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.
Responsibilities
* Conduct audits and inspections of construction sites and delivery partners
* Produce clear, actionable reports and follow up on findings
* Provide technical advice across construction and maintenance activities
* Support incident investigations and embed lessons learned
* Develop and deliver training and awareness tools
* Lead on specialist SHEW topics and contribute to strategic SHEW projects
* Support framework communities of practice and promote 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. We collaborate with our supply chain and wider construction industry to develop and share best practice.
Experience/skills Required
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 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)
Role details
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 week commencing 24 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.
Competencies
Builds and Sustains Relationships — In this role, you’ll work with internal teams and 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 guidance: Please describe a time when you successfully built a working relationship with someone whose views differed from your own. Include the approach and outcome.
Achieves Results — This role requires personal effectiveness, resilience, and commitment to delivering results in a construction safety context. Application guidance provided for STAR responses.
Influences and Persuades Others — You’ll need to engage delivery partners, contractors, and internal teams to adopt SHEW standards and improve practices.
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems — You’ll make informed decisions during audits, inspections, and incident investigations in dynamic environments. Application guidance provided for STAR responses.
Role-specific licence
Full UK Driving Licence.
Additional information
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share. We also guarantee an interview for applicants with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria. The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and works within government frameworks for recruitment. For supplier opportunities, please visit the Crown Commercial Service guidance.
Artificial intelligence note: All examples must be truthful and taken from your own experience. Plagiarism may lead to withdrawal of applications.Please review candidate guidance on AI use on the Civil Service Careers site.
Location and referrals: Kings Lynn, Watton, Dereham, Christchurch areas in the East/Southeast England. Referrals may increase interview chances.
Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; please contact your HR team if unsure about continuity of service.
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