Bec's Journey
Bec left school to pursue an apprenticeship as a plumber and built a successful private-sector career, becoming time-served and taking on additional responsibilities for health and safety compliance and risk assessments.
After working across several organisations, Bec sought a career offering greater stability and flexibility and applied for an EO Regulatory Compliance Officer role within the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Nottingham – marking their first Civil Service role and entry into ODP.
Role 1:
Regulatory Compliance Officer
Validation, Compliance, Support, Safety and Enforcement (Regulation) – Front Line Validation and Compliance
Find out more about HSE: Health and Safety Executive - GOV.UK.
As an EO Regulatory Compliance Officer, Bec applies transferable private-sector expertise to assessing compliance with health and safety legislation. They conduct workplace inspections, investigations, and casework, advise duty holders, and take reasonable enforcement action where necessary.
Bec quickly builds confidence in legislation, policy, and evidence-based decision-making. During this time, they complete the Level 3 Public Sector Compliance Investigatory and Officer apprenticeship and engage with mentoring through the ODP LISTR scheme.
After several years, Bec leaves the Civil Service to gain broader technical and commercial experience in the private sector, working in both field-based and static roles.
Bec aims to build additional experience and technical skills to support future career opportunities feels confident this will support a return to the Civil Service.
For the Core Skills and skill level required for this role, visit: ODP Professional Skills Framework - Operational Delivery Profession.
Role 2:
Investigations Operational Leader
Validation, Compliance, Support, Safety and Enforcement – Front Line Safety and Enforcement
Find out more about DWP: Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK.
Bec returns to the Civil Service as a HEO Investigations Operational Leader, leading teams delivering fraud and compliance investigations. They oversee complex cases, assure evidential and legal standards, coach staff on investigative techniques, and work closely with law enforcement and partner agencies.
Alongside operational leadership, Bec undertakes departmental training and accesses the ODP Learning Curriculum, using the Professional Skills Framework (PSF) to guide development against the relevant core skill levels.
Bec later takes a temporary career break to raise a family and studies remotely towards a Level 7 qualification (equivalent to postgraduate level) on a part-time basis, strengthening strategic leadership capability.
For the Core Skills and skill level required for this role, visit: ODP Professional Skills Framework - Operational Delivery Profession.
Role 3:
Operational Investigations Lead
Leadership and Management – Operations Manager
Find out more about FSA: Food Standards Agency - GOV.UK.
As caring responsibilities change, Bec rejoins the Civil Service as a Grade 7 Operational Investigations Lead within the FSA and makes an impressive grade jump from HEO. In this senior role, Bec leads multidisciplinary teams delivering complex investigations and operational enforcement against serious food crime or high-risk food safety concerns.
Bec sets operational priorities, assures evidential and procedural standards, coordinates multi-agency responses, and uses data and insight to drive performance and resource decisions. Reporting directly to senior leadership, Bec champions inclusive leadership, wellbeing, and high professional standards. They make effective daily decisions, balancing evidence and risk proportionality, continually following best practice when facing complex operational choices. Using MI data and analytics, Bec steers operational performance and resource allocation across their directorate. They also actively mentor colleagues across the FSA and wider ODP community through the online LISTR platform, supporting the next generation of operational leaders.
For the Core Skills and skill level required for this role, visit: ODP Professional Skills Framework - Operational Delivery Profession.
