Health, Safety & Environment (HS&E) Principal (Trials) in Salisbury

Location - Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ or Dstl Portsdown West, Fareham, PO17 6AD

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.

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.

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.

Technical Management of Safety, Health, Environmental and Assurance professions. Ability to 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).
• Building and maintaining effective relationships across organisational boundaries.
• Working effectively with other organisations; delivering through partnership.

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.
• Memberships: Chartered Membership of IOSH or equivalent (e.g. IOSH, IIRSM or BOHS etc.).

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.