Job Description
HM Specialist Inspector - Process Safety (Band 3/SEO)
Health and Safety Executive
Apply before Midday on Monday 2nd February 2026
Details
Reference number
441566
Salary
£52,563 - £64,890
Non Standard A.
A [1] Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Band 3
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
HSE - Chemical, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) - CEMHD Unit 6 - Process Safety
Type of role
Health and Safety
Operational Delivery
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
Number of jobs available
3
Location
Basingstoke, Chelmsford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield
About the job
Chemicals, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) is responsible for the GB-wide regulation of onshore major hazard premises and installations as well as the chemicals manufacturing sector as a whole. This involves regulatory interventions in workplaces, engaging with key industry stakeholders and providing assurance to Government and the public that major accident risks are being properly managed.
The sectors we regulate in CEMHD are essential to the country's economy and social infrastructure, but they often involve hazardous substances and processes with potential for catastrophic accidents. The purpose of CEMHD is to make sure that the businesses that present a risk of such catastrophic events are managing those risks properly.
As a Specialist Inspector of Process Safety, you will be an essential part of the work that CEMHD do. You will use your technical knowledge and expertise to regulate major hazard industries and to influence whole sectors to improve health and safety standards, thereby helping to prevent catastrophic accidents.
The part-time working patterns that can be supported are: 4 days a week, 9-day fortnights and term time working, although some flexibility is needed during the first 2 years due to training, with advanced notice.
Job description
Our Specialist Inspectors of Process Safety help to ensure employers across Great Britain - a whole range of essential industries - work safely. In this role, you can utilise your considerable technical knowledge and practical experience to influence not only individual employers but whole industry sectors.
You'll work alongside other technical specialists to ensure the work activities of those we regulate are operating within the legislative framework by inspecting, investigating, and assessing organisations.
As you can see, this role will broaden your knowledge and your professional credibility like no other role can.
The physical ability to walk around an industrial process plant is essential for this role.
Responsibilities:
* Inspect a variety of workplaces, either on your own or with a specialist team, to make sure that risks are being actively managed and reduced, driving improvements, and gaining commitment to comply with the law.
* Forensic investigation of process safety related incidents to identify the root cause and where necessary, direct the technical aspect of the investigation, calling in other specialist support and supporting legal action to prevent a recurrence.
* Write technical reports to explain your specialist opinion to guide legal decisions.
* Appear as specialist witness at tribunals, inquests and prosecutions.
The role will include travel 1-2 times a month for inspections across the UK.
Person specification
Essential Skills and Criteria:
* Have breadth and depth of practical Process Safety experience of chemical and/or onshore/offshore downstream oil industry processing. Including the application of industrial chemistry/chemical engineering skills and experience to controlling risks in the chemical industry.
* A practical understanding of the design and operation of a chemical process plant, including experience of applying the principles of chemistry and chemical engineering to industrial scale processes.
* Be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people at all levels of an organisation, to persuade and influence others. This should include communicating with both technical and non-technical people. You should also be able to communicate difficult messages that may not be popular, effectively but professionally.
* Be able to make effective decisions and be held accountable for these, whilst being able to challenge stakeholders at all levels.
* Be organised and self-motivated, to be able to plan and deliver your work, to a deadline, with a high level of autonomy.
Licences
A full driving licence that enables you to drive in the UK is essential.
Qualifications
A degree (Bachelor, Masters or Doctorate) in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or similar subject relevant to Chemical Engineering.
Memberships
Chartered Membership or Chartered Fellowship of the Institution of Chemical Engineers or the Royal Society of Chemistry - or currently have the academic and professional qualifications to apply and achieve Chartered status within 2 years of appointment to the post.
For those who are currently not chartered please seek written confirmation from the relevant professional body that you have the ability to become chartered as soon as possible as we will want to see this evidence if you are selected for interview.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Applying your industrial chemistry / chemical engineering skills, knowledge and experience to identify risks and how they could be practically controlled, applying a hierarchical approach to a wide range of industries.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £52,563, Health and Safety Executive contributes £15,227 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. [8] 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
* A [9] Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
We invest in our people with;
* Competitive rates of pay
* Access to the highly competitive [10] Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97% far more than 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.
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
Due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and, Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the UK.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is [19] security check
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 [22] 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
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