Aberdeen, Ashford (Kent), Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bootle, Bristol, Buxton, Cardiff, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Chelmsford, Crewe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxted, Plymouth, Sheffield, Wrexham, York
Job Summary
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives. The benefits that our work brings to business, workers and the UK economy are clear: Improved health and safety risk management protects workers and translates into reduced sickness absence, lower healthcare and welfare costs, and better productivity.
The Director of Regulations’ Divisional Support Unit are looking for a Head of Operational Performance Analysis who will strategically lead and oversee the activities of the Planning and Performance team. This is a busy and demanding team leading on operational performance monitoring and analysis, annual delivery planning and the tactical use of intelligence for Inspection, Investigation, Specialist Division, and Director of Regulation.
There will be a requirement to attend the office on a regular basis and candidates must consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application.
This role will also involve occasional travel to our offices across the UK therefore flexibility to be able to travel when needed is necessary. This may include the occasional overnight stay.
Please note that due to the demands of the role both in terms of volume and pace, this role is only suitable for full time applications.
Job Description
The Planning and Performance Team’s key responsibilities are to process data and provide analysis of operational delivery performance to Senior Leadership Teams. Supporting the inspection targeting process by processing tactical intelligence, received from other parts of the business, ensuring regulatory work is focused on the right areas when identifying viable inspection targets.
Key Responsibilities
* Setting the strategic direction and maintaining operational oversight of the Planning and Performance Team, including work planning, resource allocation, and general people management activities.
* Leading liaison with Divisional Directors and their leadership teams to provide guidance and analysis to inform data-led operational decision-making underpinning commitments in divisional workplans.
* Overseeing the production, analysis and narratives for a range of weekly and monthly standardised reports and operational delivery dashboards to Divisional Leadership, Unit Heads of Operations and Operational Sub-Group level to support effective workload management and performance against a range of Key Performance Indicators across a diverse range of regulatory processes/activities.
* Directing development of division-specific internal performance standards which effectively underpin achievement of corporate KPIs and promote effective resource management.
* Identifying the scope and design of data deep dives and overseeing the analysis and write up of findings.
* Overseeing the provision of ad hoc reporting, retrieval, validation and manipulating of data sets into clear and concise reporting and leading the analysis for senior leaders to Director level. Including signing off accurate data and narratives in response to FOI, Data Access Requests and data and analysis for SELCOM, Ministers, and COVID Inquiry.
* Overseeing DSU contribution to cross-divisional Planning Process by preparing annual demand modelling for Inspections, Investigations and Specialist Division, and ensuring inspection target lists are derived from corporate systems and supplemented by tactical intelligence received from other parts of the business.
* Representing DSU on regulatory delivery and performance matters as requested across HSE, Corporate Performance Teams and Business Intelligence Function.
The Planning and Performance Team’s key responsibilities are to process data and provide analysis of operational delivery performance to Senior Leadership Teams. Supporting the inspection targeting process by processing tactical intelligence, received from other parts of the business, ensuring regulatory work is focused on the right areas when identifying viable inspection targets.
Key Responsibilities
* Setting the strategic direction and maintaining operational oversight of the Planning and Performance Team, including work planning, resource allocation, and general people management activities.
* Leading liaison with Divisional Directors and their leadership teams to provide guidance and analysis to inform data-led operational decision-making underpinning commitments in divisional workplans.
* Overseeing the production, analysis and narratives for a range of weekly and monthly standardised reports and operational delivery dashboards to Divisional Leadership, Unit Heads of Operations and Operational Sub-Group level to support effective workload management and performance against a range of Key Performance Indicators across a diverse range of regulatory processes/activities.
* Directing development of division-specific internal performance standards which effectively underpin achievement of corporate KPIs and promote effective resource management.
* Identifying the scope and design of data deep dives and overseeing the analysis and write up of findings.
* Overseeing the provision of ad hoc reporting, retrieval, validation and manipulating of data sets into clear and concise reporting and leading the analysis for senior leaders to Director level. Including signing off accurate data and narratives in response to FOI, Data Access Requests and data and analysis for SELCOM, Ministers, and COVID Inquiry.
