Health, Safety & Environment (HS&E) Principal (Trials)
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Department
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Location
- Salisbury, Fareham
- Openings
- 1 post
- Grade
- Grade 6
- Salary
- £60,448 to £67,274
- Closing
- 13 days left
- Profession
- Science
- Contract
- Permanent
- Security clearance
- DV
- Working pattern
- Annualised hours, Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
Job summary
Dstl is seeking an experienced HS&E Principal (Trials) to provide senior technical leadership across Health, Safety & Environment for all trial‑related activities. This is a pivotal role within Dstl’s HS&E capability, ensuring that the organisation can safely and effectively deliver its Science Strategy and long‑term programme ambitions.
You will lead a specialist function that provides independent assurance, deep technical expertise, and authoritative advice to Dstl’s Executive, S&T Delivery Teams, and Enabling Teams. Your work will directly influence the safe conduct of trials that Dstl hosts or supports, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and statutory requirements.
Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.
What they’re looking for
- We are looking for someone who is:
- A strong strategic and influential HS&EP leader, who can provide expert technical leadership, shape future capability and build trusted relationships at senior levels. The role requires someone who can see the bigger picture, translate complex issues into clear advice and drive continuous improvement across trials safety. Success will come through combining professional credibility, strong leadership and the ability to influence decisions that deliver lasting organisational impact”.
- To include:
- Technical Management of Safety, Health, Environmental and Assurance professions.
- Ability go beyond as a leader and to manage a team being an inspiring and influencing leader amongst peers.
- Possession of highly developed communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills
- Proven ability in relating to, engaging with, negotiating with, inspiring confidence and influencing a wide range of audiences and building positive relationships with key stakeholders.
- A career path at a senior level that can demonstrate effective delivery of:
- Long-term strategic thinking and planning on technical and business capability requirements
- H&S management, leading a team and H&S management Systems.
- Strategic change and business transformation.
- People management and technical leadership (including building diversity and inclusion).
- Financial management.
- Building and maintaining effective relationships across organisational boundaries.
- Working effectively with other organisations; delivering through partnership
- Please see full Job Profile attached at the bottom of this page
- Important Information
- Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.
- This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.
- If you are a current Dstl employee you must ensure your line manager is aware of your application and the potential situation regarding release dates.
Behaviours you’ll be assessed on
This advert says the panel will score you against these behaviours at Grade 6 level. Each one links to worked examples.
Job description
In this role you will:
- Understand Dstl HS&E Policies and Procedures as they affect activities.
- Assist and support the Head of Safety in developing and implementing Dstl HSEP and associated strategy, ensuring all associated business activities are accounted for.
- Support the Assurance and Improvement Lead in meeting all assurance related activities and internal / external stakeholder standards and requirements, e.g. audit findings and legal compliance.
- Support the Environmental Lead in the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan, championing its introduction and ensuring environmental aspects that may impact trials activities are known and understood.
- Drive the continuous improvement of Dstl’s policies, processes and procedures as relevant to trials safety
Please see full Job profile attached at the bottom of this page
Qualifications
NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety Level 6 or equivalent
IEMA Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management
Recognised Root Cause Analysis training (Human Factors)
Current DGSA vocational training certificate
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.
Selection process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.
At the application stage we will be assessing the essential criteria against your submitted application against the essential criteria outlined in the job profile.
Sifting will take place week commencing the 14th September with interviews to be arranged from the 5th October
Your interview will consist of a behavioural and technical interview to include a presentation entitled “In the development of a HS&EP Trials Team capability, what would you consider to support the delivery of trials outputs?”
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Practise before you apply
Civil Service panels score every answer against the Success Profiles behaviours at Grade 6 level. Practise STAR answers and get them marked against the same framework.
3 free questions · No card needed
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