Director of Health & Safety in Liverpool

With over 30,000 students and c.8,000 staff, the University of Liverpool is a large, research-intensive Russell Group institution with a complex and diverse operating environment. The University’s estate spans advanced engineering and laboratory facilities, clinical and health environments, veterinary and agricultural activities (including Leahurst Campus), major capital projects, student residential accommodation, and international operations and partnerships. This creates a challenging and high-risk regulatory landscape, requiring strong strategic leadership to ensure effective health and safety governance across a devolved academic structure.

We are seeking an exceptional individual to undertake this important strategic leadership role. As Director of Health and Safety, you will lead the development and delivery of the University’s Health and Safety Strategy, policy framework, and assurance model, ensuring the University meets its statutory responsibilities and aligns with best practice across the higher education and research sectors.

Reporting to the University Secretary and working closely with senior management, you will establish a robust, risk-based approach to health and safety management, providing assurance through clear reporting to the Senior Leadership Team, the Governing Body (Council) and relevant committees. The role will play a critical part in strengthening organisational culture, ensuring that safety is embedded as a core institutional value across all faculties, professional services, and campus locations.

As an inspirational and visible leader, you will:

• Lead and develop a central professional Health and Safety function, shaping capability and providing expert advice across the institution.
• Ensure effective integration of the Occupational Health and Radiation Protection functions within a coherent Health and Safety function.
• Build effective partnerships with academic leaders, professional services leaders, and external regulators.
• Drive a programme of continuous improvement, informed by data, insight, and sector benchmarking.

To succeed, you will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in a large, complex, and highly regulated organisation.
• Deep expertise in UK Health and Safety legislation and regulatory expectations, including experience of providing assurance to Boards or governing bodies.
• A strong track record of influencing at executive level, managing complexity, and delivering cultural and organisational change.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the credibility to engage across a diverse academic community.

This is a critical leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape and enhance Health and Safety across a globally recognised institution. We very much look forward to receiving your application.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: We are committed to enhancing a workforce as diverse as our community and particularly encourage applicants who are of minoritised genders and ethnic backgrounds, living with a disability, and/or are members of the LGBTQIA+ community.