HM Specialist Inspector - Electrical, Control & Cyber Security (Band 3/SEO)

If you want a job that is a change from the norm, then consider a role as an ECCS Specialist Inspector where you’ll secure the future safety of the public and people in these industries. These roles offer an excellent opportunity for those who are looking to be an expert in the field of Electrical, Control and Cyber Security we will also provide you with the tools, skills and knowledge needed to be an expert HSE inspector in Cyber Security. These roles also offer you development in both your legal and technical skills.

Sound interesting? Then please apply! We'd love to hear from you!

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.

Our role goes beyond worker protection to include public assurance. We work to ensure people feel safe where they live, where they work and, in their environment.

Great Britain’s health and safety record is the envy of much of the world. Central to this is our work to protect people by managing risk in a proportionate and effective way, supporting innovation and increasing productivity.

HSE leads the way but doesn’t act alone. Working in partnership is one of our strengths. It’s at the heart of how we protect workers and the public. We are firm and fair when using our legal powers. Inspection helps us check that serious risks are managed sensibly. When things go wrong, investigation helps us get to the truth and learn lessons. We hold employers to account for their failures and get answers for victims and make workplaces safer. 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.

Chemicals, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division (CEMHD) is responsible for the GB-wide regulation of onshore high hazard premises and installations as well as the chemicals manufacturing sector as a whole. This involves delivering regulatory interventions in workplaces, engaging with key industry stakeholders and providing assurance that major accident risks are being properly managed.

HSE are responsible for securing safety across a range of industries including, energy production (oil, gas and emerging technologies), chemical/pharmaceutical production and storage, microbiological agents, explosives and pipelines.

HSE Specialist Inspectors work across all of GB and whilst we would consider all CEMHD office locations we would be particularly interested in applicants who would be based in HSE offices in: Scotland, North East, Wales and South West. For a list of HSE Office locations please see HSE Office Locations

Your main responsibility is to address major accident hazards in relation to Electrical, Control and Cyber Security at onshore major hazard installations, which includes oil refineries, oil and gas storage, chemicals production, and some nuclear sites.

We will be holding a Virtual Q+A on the 28th September 2026 at 12:00 midday, if you would like to attend this session, please contact peter.evans@hse.gov.uk so that we can send you a virtual Microsoft Teams invite where you will get the chance to find out more about the role and ask any questions you feel are necessary.

Key Responsibilities;

• Inspect a variety of major hazard installations, either on your own or as part of an expert team, to make sure risks associated with industrial control systems are suitably managed and that operators comply with the law.
• Carry out technical assessment of Safety Reports provided by major hazard sites (both new and existing).
• Investigate safety related accidents and incidents involving industrial control systems in the major hazards industries.
• The production of technical inspection reports that identify risk gaps and failure(s) to comply with the law.
• Taking suitable enforcement action to address significant risk gaps on operator’s sites e.g., prohibiting processes or activities.
• Forensic analysis of the electrical or control systems elements of accidents in major hazards industries in order to identify root causes and where necessary, leading the technical aspects of the investigation, calling in other expert support and supporting legal enforcement action to prevent a recurrence.
• Provide expert opinion on the management of industrial control systems and, when required, work as a specialist investigator or expert witness at tribunals, inquests and legal proceedings.
• Assessment of Safety Reports submitted by organisations to ensure effective management of risk and identify priority areas for inspection.
• Advise colleagues on technical matters out with their area of expertise e.g., standards for electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres, and how the conditions compare with minimum legal requirements and relevant good practice.
• Liaise with other Government departments, the public, industry, professional bodies and trade associations in order to secure intelligence, share information and contribute towards policy, research and guidance on functional safety, electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres and cyber security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS).
• Using your expertise and experience to drive improvements in technical and operational standards nationally and to promote better health and safety at UK forums, and at relevant conferences.

Training Programme

Whilst working for the HSE and in order to fully understand the legal and enforcement requirements of this role, you will be expected to develop your expertise by completing role specific training.

For Cyber Security specifically, HSE will provide a full development package to equip the successful candidate to assess this topic in line with HSE Operational Guidance (OG86) and other relevant standards e.g. IEC 62443.

Given that HSE regulates sites across the whole of the United Kingdom you will be expected to spend short periods working away from home which will include overnight stays.

Inspectors are required to work as part of a national team, with travel around UK to land-based high hazard sites, typically spending a day or two at duty holder sites both in an office environment and also out on the process plant. This is typically followed by a period analysing the inspection findings and producing a technical report.

A relevant degree in Electrical, Electronic or Control Engineering.

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application information

As part of your application, you will be invited to complete an anonymised CV which should include your career history, experience, and qualifications.

Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the Essential Skills and Criteria as listed within the advert.

Sift information

The sift will take place WC 5th October 2026 where you will be assessed on your CV.

Interview information

Interviews will take place from the 20th October 2026 onwards where you will be assessed against the Behaviours and Technical skills detailed within this job advert. The interview will also consist of a 5-10 minute presentation, if you are successful at sift, further details of the presentation topic will be provided to you prior to your interview.

Interviews will be held in person in both the HSE Birmingham and Edinburgh Offices.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.