About the job

Job summary

This is a rare opportunity to lead on the development of building standards for energy efficiency and the indoor environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for the Government’s national technical standards for the energy efficiency of non-domestic buildings, standards for overheating and ventilation, and providing expert advice on a range of related technical matters. 

Background

The climate and nature crisis is the greatest long-term global challenge that we face. The new Government is committed to making Britain a ‘clean energy superpower’, cutting bills and accelerating to net zero. Decarbonising buildings will be a crucial part of meeting this commitment.

The Building Safety Regulator is the Government’s technical authority on buildings. As part of its duties to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review, the regulator develops the technical standards for buildings, including the full suite of Approved Documents.

Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 22.2 hours per week.

Job description

We are looking for a professional building services engineer, energy/indoor environment specialist or scientist to manage and develop Approved Document L, volume 2 (energy efficiency in non-domestic buildings), Approved Document O (overheating) and Approved Document F (ventilation) as well as leading related technical research projects, public consultations, and providing impartial technical advice to government ministers.

The opportunity is for one Band 2 professional to:

• Lead on specific work packages in support of Government priorities in relation to Building Regulations and standards.
• The job offers outstanding opportunities for the right candidates to use their knowledge to ensure Ministers have expert, technical advice; to enable the Government to successfully influence the national agenda; oversee critical research projects; engage effectively with key partners in industry and government; lead on important project work, including managing junior staff and external contractors.

The post will be within a team of technical specialists and policy generalists responsible for a range of regulations including those for ventilation standards, acoustics, resistance to contaminants and moisture, and for the energy efficiency of buildings.

Person specification

Applicants will be keen to develop and apply, in a policy and regulatory context, their scientific understanding of buildings and the indoor environment. Additionally, you will be expected to deal with a variety of audiences including Government departments, academia, engineering institutions, trade bodies, and the construction industry, and should have excellent communication, influencing and negotiating skills. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience working as consultants on construction projects alongside engineers and architects.

Essential Skills and Criteria

• Given the technical nature of this role you must be a member of a relevant professional body such as CIBSE, the Energy Institute, or the IET. You should be chartered or equivalent, or working towards chartered status.
• You will have substantial experience in energy efficiency, indoor air quality, ventilation, and thermal comfort in an industry, government or academic role.
• You should have expert knowledge of environmental science and engineering, particularly in relation to energy efficiency in buildings and topics such as indoor air quality, ventilation, and thermal comfort.
• You should also have a broad-based understanding and experience of construction industry practice and standards.

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,866, Health and Safety Executive contributes £15,624 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.

Application Information

In your application, you will be asked to fill out an anonymised CV. Please ensure you detail your skills/experience, career history and qualifications.

Additionally, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement (up to 500 words) and up to 250 word on the Technical Skills question.  Further information will be included on the application form.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Statement of Suitability https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Sift Information

The sift will take place week commencing 5th/12th August.

Interview Information

The interviews are scheduled for week commencing 19th August via MS Teams. We recognise that some applicants may be on holiday in the month of August. An alternative interview date may be made available on request within reason.

At interview, you will be asked to prepare a presentation assessing the technical skills listed in the advert, in-line with the GSE Technical Framework - more information will be provided on your interview invite.

Additionally, you will be assessed against the three behaviours listed in the advert.

Please note, that these dates could be subject to change due to panel availability.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.

Near Misses

There may be opportunity for unsuccessful applicants to be considered for a similar role at a lower grade (Band 3).  The Band 3 role is akin to the above Job Description, but will have lesser responsibilities and report into this role. Any offers made in this way will be done so on merit order after interview.

AI Tools & Platforms

During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and Tools to support them in writing their Behaviours, CV’s and Personal Statements. However, all information submitted must be factually accurate. This includes presenting the ideas and experience of others, or those generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

Additional 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 HSE Terms and Conditions document. 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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

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. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all disabled applicants who provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post. 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. 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.