Health & Safety Lead

About the job

Job summary

Discover what it's like to work in a compliance role that makes an impact. Could you help us shape a stronger, fairer future? Your next career move starts here.

HMRC is the UK's tax, payments and customs authority, and we have a vital purpose: we collect the money that pays for the UK's public services; and help families and individuals with targeted financial support. HMRC achieves this by being impartial and increasingly effective and efficient in our administration. HMRC helps the honest majority to get their tax right and make it hard for the dishonest minority to cheat the system.

The Customer Compliance Group (CCG) is the largest business group in HMRC and is responsible for helping individuals and businesses to get their tax right. We enforce minimum wage, spot risks and prevent fraud.

CCG business group is made up of approximately ~30,000 people across 11 directorates, making it a varied business area to work in. Our teams specialise in different areas, to make sure we collect the right amount of tax from individuals and businesses. Our work includes:

• Investigating taxpayer records.
• Tackling tax avoidance schemes.
• Enforcing the minimum wage.
• Fraud investigation.
• Risk and intelligence.

Customer Compliance Finance & Planning (CCFP) is a Centre of Excellence that works with our partners to support CCG as central service, in delivering its objectives: safely, effectively and efficiently.

In its professional capacity, CCFP places customers at the heart of everything we do, ensuring we deliver value for money. We influence and drive decision-making across CCG through the provision of performance data, management information and insight. We keep CCG safe, effective and efficient by improving CCG's control environment and governance. We also support strategy development and HMRC-wide financial and workforce planning.

CCFP is an inclusive, collaborative and innovative community of around 250 people working across finance, performance, risk, control, assurance, information management, data protection, business continuity and health and safety roles. We are forward looking, embracing different ideas and new ways of working. We show respect by: developing, supporting and valuing our people; and empowering them to deliver.

Job description

This post gives you the platform and scale to improve safety outcomes for thousands of colleagues and to shape how H&S is led and evidenced across directorates. The role sits in CCFP Information Data-Security, Safety & Resilience (IDSR) service function.

We're building a modern, data-informed Health & Safety (H&S) function in CCG and we're looking for a confident leader who can set direction, influence senior stakeholders and is delivery focused. Reporting to the Head of H&S (G6) in CCFP IDSR, you will lead the delivery of CCG's H&S improvement programme for visiting activity - turning policy and guidance into consistent practice that keeps people safe. You will own delivery outcomes, lead a small team and work with a wide range of stakeholders, covering CCG directorates, HR, H&S personnel and Trade Unions to embed guidance, capability and assurance. If you thrive on leading through change, communicating with clarity and getting results, we'd love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead programme delivery - set direction, priorities and outcomes for CCG's H&S improvement programme for visiting activity, aligning delivery with the Group's risk-reduction goals.
• Provide high-level H&S technical policy advice - give timely, expert advice to directorates and senior leaders, increasing confidence and capability to apply policy and controls in dynamic operational contexts.
• Influence and partner at all levels - build trusted relationships across operational and non-operational business areas, including and not limited to HR H&S, Trade Unions, the HMRC H&S Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) and the HMRC Personal Safety Board (PBS). Engaging with these partners to agree clear actions, plans and embed consistent, practical H&S practice across CCG.
• Strengthen governance and assurance - actively contribute to CCG and cross-HMRC governance forums; use insight and MI to inform decisions, track risk and target improvement at scale.
• Lead people and build capability - lead, coach and develop the H&S team and champion wider capability-building across CCG, so colleagues and line managers have the knowledge, guidance and support to operate safely.
• Drive improvement and cultural change - lead cross-CCG initiatives that lift maturity in risk assessment practice, leadership behaviours, incident reporting, investigation quality and organisational learning.
• Contribute to corporate leadership and forward planning - assess the impact of Government policy, legislative change and industry best practice on CCG's H&S approach, advising on implications for strategy, delivery and assurance.

Working environment and senior contribution
You'll operate in a large, fast paced public service environment, adapting to changing priorities while maintaining high standards of delivery and professionalism. You may occasionally deputise on H&S delivery matters for IDSR/CCFP senior leaders where appropriate, and you will collaborate across the wider IDSR portfolio when needed.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Communicating and influencing at senior level - proven ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders, simplify complex H&S issues, influence decisions, and communicate with clarity in a large operational environment.
• Leading delivery and driving change - a strong track record of leading delivery in complex or multi directorate settings - turning plans into results, managing interdependencies and risks, and embedding consistent practice and behavioural change at scale.
• People safety & H&S risk management expertise - practical experience applying Health & Safety legislation, risk assessment and controls in dynamic/frontline or operational contexts (e.g., visiting activity), with evidence of improving risk posture, compliance and organisational capability.
• Leadership of people and capability building - experience in leading, coaching and developing people and fostering a positive safety culture; able to build capability across teams and enable colleagues and managers to operate safely and confidently.

Essential qualifications

Please note this role has mandatory qualifications listed below.

Additional Security Information

This role requires the successful candidate to hold or be willing to hold Security check (SC) clearance.

Transitional Sites

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations .

If your location preference is for one of the following sites, it's important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

These sites are:

• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Leeds Locations

Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC's Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.

Qualifications
Candidates must meet one of the qualification routes below:

Qualification route A

NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety, or
an equivalent Health and Safety professional qualification

Qualification route B

A degree or postgraduate qualification in Health & Safety, People Safety, Risk Management, Organisational/Work Psychology, Operational/Business Management, or another related discipline.

In addition, all candidates must demonstrate:

Professional development and capability

An active commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and to developing programme and project delivery capability.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £16,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your job history covering up to your last 5 roles. For each role, you should outline your key responsibilities and achievements that demonstrate how your experience is relevant to and suitable for this role (maximum 300 words per role). You will also be asked to list your qualifications in a separate section.
• A 1000-word personal statement. Your Personal Statement should be aligned to and clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role, as set out in the person specification.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the CV.

At full sift your CV and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be assessed on Behaviours.

Interviews will take place via video link.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form . Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]'.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application .

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You'll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services .

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Technical Support

If you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our ' help ' section, then technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days.

Additional Security Information

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

From 1 April 2026, applicants will be required to meet updated nationality and residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. If this affects you, we will give you more information at the appropriate time.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:

This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.

Terms and Conditions

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations .

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK .

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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 security check (opens in a new window) .

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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 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)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Karolina Kapelusz
• Email : karolina.kapelusz@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk

Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns, unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.