Overview
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.
We’re looking for two passionate and experienced professionals 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 play a key part in shaping 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:
Key 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 what we do. 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 as well as facilitating further career development as it gives you the opportunity to see how other parts of the business work. Full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support your incident role.
The Team
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.
If something goes wrong, we provide technical support for investigations and ensure lessons are shared and embedded. We collaborate with our supply chain and the wider construction industry to develop and share best practice.
Experience and Skills Required
* 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 it
Essential Skills
* A strong background in construction safety
* A proactive, solutions‑focused mindset
* Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with an 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)
Contact and Additional 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. Flexible working hours and opportunities for further professional development are offered. The successful candidate will ideally be based in the East or Southeast of England.
Interviews will be conducted on MS Teams week commencing 24th of November.
If you would like more information about the role, please refer to the attached candidate information pack. For an informal chat about the role, please contact Jason Hanson on Jason.hanson@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Ready to take the next step? Apply now and help us build a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future.
Competency Information and Application Questions
Builds and Sustains Relationships
In this role, you’ll be working 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?
This applies to the following skill functions:
* Achieves Results
* Influences and Persuades Others
* Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Each skill function contains its own specific competency description, application question, and required answer guidelines.
Key points for all application responses:
* 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.
* Consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer.
* When providing evidence for competencies within your application, 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
Disability and Interview Policy
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. All our vacancies welcome flexible working patterns for all applicants, including job share, and we have a guaranteed interview policy for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria.
Artificial Intelligence Guidance
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified, applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. The Environment Agency, as a non‑departmental public body sponsored by Defra, may reference the candidate guidance on AI use as found on the Civil Service Careers website.
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