Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Birmingham, Chilton, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf or Colindale), Porton (Core HQs and Scientific Campus) About the job Job summary The Corporate Health & Safety team is a well-established group of professionals whose common function is to support on matters relating to health and safety across UKHSA, working together towards achieving a positive health and safety culture and managing the overall implementation and governance of the organisations Health and Safety Management System. The Health & Safety team delivers training, undertakes assurance activities and provides support to the organisation through the provision of competent H&S advice. In addition, the corporate team supports interactions with the regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Lead H&S Advisor role supports the implementation of H&S arrangements across all UKHSA workplaces, including our specialist laboratory sites. The postholder will need to apply their own judgement and make decisions autonomously, but with support from colleagues and senior managers when required. This involves a collaborative approach, making reasonably practicable decisions regarding health and safety risks (during audits, incident investigation and assurance checks and contribution to committees and working groups). The post holder will be a key leader in the team, alongside 3 other topic-specialist Lead Advisors, helping to support and mentor other team members through offering guidance and shadowing opportunities, supporting the competent advice function of the corporate team and helping to fulfil knowledge and skills progression for team members. They will also support senior management and other colleagues in the team with the annual programme of continuous improvement activity and corporate projects. They will seek to lead by example by implementing team processes such as H&S auditing, training provision, document management, review and consultation, H&S updates and communications; supporting team initiatives to maintain and improve ways of working that contribute to the organisations safety culture and enhance operational H&S implementation. Job description An important part of the role is building and managing relationships with Heads of Departments and other key personnel to foster a positive health and safety environment. The postholder will lead on initiatives to investigate, identify, improve and resolve H&S issues in a way that supports the development of a learning culture. UKHSA is a multi-site organisation and the corporate H&S team are required to travel to other sites on occasion for the purpose of auditing, training, investigations and meetings. As part of on-the-job learning and workplace support activities where they will be working alongside H&S team members, the Lead H&S Advisor may need to spend time working in the different locations. The main sites that corporate health and safety are based at are Chilton, Colindale and Porton Down, and the role may also involve travel to regional laboratories, offices and Core Headquarters (London, Canary Wharf; Birmingham; Leeds; Liverpool). Your key responsibilities will include: Providing specialist H&S advice and support to specified areas of the business, as needed: Attending operational meetings & providing briefings/updates and other communications Responding to staff and operational manager queries Support with any H&S incidents reported; assist the reporting process, help identify corrective action and carry out assurance of reports made to ensure clarity of information and proportionate investigation Support with audit recommendations and associated action plans Support the implementation and assurance of H&S arrangements Shadowing and supporting other H&S Advisors and H&S Managers, as required Delivering H&S Training to staff, and developing/reviewing training content, including the use of training development software for e-learning packages Contributing to corporate H&S objectives, programmes and improvement activities (for example, communication & engagement; H&S culture; contractor management; continual improvement to the management system) Interacting with our software systems used for H&S records (such as DSE training and assessments, risk assessments, and incident reporting) and contributing to the management of the information assets Attend and contribute to corporate H&S team meetings; lead, coordinate or chair working groups, networks and local meetings as required to complete objectives and support operational team Receive and analyse monitoring and assurance information and submit reports to groups and committees as required. Undertake corporate H&S audits according to audit schedule and arrangements Undertake personal learning and development activities and maintain Continuing Professional Development (CPD) The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Person specification Essential Criteria: Diploma in Occupational Safety & Health Experience in a health and safety advisor role, including interpretation of set policy and procedure to apply appropriate H&S arrangements Experience carrying out audits against H&S management systems (HSG65, ISO 45001) Experience of H&S culture and communication strategies, with an understanding of its relation to organisational health and safety performance Experience delivering H&S training, including specialist training such as manual handling Ability and willingness to work as part of a group and independently, using own initiative and motivation Advanced written and spoken communication skills, including influencing and persuasive communication, to clearly present findings, options and advice through various techniques such as email, MS Teams, reports and in person Willingness to develop own competence and drive to take up learning opportunities Ability to find solutions to sometimes complex or conflicting problems An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships. Benefits Alongside your salary of £54,416, UK Health Security Agency contributes £15,764 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 and will assess your Behaviour's, experience and Strengths. Stage 1 - Application & Sift: You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 11 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a: Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application 1000 word Statement of Suitability This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. The application form and statement of suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview. Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of: Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: Experience in a health and safety advisor role, including interpretation of set policy and procedure to apply appropriate H&S arrangements. Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Stage 2: Interview (success profiles) You will be invited to a (single) remote interview. Behaviour's, experience and strengths will be tested at interview. There will be a 5-10 minute presentation. The Behaviour's tested during the interview stage will be: Working Together Changing & Improving Making Effective Decisions Communicating & Influencing Interviews will be held week commencing 27th January 2024. Please note, these dates are subject to change. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Location This role is being offered as hybrid working. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton and Chilton). Eligibility Criteria Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Reasonable Adjustments The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should: Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/ Artificial Intelligence (AI) Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own. Security Clearance Level Requirement Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. If based at one of our scientific locations, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further Security Vetting Level: whatever the JD states Security Vetting Level: minimum of CTC, higher if the JD states Security Vetting Level: whatever the JD states advice. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). International Police check: If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period. 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 counter-terrorist 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. 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 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 : Harry McCullagh Email : Recruitmentukhsa.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : Recruitmentukhsa.gov.uk Further information The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. 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 UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaintsukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here. Attachments Job description Opens in new window (docx, 121kB) Apply at advertiser's site Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail