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 the role. 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 and facilitates further career development. Full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support the incident role.

Team and environment

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. 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 specifics

The role requires regular travel to construction sites to undertake audits and 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 opportunities for 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 24 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 at 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

• Builds and Sustains Relationships
• Achieves Results
• Influences and Persuades Others
• Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Description 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?

Notes 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 role context or transferable skills.

You can learn more about these competencies in our capability dictionary: Calaméo - EA Capability Dictionary (calameo.com)

Additional competencies

• Achieves Results
• Influences and Persuades Others
• Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Role-specific Full UK Driving Licence

We are committed to diversity and inclusion. Flexible working patterns are welcomed. A Guaranteed Interview Policy supports candidates with disabilities. The Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra.

Artificial intelligence note: AI can support applications, but all content must be truthful and from your own experience. Plagiarism may result in withdrawal of application.

Location data, salary ranges, and related role postings are provided as part of this posting for context and transparency.