Specialist Inspector - Human Factors Engineering (Band 3/SEO)

Health and Safety Executive; North Tyneside; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to ensuring safety across diverse industries. As a Specialist Inspector in Human Factors, you will leverage your expertise to influence safety practices that protect lives. This role offers a unique blend of challenges and opportunities for professional growth, allowing you to collaborate with technical specialists and contribute to vital safety standards. Enjoy a supportive environment that values flexibility, inclusion, and continuous development while making a tangible impact on public safety.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Civil Service Pension Scheme

25 days annual holiday

Learning and development opportunities

Family friendly policies

Carer friendly policies

Access to Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Practical experience in Human Factors projects within major hazards industries.
• Experience in assessing human reliability in accident risk assessments.

Responsibilities

• Conduct HF inspections to identify risks and ensure compliance.
• Assess safety reports for upper tier COMAH sites and contribute to investigations.

Skills

Human Factors

Risk Assessment

Communication Skills

Team Collaboration

Education

Degree in Ergonomics or Human Factors

Degree in Engineering or Psychology with relevant post-graduate qualification

Job description

Ashford (Kent), Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bootle, Bristol, Buxton, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Crewe, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxted, Plymouth, Sheffield, Wrexham, York

Job Summary

Within Chemical, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD), Human Factors (HF) Specialists ensure employers across Great Britain work safely, protecting people and places. In this role, you can utilise your technical HF knowledge and experience to influence not only individual employers but whole industry sectors – you get the reward of making a difference and doing work that actually saves lives.

As part of a national team, our HF roles are unique. They suit those who appreciate variety and a challenge, whilst enjoying flexibility and having the support of experienced HF professionals and the widest range of health and safety experts in Britain.

Although the core part of your work will be in regulating onshore major hazards industries, such as chemicals and explosives the role will also allow you to apply your skills across a diverse range of industries including manufacturing and utilities, as well as new technologies, gig economy and net zero projects.

The role will give you the chance to collaborate with technical specialists from multiple other disciplines, e.g., mechanical engineering and process safety, allowing you ample opportunities for continuous professional development in a diverse and stimulating environment.

Job Description

The role of Specialist Inspector in HF will allow you to:

• Undertake HF inspections, applying your experience and knowledge to identify risk and underlying issues on site, enabling you to make effective decisions on the adequacy of existing control measures. You will have the opportunity to persuade, influence and enforce at all levels to achieve compliance with the law.
• Assess the adequacy of safety reports for upper tier COMAH sites, both for new sites and where modifications to a site are planned.
• Play an integral part of investigation teams working across industry to seek out accident and incident root causes and identify recommendations to ensure that lessons are learned.
• Act as an expert witness, giving your specialist opinion on HF aspects of accidents and incidents.
• Contribute to the production and revision of HF guidance and standards for HSE and other industry bodies.
• Prioritise continuing professional development, both technically, and in non-technical skills and be able to partake in cross division HF training and coaching.
  
  

Inspections and investigations may take you to sites across Great Britain, thus requiring regular travel and overnight stays. Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Specialist Training Programme (STP)

On joining HSE, all new specialist inspectors are required to complete a 2-year Specialist Training Programme (STP). This comprises of legal training and assessment to prepare you fully for your regulatory role.

The role of Specialist Inspector in HF will allow you to:

• Undertake HF inspections, applying your experience and knowledge to identify risk and underlying issues on site, enabling you to make effective decisions on the adequacy of existing control measures. You will have the opportunity to persuade, influence and enforce at all levels to achieve compliance with the law.
• Assess the adequacy of safety reports for upper tier COMAH sites, both for new sites and where modifications to a site are planned.
• Play an integral part of investigation teams working across industry to seek out accident and incident root causes and identify recommendations to ensure that lessons are learned.
• Act as an expert witness, giving your specialist opinion on HF aspects of accidents and incidents.
• Contribute to the production and revision of HF guidance and standards for HSE and other industry bodies.
• Prioritise continuing professional development, both technically, and in non-technical skills and be able to partake in cross division HF training and coaching.
  
  

Inspections and investigations may take you to sites across Great Britain, thus requiring regular travel and overnight stays. Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Specialist Training Programme (STP)

On joining HSE, all new specialist inspectors are required to complete a 2-year Specialist Training Programme (STP). This comprises of legal training and assessment to prepare you fully for your regulatory role.

Person specification

Essential Skills And Criteria

• Practical experience of undertaking HF projects in the workplace, specifically in the control of risks within major hazards industries.
• Practical experience of applying the principles of HF to engineering design projects.
• Practical experience of assessing human reliability, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in the context of major accident risk assessments to ensure reliance on human performance is proportionate to risk.
• Practical experience of using HF methods for the management of workload, fatigue, staffing levels, organisational change, and critical communications.
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams, assessing the importance of HF issues alongside other stakeholder’s concerns.
  
  

Licences

A full driving license that permits you to drive in the UK unless a case for reasonable adjustments can be made under the Equality Act 2010. Should a reasonable adjustment be required, please answer yes to this criterion.

Qualifications

Degree in Ergonomics or Human Factors.

OR

Degree in an engineering subject or psychology, AND relevant post-graduate qualification in Ergonomics, Human Factors or Occupational/Organisational Psychology.

Memberships

Registered Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF) or Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

OR

The academic and professional qualifications to apply and achieve Chartered status.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
  
  

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Breadth and depth of Technical Skills in Human Factors
• Overseeing Technical Work
• Building and Applying knowledge - Applying Knowledge
  
  

Alongside your salary of £52,563, Health and Safety Executive contributes £15,227 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
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97%, far more than in the private sector.
• Competitive rates of pay
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
• Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
• 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
• Parental leave benefits
• As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.
  
  

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

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a CV that displays your career history, key skills and experience, and qualifications.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement of up to 1000 words which demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria skills and criteria noted in this job advert.

Sift Information

The sift is due to take place from the 22nd May 2025. At sift, you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.

Interview Information

You will be assessed against the essential skills and criteria through the three technical skills listed in this advert.

This will be assessed in reference to the Government Science and Engineering Service Framework and as part of your interview, you will be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation. Further details of this will be provided with your interview invite, if you are successful at sift.

You will also be assessed on the three Behaviours listed in this advert.

Interviews are due to be held week commencing 9th June 2025.

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, CVs 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.

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.

Security Clearance

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

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

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.

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.

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.

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: [e-mail]

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 at Homepage , Childcare Choices

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.

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

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.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.

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).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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 : Garry Moon. Principal Specialist Inspector (HFE)
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met, you can raise a complaint by emailing: [e-mail] or by writing to HSE at the following address: HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecodecomplaints/