Search begins for new board members for the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

The Department for the Economy has launched a public appointment competition to appoint up to four new members to the board of the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).

HSENI plays an important role in educating, informing, communicating with, and supporting businesses to comply with, and improve, standards of health and safety at work in Northern Ireland.

The role of board member offers the opportunity to play an important part within HSENI as the organisation strives to achieve its vision of world-class performance in workplace health and safety and therefore improve the overall economic and social wellbeing of our community.

It is anticipated the new board members will be appointed for a term of four years with effect from 1 May 2025. The time commitment normally amounts to 1.5 days per month or equivalent and remuneration amounts to £4,195 per annum.

The Department is committed to the principles of public appointments based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process. The Department is also committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes application forms from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of religious belief, gender, race, political opinion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or whether or not they have dependants.

Details of the competition are available on the DfE website.

Closing date for applications is 12pm on 7 February 2025

An application pack with full details and guidance may be obtained by emailing:

• pau@economy-ni.gov.uk

Currently young people, people with a disability, those from minority ethnic communities and people from an agricultural background are currently under-represented on the Board and applications from members of these groups would be particularly welcome. We are operating the Guaranteed Interview Scheme for applicants with a disability.

No academic qualifications are required for the posts. Applicants are required to submit evidence of competency against three essential criteria:

• communication
• corporate governance, accountability and risk management
• strategic thinking

And a choice of one of the remaining three criteria:

• change management
• workplace safety, health or wellbeing
• organisational development

This is an open competition which involves an application form and interview. Appointment will be based on merit against the criteria. The closing date for applications is 12pm on Friday 10 January 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Department for the Economy (DfE) is running the competition in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Northern Ireland (CPANI) Code of Practice.
2. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) with Crown Status, funded by DfE. It was established on 1 April 1999 by an Order in Council amending the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978. HSENI’s role is to see that the risks to people’s health and safety arising from work activities are effectively controlled and thereby contribute to the overall economic and social well-being of Northern Ireland. Current membership stands at five Members and a Chair.
3. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk 

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