Health and Safety Executive
Deputy Director Policy Group – Health and Safety Executive
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Job Description
Locations
This role can be based in the following HSE locations:
- Ashford
- Basingstoke
- Birmingham
- Bootle
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Chelmsford
- Crewe
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Leeds
- Milton Keynes
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
- Sheffield
- York
Regular travel is involved to our key locations particularly to Bootle and London as well as across the UK (including overnight stays).
Job Summary
The role sits within HSE’s Engagement and Policy Division (EPD) and is one of four Deputy Directors working with the Director and G6 Head of Divisional support as a Senior Leadership Team collectively responsible for delivering HSE’s policy functions, setting direction, designing regulatory interventions, driving communications and leading stakeholder engagement to coordinate delivery of HSE’s strategy. The Division restructured last year, moving from a topic-based split of policy, health at work, operational strategy, communications and insight and service design to a new functional model.
A key part of the role in the Division’s senior team is showing strong leadership to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Divisional delivery.
As Head of the Direction and Policy Group (DPG) the DD is the primary lead for HSE’s policy activity, charged with defining policy problems, setting our policy intent and strategic direction, determining the impact of proposed policy solutions and monitoring the efficacy and impact of our policies. The role requires the DD to play a pivotal role in Cross Whitehall interactions to deliver HSE priorities and the Government’s goals, leading on HSE’s international policy and the interface with trade, and the interaction with the UK’s Devolved Governments. The DD also acts as HSE’s Head of Policy Profession with oversight of the development of our policy professionals across the organisation.
Job Description
As Head of Policy Profession, the post holder should be able to draw on wide personal experience to support the work and development of our teams in supporting Ministers and our DWP Sponsorship team in wider Westminster activities, liaising with other Departments cross Whitehall, acting as a focal point where necessary, and maintaining relationships with OGDs and our DWP Sponsorship team.
Current Priorities Include:
- Responsibility for leading HSE’s delivery and contribution to the government’s growth agenda, the regulator’s action plan and the annual simplification plan
- Leading the delivery of Cross Whitehall policy programmes on Growth, Chemicals, Net Zero, Regulatory Reform and deliver targeted activity on specific legislation such as the Control of Asbestos Regulations and proposed changes to the Approved Code of Practice for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, including those relating to workplace temperature
- Coordinating HSE’s provision of health and safety expertise to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) through specific topics and the wider Net Zero Regulators forum
- Supporting HSE’s work in our role as a statutory consultee in planning contexts.
- The postholder is responsible for the management and oversight of around 15 teams, under 3 x HSE Band 1s (G6) totalling circa 65 people
- Critical to the success of the work is being able to support the flexible deployment of this resource, on a project management basis, to a range of work under the direct leadership of the teams or led by others across the Division
- The work also requires interactions with other parts of HSE including the Director of Regulation’s office and HSE’s Legal Services Division to deliver organisational priorities.
- Leading delivery of HSE’s policy function, setting direction and defining policy intent
- Providing timely and high quality support to Ministers, both directly and through development of our teams, in a broad range of official business
- Working across the Division and organisation to support the development of interventions that deliver on the policy intent
- Acting as HSE’s Head of the Policy Profession, ensuring the development and maintenance of HSE’s policy skills, capability, capacity and performance.
- Driving a culture of efficient and effective use of the policy capabilities in the Division with clear expectations on performance and quality at team and individual level to champion a culture of trust, empowerment, and continuous improvement
- Taking responsibility for key deliverables in HSE’s business plan, holding teams to account for timely delivery to plan to meet organisational objectives
- SRO for legislation and lead responsibility for HSE’s delivery of legislative changes and updates to SIs etc, having the final policy quality check before SIs are made.
- Working with the Director to support strong cross OGD connections and engagement in and delivery of relevant Government priorities, particularly with Defra, DBT, and DESNZ
- Key role in stakeholder engagement with external organisations, such as NGOs with interests in chemical regulation.
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Person Specification
Essential Criteria To Address In Your Statement Of Suitability:
- The ability to think creatively and give authoritative risk-based policy advice that facilitates practical solutions meeting the priorities of the organisation and wider stakeholders.
- Outstanding problem-solving skills, the ability to work with focus and pace, adapt to ever-changing environments and react quickly to emerging challenges.
- A track record of providing strategic input into sensitive and difficult matters, including politically charged and fast-moving situations.
- Brings wider policy experience and knowledge to bear in directing our own teams, supporting senior stakeholders.
- Is able to demonstrate sound judgement and credibility at all levels with experience in understanding what matters to senior/executive level leaders or Ministers, and communicating effectively across complex organisational structures in ways that resonate at their level.
- Build and lead inclusive high-performing teams that demonstrate accountability and innovation by acting as a visible and authentic role model, providing inspiring, confident and empowering leadership that is inclusive, supportive and improves others’ skills and performance.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
Contract
This role is being offered on a permanent basis.
If you are not currently a Civil Servant, there will be a minimum 6-month probationary period.
Salary and Benefits
- Salary of £86,000
- Health and Safety Executive contributes £24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Generous parental leave
- Childcare Benefits
- Onsite facilities
- Occupational Sick pay
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Pension
- A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire.
Selection Process
- This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Recruitment Process
- The closing date for receipt of applications are 23:55 7th September 2026.
- To apply you will need to complete the online application process via Civil Service Jobs.
Assessment
- Assessment is a two-stage process. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a series of assessments, which will include psychometric tests.
Selection Process
- In addition to Rick Brunt, the panel will also consist of:
- Michael Jennings, HSE Legal Director
- Kerstin Parker, Director for Private Pensions and Arm’s-length bodies, DWP
Reasonable Adjustment
- If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Security
- Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
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)
- 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
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.
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).
Contact Point for Applicants
- Job Contact:
- Name: SCS Recruitment
- Email: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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