About the job

Job summary

Diverse Perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

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.

A key operational arm of HSE, Energy Division (ED) regulates the UK's Offshore oil and gas industry, pipelines, mines, diving and renewable power generation. We employ around 140 professional engineers and scientists to do this. Respected internationally for our independent status and integrity, we have a long standing reputation for technical expertise which can be applied logically to deliver effective, proportionate solutions enabling hazardous situations to be managed safely. Offshore safety and the linked environmental protection remain high government priorities.

Fire Explosion and Risk Assessment is essential in the context of managing offshore major accident hazards, where failures can lead to catastrophic harm to workers and the environment. Energy division has a front line team of Fire Explosion and Risk Assessment Specialist Inspectors who cooperate with colleagues to regulate companies undertaking offshore oil and gas operations or related activities. Their work encompasses:

Safety case assessment

Inspection

Investigation

Enforcement action

Maintenance of guidance material

Engaging with stakeholders

Job description

You will become part of a team of technical specialists working to help improve safety across a wide range of activities within the UK offshore major hazard industries. You will provide fire explosion and risk assessment support to IMT inspectors for both planned and reactive work. As part of the specialist team of inspectors you will also engage with a diverse range of stakeholders to keep up to date with new developments and to promulgate HSE expectations within the industry.

You will be expected to travel to offshore oil and gas installations to work as a member of a team and also to work independently. 

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, 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.

Person specification

You will be highly motivated and assertive, inquisitive and a critical thinker. You will be able to engage with colleagues, external stakeholders and at all levels of the duty holder operation.

You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, be capable of producing accurate and clear written reports to challenging deadlines and have good presentation skills. You must also be computer literate.

You will maintain currency with the latest technical developments in your area of expertise.

As part of your role you will be required to:

• Travel to offshore oil and gas installations to undertake interventions, inspections and investigations as part of a team.
• Assess offshore safety cases and their material changes and inspect combined operations notifications and thorough reviews.
• Complete detailed analysis in order to identify safety issues and draft recommendations.
• Write and contribute to investigation reports and industry guidance.
• Assist with the development of guidance to support intervention work.

Essential Experience

• Experience in fire, explosion and related risk assessment/management and consequence analysis techniques
• Have practical experience within a major hazard industry, preferably the offshore oil and gas industry.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a regulatory environment

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £66,657, Health and Safety Executive contributes £17,997 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Applications Information

As part of your application, you will be invited to complete a CV and a personal statement of up to 500 words which demonstrates your experience of applying your fire explosion and risk assessment expertise. You will also be asked to complete two behaviours as specified below. 

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

At Sift, you will be assessed on your CV, personal statement and 2 behaviours.

The Sift will take place week commencing 4th March 2024.

Interview Information

At interview, you will be assessed against the behaviours detailed within the job advert.

Interviews will take place week commencing 19th March

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.

Further Information

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 document.

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 at here

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

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 for 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.