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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
The Department for Business and Trade employees over 5000 staff about 1300 of which are based overseas working out of British Embassies and High Commissions in 108 countries. Most of the department’s UK staff are based in central London at the Old Admiralty Building, but we also have a growing number of regional offices with staff spread across approximately 20 regional locations in the UK. UK based staff frequently undertake short term trips overseas and some of these are to high-risk locations.
DBT is looking for someone to take the role as Deputy Head of Health and Safety. The rapid expansion of the department over recent years and a switch to smarter working mean that there are a range of health and safety opportunities to address. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to;
- Review, maintain, and build on our existing arrangements for both for completeness and adequacy and make improvements where necessary.
- Identify and deliver new opportunities and initiatives to improve our health and safety culture and behaviours.
- oversee and deliver day-to-day health and safety services to our colleagues, providing direction and guidance to the small H&S team.
This role provides an opportunity to make an important contribution to making DBT a great place to work; a department that makes a significant contribution to UK prosperity both at home and abroad.
Job description
Specific activities within the role are anticipated to be, but not limited to:
- Engaging with internal stakeholders to understand where cultural and functional challenges exist in relation to health and safety.
- Developing a strategy and delivery plan to address those challenges.
- Delivering that plan which may include: Designing and delivering training and briefing sessions for staff – including using exploring IT solutions to improve the management and performance of H&S.
- Designing and implementing a communications stream.
- Supporting line managers and staff with complex H&S cases.
- Developing and updating policies and procedures.
- Identifying or producing guidance for staff.
- Identifying relevant metrics and collecting the data to produce reports.
- Working with internal stakeholders to ensure that workstreams are joined-up.
- Building and maintaining relationships with cross-government colleagues.
- Managing the day-to-day activities of the H&S team, including: Management and improvement of the departments H&S arrangements.
- Drafting paper and reports for various committees and boards.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Candidates must hold a Level 6 Diploma (or equivalent) in Occupational Safety and Health, and be a Chartered member of the IOSH, or can demonstrate that they are working towards it.
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they have experience of leading a team and delivering H&S at a strategic level, including cultural/behavioural change initiatives
Desirable Criteria
A proven track record of delivery in a H&S role and extensive knowledge of H&S legislation, guidance and standards; evidence of continuing professional development, plus wider experience in a range of roles is desirable.
Personal Attributes & Skills
The successful candidate will need to be a self-starter who is able to manage a multiple workstreams and conflicting priorities to deliver projects and day-to-day services.
The job holder will need to have a positive and enthusiastic approach with excellent influencing skills and be someone who can sell the case for good H&S performance in a persuasive and engaging way.
The successful candidate will be a team player who promotes and enables a collaborative and inclusive approach.
They will need to provide guidance to the team and take responsibility for contributing to the senior management team within Business Services.
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£14,040 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
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.
Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.
To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
- A Personal Statement explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:
Complete the Assistance required section on the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.
Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Candidate Support
You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.
Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.
Further Information:
- A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
- Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
- The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
- New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
- Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant who has details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
- A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
- Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Security and vetting
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland/Access NI on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC. All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK.
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
Please note the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Dan Smith
- Email : dan.smith@trade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : ditrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: Resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints
