Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change.
About the appointment
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a Crown Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). HSE is the national independent regulator for health and safety for those at work and those affected by work activities. Its wide range of activities includes overseeing major hazard safety regimes (including offshore oil and gas and onshore chemical processing), workplace inspections, accident investigations, policy development and publishing guidance and research.
DWP is seeking one Non-Executive Director (NED) with a range of established skills/competence to join HSE’s Board. We are looking for candidates who can provide experience from other organisations with challenges on a similar scale to HSE.
Introduction from the Chair
I joined the HSE Board as its Chair in 2020, following a career in the business and voluntary sector, as well as serving for nine years as a Member of Parliament and a Non-Executive Director on an NHS Trust. I am passionate about building relationships to ensure that we work together to improve work related ill health and protect workers in their place of work.
HSE has a world-class reputation as an effective regulator working with a wide range of stakeholders to prevent death, serious injury and ill health to those in the workplace and those affected by work activities.
Great Britain continues to be one of the safest places to work but there is still much more to do. In the current climate, it has shown the scale of challenge that HSE still faces in making Britain an even healthier and safer place to work – this is why we have a new strategy ‘Protecting People and Places’. The new strategy is designed to keep HSE focused on tackling both new and traditional risk, at the right time and in the right way. It has clear objectives and themes, to guide our future interventions and regulatory activities, such as HSE’s role as the Building Safety Regulator and in the chemical’s regime, post EU Exit.
We must continually adapt our approach to work effectively and seek out new opportunities. We must continue to drive home the importance of managing risk as good proportionate risk management is essential for sustainable economic growth.
Working with our broad range of stakeholders, both in the public and private sector, we are looking for a Board member who is committed, engaged and enthusiastic in working with others to protect people and places. We need someone who will share our vision and future direction for HSE and is willing to help us face our challenges. There will be exciting prospects to help steer HSE through the next few years, which will be a great opportunity.
I am personally committed to promoting greater diversity in HSE, which includes on the HSE Board, and I would warmly welcome applications from the widest possible field of candidates.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will contribute to the Board’s role in leading HSE, with the opportunity to influence the future direction of health and safety in Great Britain. Key responsibilities include:
1. Helping lead the work of HSE by operating effectively as a Board Member and contributing to Board meetings and discussions;
2. Chairing or participating in the activities of Board Committees;
3. Building and maintaining effective working relationships with a broad range of networks and stakeholders;
4. Providing guidance on financial management and ensuring the effective scrutiny of HSE's financial practices, in line with public sector accountability standards;
5. Representing HSE externally, acting collectively in representing its decisions to stakeholders and the general public;
6. Acting as a critical friend to HSE’s senior staff, particularly in their area of expertise;
7. Demonstrating a commitment to the Seven Principles of Public Life.
The HSE Board oversees all these activities and is responsible for delivering Government policy and advising Government on health and safety issues. HSE is a well-respected, world-class regulator but needs to tackle the future by developing innovative, modern strategic approaches to influence further improvements.
Person Specification
We are seeking a candidate with the right skills and abilities to complement the existing Board members. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate:
1. A clear understanding of the work, priorities and challenges of the organisation and the context within which it operates;
2. A strong track record of delivery at a senior level in local government;
3. The ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, including with Ministers and Senior Government officials, and external stakeholders;
4. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenge, and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity and respect;
5. Analytical skills with the ability to critically analyse a wide range of information and make clear and objective evidence-based recommendations to support the delivery of the organisation’s objectives;
6. Ability to work closely with the Executive Board and other key stakeholders, providing support, constructive challenge, and assurance as appropriate.
The following criteria are desirable; candidates would not need to demonstrate all of these:
1. Experience of working in finance and/or risk management, with the ability to ensure effective governance and risk management frameworks are in place;
2. The ability to chair or be a member of an Audit and Risk Committee;
3. Willingness to develop knowledge of the public sector environment, including a good understanding of Parliament.
To apply, all candidates are required to provide:
1. A Curriculum Vitae (2 pages max, in Word format not PDF) which provides your contact details, details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any relevant publications or awards;
2. A supporting statement (2 pages max, in Word format not PDF) setting out how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role;
3. Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues;
4. Diversity monitoring information.
The closing date for applications is: 12/05/2025 at 17:00. Late applications will not be accepted.
Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages.
The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies.
We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve.
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