Non Executive Director

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Greater London; On-site; GBP 16,000; Part time

Job description

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – Local Authority – Non-Executive Director

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a Crown Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). HSE is the national independent regulator for health and safety for those at work and those affected by work activities.

Its wide range of activities includes overseeing major hazard safety regimes (including offshore oil and gas and onshore chemical processing), workplace inspections, accident investigations, policy development, and publishing guidance and research.

DWP is seeking one Non-Executive Director (NED) with a range of established skills and competence to join HSE’s Board. We are looking for candidates who can provide experience from other organizations with challenges on a similar scale to HSE.

The Role of the HSE Non-Executive Director

The successful candidate will contribute to the Board’s role in leading HSE, with the opportunity to influence the future direction of health and safety in Great Britain. Key responsibilities include:

1. Helping lead the work of HSE by operating effectively as a Board Member and contributing to Board meetings and discussions;
2. Chairing or participating in the activities of Board Committees;
3. Building and maintaining effective working relationships with a broad range of networks and stakeholders;
4. Providing guidance on financial management and ensuring the effective scrutiny of HSE's financial practices, in line with public sector accountability standards;
5. Representing HSE externally, acting collectively in representing its decisions to stakeholders and the general public;
6. Acting as a critical friend to HSE’s senior staff, particularly in their area of expertise;
7. Demonstrating a commitment to the Seven Principles of Public Life.

Essential Criteria

We are seeking a candidate with the right skills and abilities to complement the existing Board members. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate:

• A clear understanding of the work, priorities, and challenges of the organization and the context within which it operates;
• A strong track record of delivery at a senior level in local government;
• The ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, including with Ministers and Senior Government officials, and external stakeholders;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenge, and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity and respect;
• Decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyze a wide range of information and make clear and objective evidence-based recommendations to support the organization’s objectives;
• The ability to work closely with the Executive Board and other key stakeholders, providing support, constructive challenge, and assurance as appropriate.

Desirable Criteria

The following criteria are desirable; candidates would not need to demonstrate all of these below:

• Experience of working in finance and/or risk management, with the ability to ensure effective governance and risk management frameworks are in place;
• The ability to chair or be a member of an Audit and Risk Committee;
• Willingness to develop knowledge of the public sector environment, including a good understanding of Parliament.

Additional Information

Location: The meetings take place at HSE’s headquarters in Bootle, Merseyside, or in the regions and will involve an overnight stay. Reasonable travel expenses and subsistence will be reimbursed in accordance with HSE’s travel policy.

Number of Roles: 1

Remuneration: Non-Executive Directors are entitled to an annual remuneration of £15,100. There is no bonus or pension scheme.

Time Commitment: A minimum of 30 days per year.

Length of Term: Fixed term of up to 4 years.

The vacancy closes at 17:00 on 12/05/25. For more information and to apply for this role, please click apply.