Head of Health and Safety

We are working with a Local Authority in the Southwest who are seeking a Head of Health and Safety practitioner to act as the interim strategic lead for the corporate Health and Safety service at the Council. Location: Southwest England Set-up: Hybrid – ideally 2-3 days per week on-site Rate: Up to £550/day via umbrella, inside IR35 (rate increase DoE) Duration: Initial 3-month sign-off, likely extension Hours: Full-time position Responsibilities include: Lead the development and implementation of corporate Health & Safety and LoTC strategies, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations and delivery of best practice across all council services Act as the council’s principal H&S professional, advising on complex or high-risk matters, and coordinating with agencies such as the HSE and Fire & Rescue Drive and oversee the achievement of accredited standards under the Workplace Charter, managing a multi-disciplinary team to deliver on key well-being domains Manage H&S audits, accident investigations, training programmes, and reporting to inform strategic decisions and improve outcomes Lead the corporate H&S advisory service for schools and academies, including foreign travel and high-risk outdoor education activity assessments Requirements: Chartered Member of IOSH with a relevant degree or equivalent qualification and a minimum of 10 years' senior experience in health and safety Demonstrated strategic leadership and people management skills, with experience leading change across large, complex organisations Deep understanding of statutory H&S responsibilities, including the Health and Safety at Work Act, Fire Safety Order, and related regulations Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead multi-agency collaboration to drive cultural and operational improvements Strong communication, project management, budgetary, and data analysis skills to underpin evidence-based decision-making

Location: Eastern England, GB

Posted Date: 5/12/2025