergencies and national security in the water and wastewater sector to join its team of Inspectors ensuring safe, secure and high-quality water supplies across England and Wales. Inspectors work in teams under the direction of a Principal Inspector, however, there is a high degree of autonomy of decision making. The postholder should be aware of current technical standards and maintain knowledge of the priorities and issues affecting todays water industry. Using their technical experience, they will work with Defra policy colleagues and external stakeholders including the regulated water companies on matters relating to SEMD. The Inspector (SEMD) will develop initiatives that require a technical input and provide technical advice on issues. They will particularly be expected to become proactively involved in developing and delivery of policies and initiatives and to help improve the security and infrastructure capabilities of the water industry. The key responsibilities will be: Monitoring measures taken within the requirements of SEMD to undertakers and licensees (companies). Assessment of compliance of companies with the Direction, including assessment of the companies self-assessments and any required audit or investigations. Review companies Price Review (PR) Enhancement Plans in line with their SEMD performance, and feedback in time for the company to submit their PR bid to Ofwat. Initiating Enforcement. SEMD Incident Assessment. Advising on a wide range of other security issues that affect the water industry. Development of, and participation in, exercises to test water company and Defras emergency plans. Providing feedback to the industry to drive continuous improvement. Person specification The post holder should have an enquiring mind, be motivated and dedicated to improving the approach by companies in providing a secure industry, ultimately protecting public health. Candidates are required to be a specialist in water engineering, have a civil engineering background, civil emergency, physical security or SEMD relevant experience with understanding of the water industry. Additionally, the candidate should have understanding of emergency planning requirements, and experience of how this is practically implemented in water and wastewater environments, and ideally have completed the NPSA foundation course. It is a requirement to have attained, be working towards or willing to work towards chartership of a professional body for instance the register of security engineers and specialists (RSES), the Security Institute, Institute of Water or other relevant body. Ideally registered as a security engineer or specialist or working to this registration would be preferred. The successful candidate will have good IT skills and be well organised. Licences As travelling is an integral part of the job, often to areas not served by public transport, candidates should have a valid driving licence. Qualifications Candidates are required to be a specialist in water engineering, have a civil engineering background, civil emergency, physical security or SEMD relevant experience with understanding of the water industry. Memberships Successful candidates will be expected to hold, or already be working towards, chartership with a relevant professional body. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Changing and Improving Making Effective Decisions Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Changing and Improving Benefits Alongside your salary of £41,220, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £11,941 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. A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience. Application Process As part of the application process you will be asked to complete: A name-blind (anonymous) CV with details of your full job history, experience and qualifications. 1 x Behaviour Statement (250 word max). Personal Statement. Please use the Personal Statement (750 word max) to set out your reasons for applying for the role of an Inspector SEMD. Please detail your experience and explain how your current skills are transferrable. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Sift Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. Interview If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours, strengths and a written exercise. The written exercise needs no prior preparation and is used to measure an applicant's experience in the water industry. A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed. Interviews to be held remotely by MS Teams. Location As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s) Where the location is National the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defras location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes. Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes. The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD. Reserve List A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Salary New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. Visa Sponsorship Statement Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Criminal Record Check If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out. In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 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 via defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional. Accessibility If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. Internal Fraud Database Check Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. NSV For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting Childcare Vouchers Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 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 the Civil 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. 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 : Business Performance Unit - Drinking Water Inspectorate Email : dwi.enquiriesdefra.gov.uk Telephone : 03300416501 Recruitment team Email : defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.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, in the first instance, you should contact: Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission. Share this page Print Email Gmail Facebook LinkedIn