About the job

Job summary

As our Safety Management Lead you’ll be the focal point for safety management in the UKHO. We are required, in accordance with combined UK legislation and broader community standards, to manage the safety risks associated with our products, systems and services, reducing associated risks to as low is as reasonably practicable (ALARP).

UKHO products, including nautical charts, supporting publications and information and the data these contain may be used in court proceedings following an incident/accident. As a nautical chart and maritime data supplier, the UKHO and ultimately the owner, the UK Government, carry product liability.

The Safety Manager is responsible for the development, operation and continuous improvement of the Safety Management System (SMS) and Plan (SMP) governing the safety management of all Products, Systems and Services (PSS) that have the potential to cause direct or indirect harm to individuals, property or the environment.

You’ll work with colleagues in business assurance, operational delivery, product management and external colleagues in safety engineering and assurance leading on the establishment, implementation, improvement and measurement of a just safety culture and the continual development and review of the UKHO’s safety performance.

The UKHO has an engaged Executive Leadership Team and a core of safety running throughout the organisation with efforts clearly focused on keeping the lives of mariners safe from navigational incidents. As such, from your position as the safety lead, you’ll find that yours and your team’s efforts are supported and welcomed throughout the organisation. 

For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a Health and Safety role. This is a Products, Systems and Services (PSS) safety role. 

 

Hybrid Working 

The expectation will be working in the office a minimum of three days per week but with flexibility as the business need dictates. Due to the nature of the role and the requirement for effective engagement with multiple stakeholders, this is not a remote role.

Job description

As our Safety Management Lead you will: Lead the implementation of the Safety Management System and Plan (SMS and SMP) throughout the whole business. Provide reports, advice, subject matter expertise on UKHO Safety policy and influencing the policies and practices of other areas of the business to ensure coherence with Safety Management Plan. Lead on the establishment, implementation, improvement and measurement of a just safety culture. Undertake the ongoing development and review of the UKHO’s safety performance.  This will include developing effective measures at the system, process, product, audit and corporate performance levels, that drive the right behaviours and create the conditions for improved safety performance. Confirm changes to Products, Systems and Services have gone through due Safety process and governance. Establish and review safety policies and processes, including ensuring the required elements are understood, by the required stakeholders and provide recommendations for improvement at a policy and process level. Lead on the promotion of a Safety Culture across the business, including managing the ongoing campaign plan to maintain awareness and understanding. Act as a focal point for safety management in the UKHO including at Executive Leadership Team meetings and with non-Executive boards and committees.

Person specification

You should be a systems safety professional with safety thinking woven throughout your ways of working and you’ll have a full understanding of where safety fits within processes. You’ll also have experience of leading a team and will be able to act as the “intelligent customer” for all safety matters.

The successful person for this role will have:

• Experience of implementing a culture change and new “ways of working” that will affect everyone within an Organisation
• Formal training or qualifications in Safety Management/System Safety Engineering.
• Experience in Goal Structuring Notation (GSN) and the creation of Safety Cases
• Experience of/exposure to functional Safety Management
• You will have experience of leading a team, setting a direction and building credible, achievable delivery plans to bring this to life.
• Experience of embedding Safety Management Systems within the Defence or Maritime Industries

Additional Information: 

Whilst we welcome applications from those seeking part time work, please note, that there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to work a minimum of 30 hours per week 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,686, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £15,575 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.

How to Apply:  

When you click "apply now" you will be asked to anonymise and upload a copy of your CV and be prompted to write 250 words on each of the shortlist criteria listed below. 

Timeline:  

• Advert Closes for applications: 21/01/2023 
• Shortlisting:  24/01/2023
• Interviews: 01/02/2023

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:  

Technical Skills

• Experience of System Safety Management including Safety Case development/management. (Lead Criteria) - assessed via 250 word statement

Experience: 

• Experience of management in a Products, Systems and Services safety environment. - assessed via 250 word personal statement

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 4):

• Leadership - assessed via 250 word statement
• Working Together - assessed via 250 word statement

See here for further information on Civil Service behaviours: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk) 

If the panel receive a large volume of applications, an initial sift will be completed on the lead criteria. 

Interview Process 

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information) 
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 3 people and will last approx. 60 mins 
• As part of the interview process you will be required to pre-prepare and present to the Panel on an unseen topic. 

Interview Criteria:  

You will be interviewed against the following criteria: 

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 4): 

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Working Together

Technical Skills

• A presentation and follow up questions. Presentation title will be provided in advance of interview

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)  

Onboarding Checks:  

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. You will also need to apply for SC (Security Clearance), but you may be able to start your role before gaining this. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms. 

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship. 

Residency Requirements

SC – non reserved: This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and although open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area nationals, successful applicants will require a security clearance (SC) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 12 consecutive months within the last 5 years 

Eligibility 

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities. 

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.