We’re proud to be part of the Environment Agency — an organisation that values diversity, champions inclusion, and reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of background, identity, or lived experience.
Job title and role
Two passionate and experienced professionals are wanted to join our national Construction Safety Team as SHEW Advisors. If you’re ready to make a real impact on the safety, health, environment, and wellbeing of major infrastructure projects across England, this could be your next career move. These full-time roles sit within our Capital/Construction team, which sets SHEW standards and assures them through a robust audit and inspection programme. You’ll help shape safer, healthier, and more sustainable construction practices — not just within our organisation, but across the wider industry.
As a SHEW Advisor, you’ll be a trusted expert and role model, helping to raise standards and drive continuous improvement. Your key responsibilities will include:
Responsibilities
* Conducting audits and inspections of construction sites and delivery partners
* Producing clear, actionable reports and following up on findings
* Providing technical advice across construction, and maintenance activities
* Supporting incident investigations and embedding lessons learned
* Developing and delivering training and awareness tools
* Leading on specialist SHEW topics and contributing to strategic SHEW projects
* Supporting framework communities of practice and promoting best practice
Responding to incidents is a central part of the role. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to or provide business continuity support during an incident. Supporting incident response may attract an additional payment and offers opportunity for broader career development. Full training and flexible working arrangements will be available to support your incident role.
Team and approach
You’ll be part of a collaborative, forward-thinking team that works closely with delivery partners and internal colleagues to ensure SHEW standards are not only met — but exceeded. We provide technical support for investigations and share lessons learned. We collaborate with our supply chain and the wider construction industry to develop and share best practice.
Experience/skills and qualifications
To succeed in this role, you must meet the minimum qualification criteria:
* Proven health, safety, and wellbeing experience in construction delivery projects
* NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction Certificate (UK)
* Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. IOSH or IIRSM), ideally Chartered or working towards
Essential Skills
* A strong background in construction safety
* A proactive, solutions-focused mindset
* Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with the ability to build rapport, influence stakeholders, and translate complex safety requirements into practical guidance
* Confidence in reviewing and improving ways of working to ensure consistent application of SHEW legislation and best practice
Desirable Skills
* Experience in incident investigation and root cause analysis
* Familiarity with behavioural safety approaches
* Working knowledge of digital safety tools and reporting platforms
* Stakeholder engagement across complex frameworks
* Professional accreditation or chartership (e.g. GradIOSH, CMIOSH)
Role-specific information
The role requires regular travel to construction sites to undertake audits and construction site-based health, safety, and wellbeing assurance activities. This will be a mix of office / home working. The role also offers flexible working hours, and opportunity to further professional development. The successful candidates will ideally be based in the East or Southeast of England. Interviews will be conducted on MS Teams in the week commencing 24 November. For more information, refer to the attached candidate information pack or contact Jason Hanson at Jason.hanson@environment-agency.gov.uk.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks and contracts for external recruitment. For information about becoming a supplier through the Crown Commercial Service, please visit the government link provided in the original posting.
Competencies
Competence 1: Builds and Sustains Relationships
Description
In this role, you’ll work with a wide range of people — from internal teams to external construction partners. Your ability to build trust, influence others, and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics is essential to driving improvements in safety, health, environment, and wellbeing.
Application Question: Please describe a time when you successfully built a working relationship with someone whose views or working style differed significantly from your own. How did you approach the situation, and what was the outcome?
* CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.
* Your answer will be used for interview selection — please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
* You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer.
* When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.
Further details and the capability dictionary can be found via Calaméo - EA Capability Dictionary (calameo.com).
Competence 2: Achieves Results
Description
This role demands a high level of personal effectiveness, resilience, and commitment to delivering results in a construction safety context.
Application Question: Please describe a time when you faced a significant challenge in changing someone’s opinion or approach to construction safety. What was the situation, how did you influence their thinking, and what actions did you take to ensure a successful outcome?
* CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.
* Your answer will be used for interview selection — please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
* You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer.
* When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.
Competence 3: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
In this role, you’ll often need to influence delivery partners, contractors, and internal teams to adopt SHEW standards and improve their practices. You’ll engage others, shift perspectives, and drive meaningful change.
Application Question: Please describe a time when you successfully influenced a stakeholder or delivery partner to change their approach to construction safety. What strategy did you use, how did you tailor your message, and what was the result?
* CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.
* Your answer will be used for interview selection — please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
* You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer.
* When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.
Competence 4: Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
In this role, you’ll be expected to make informed decisions during audits, inspections, and incident investigations — often in dynamic construction environments. Your ability to think critically, act decisively, and solve problems effectively is essential to maintaining high SHEW standards and protecting people and projects.
Application Question: Please describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision or solve a complex problem during a construction safety audit, inspection, or SHEW-related activity. What steps did you take to understand the issue, what options did you consider, and how did you reach your decision?
* CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.
* Your answer will be used for interview selection — please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
* You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer.
* When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.
Role-specific license requirements: Full UK Driving Licence.
Additional notes: The Environment Agency is committed to diversity and inclusion and provides flexible working options. A Guaranteed Interview Policy is in place for applicants with a disability who meet minimum criteria. The EA remains a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra and uses Central Government frameworks for recruitment.
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