* Overseeing DSU contribution to cross-divisional Planning Process by preparing annual demand modelling for Inspections, Investigations and Specialist Division, and ensuring inspection target lists are derived from corporate systems and supplemented by tactical intelligence received from other parts of the business.
* Representing DSU on regulatory delivery and performance matters as requested across HSE, Corporate Performance Teams and Business Intelligence Function.
Person specification
Essential Skills And Criteria:
* Experience in working in a similar performance role supporting large operational divisions within a complex, public sector, or regulatory environment.
* Ability to work and manage a team independently in a fast-paced environment, with a track record of creating a culture of inclusion, innovation, collaboration and teamwork, holding people accountable for performance and celebrating success.
* Experience in developing comprehensive reporting against operational and strategic KPI’s including developing performance dashboards and development of lead indicators for operational delivery of regulatory processes and leading complex stakeholder management activities across several divisions, which include the collaboration on, definition of and buy-in to the development of new reporting methodologies.
* Experience at utilising Microsoft 365, in particular Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and Power Automate and, a basic knowledge of PowerApps.
* Affinity for numbers to creatively manipulate and analyse large datasets and respond with accurate information at pace to complex requests.
* Ability to present data in a clear and compelling way, using graphical representations and data visualisations and well-structured narrative reports.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Managing a Quality Service
* Communicating and Influencing
* Delivering at Pace
* Leadership
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Showcase one of your regular reports, focusing on your technical skills in assuring relevant and accurate data is provided to decision makers.
Alongside your salary of £60,760, Health and Safety Executive contributes £17,602 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
We invest in our people with;
* Competitive rates of pay
* Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97%, far more than in the private sector
* Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
* Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
* 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
* Parental leave benefits
* As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Application Information
Upon submitting your short application form, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service numerical test. Please complete the online test as soon as possible, within 24-48 hours is recommended, to allow time to complete your full application.
Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
If you successfully pass the test, you will then be invited to complete the final stage of your application. If you fail to complete the online test and full application form before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.
You must complete your full application form and online tests by 12:00pm on 18th July 2025. If you fail to complete the online test and full application form before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.
You will be asked to complete a CV that highlights your career history, key achievements, responsibilities and skills relevant to this role. Please note that your CV is for information purposes only and will not be assessed.
You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement, of no more than 1000 words, that demonstrates how you will meet the essential criteria, in particular around performance reporting and use of PowerBi, outlined in the key responsibilities.
Lastly, you will be asked to complete two 250 word behaviour statements.
Application Guidance
Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/
Sift Information
The sift will take place during week commencing 21st July 2025 when you will be assessed on your Personal Statement and the two advertised behaviours.
In event of a high number of applications, at sift we will assess on the lead behaviour of Seeing the Bigger Picture.
Interview Information
Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams during week commencing 4th August 2025, where we will assess you on your technical skill, strength based question and the advertised behaviours.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to give a short presentation that showcases one of your regular reports, focusing on your technical skills in assuring relevant and accurate data is provided to decision makers along with strength based questions.
Please note that the strength question will be assessed as part of your technical assessment.
AI Tools & Platforms
During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and Tools to support them in writing their Behaviours, CVs and Personal Statements. However, all information submitted must be factually accurate. This includes presenting the ideas and experience of others, or those generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.
Sponsorship
This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.
Further Information
Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.
HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.
From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk .
Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. Furthermore, existing Civil Servants must gain written approval from their Line Manager prior to applying for this campaign. At the point of offer, you will be asked to provide this evidence. Offers will be revoked if the appropriate approvals cannot be produced when requested.
It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application.
For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.
Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual civil service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.
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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.
We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all disabled applicants who provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post. If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk
If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.
Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.
Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
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) (opens in a new window)
* 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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
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.
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).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
* Name : DSU.recruitment@hse.gov.uk
* Email : DSU.recruitment@hse.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk
Further information
If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met, you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address: HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecodecomplaints/ #J-18808-Ljbffr