Health & Safety Director

Allen & York are delighted to be working in partnership with Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord and a market leader in the build-to-rent sector. With over a century of experience and a national portfolio of over 11,000 rental homes. Grainger is redefining the renting experience — creating sustainable, high-quality homes that enrich lives and foster communities.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join Grainger in a strategic leadership position as Director of Health & Safety (Policy, Compliance & Audit). You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and embedding Grainger’s health and safety strategy across the business — ensuring the organisation continues to lead the way in safety, compliance and wellbeing within the residential sector.

Reporting to the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, you will lead on Grainger’s H&S policy, compliance and audit framework, working in close collaboration with the Director of Building Safety and Block Management. You’ll act as the second line of defence in the Group’s governance model, ensuring robust oversight, effective risk management and a culture of continuous improvement.

Your remit will include driving the Live.Safe strategy, strengthening business continuity planning, and ensuring Grainger’s health and safety systems evolve in line with best practice and regulatory change. This is a leadership role with visibility across the organisation — from Board level reporting through to engagement with site teams.

You’ll be an accomplished H&S professional (CMIOSH or equivalent) with experience operating at a senior level — ideally within a FTSE-listed or large multi-site property business. You combine technical rigour with strategic vision, influencing across diverse teams and ensuring policy is lived, not just written. This opportunity is ideal for someone looking to progress their career to the next level.

Candidates should bring strong knowledge of ISO 45001 and H&S management systems with proven experience in policy, audit and compliance oversight. In addition, you will have expertise in business continuity planning and crisis management with a collaborative, engaging leadership style promoting a culture of “Live.Safe” across all operations.

Candidates should be flexible for travel and this role will be based in Newcastle. You will be required to attend the office for a minimum of 3 days per week. Consideration will also be given to candidates around Manchester as this role could be based in our Salford office.

Why Join Grainger

At Grainger, people truly are at the heart. You’ll join a forward-thinking, inclusive organisation that’s proud to set the standard in build-to-rent living. With ambitious sustainability targets, a commitment to wellbeing and professional development, and a culture built on collaboration, this is a role where you can make real impact.

Allen & York have been matching purposeful people with purpose-led organisations for 30 years. We partner with our clients and candidates on roles that build an understanding of climate change, promote sustainability and create inclusive and responsible organisations, working towards a sustainable world for us all.

Committed to inclusiveness in the workplace, we aim to increase diversity across all areas and therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, or whether or not they have a disability.

Let’s help build a better world, together.