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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
* 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 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 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.
Competencies
Competence 1: 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?
Note: CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection. Your answer will be used for interview selection. You may consider using the STAR technique. When providing evidence for competencies, give examples within the context of this role or transferable skills.
You can learn more about these competencies in our capability dictionary: Calaméo - EA Capability Dictionary (calameo.com)
Competence 2: Achieves Results
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?
Note: CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection. Your answer will be used for interview selection. You may consider using the STAR technique. When providing evidence for competencies, give examples within the context of this role or transferable skills. You can learn more about these competencies in our capability dictionary: Calaméo - EA Capability Dictionary (calameo.com)
Competence 3: Influences and Persuades Others
In this role, you’ll often need to influence delivery partners, contractors, and internal teams to adopt SHEW standards and improve their practices. Success depends not just on technical knowledge, but on your ability to 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?
Note: CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection. Your answer will be used for interview selection. You may consider using the STAR technique. When providing evidence for competencies, give examples within the context of this role or transferable skills.
Competence 4: Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
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?
Note: CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection. Your answer will be used for interview selection. You may consider using the STAR technique. When providing evidence for competencies, give examples within the context of this role or transferable skills.
Role specific license requirements
Full UK Driving Licence
Additional information
The Environment Agency is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes flexible working patterns, including job share. We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We also provide information about status for Crown service eligibility as appropriate. The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by Defra.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks for external recruitment. For more information, visit the Crown Commercial Service supplier information page.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, but all information must be truthful and taken from your own experience. Plagiarism may lead to disqualification. We align with Civil Service guidance on AI use.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment.
Location and status
Newbury, England, United Kingdom | Bristol, England, United Kingdom | Chippenham, England, United Kingdom | Cambridge, England, United Kingdom | Swindon, England, United Kingdom | The role may be based anywhere in England with regular travel to construction sites.
Interviews will be conducted on MS Teams week commencing 24th of November.
We are including multiple related positions and locations like construction-related roles; this page contains several job postings and locations for convenience.
Ready to take the next step? Apply now and help us build a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future.
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