Head of Health and Safety - Operations

We're looking for a Head of Health and Safety - Operations to join the House of Commons Governance Office, leading a critical function within the Parliamentary Safety Team (PST). This is a high-impact leadership role where you'll shape and deliver operational health and safety services across a uniquely complex and high-profile environment. You'll lead a team of specialist professionals to provide expert advice, drive consistency in safety practices, and embed a proactive, positive safety culture that supports the safe operation of Parliament.

Working at the heart of UK democracy, you'll oversee the delivery of operational safety support across a diverse estate, including higher-risk areas, ensuring that robust processes, monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place. You'll play a key role in driving continuous improvement, leading incident investigations, strengthening stakeholder relationships and championing innovative approaches to safety management. This is an exciting opportunity to influence safety culture at scale, working closely with senior leaders and contributing to strategic, organisation-wide initiatives that ensure Parliament continues to operate safely, effectively and responsibly.

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Generous annual leave starting at 30 days and increasing to 35 after one full working year.
• Enrolment in the excellent Civil Service pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• Flexible working options that help you find a balance including enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave, caring leave and alternative working patterns.

Qualifications:

• A relevant professional qualification, such as NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ Level 5/6 in Safety or degree in a safety related discipline and significant experience in construction and/or facilities management areas.
• Membership of a relevant technical body e.g. IOSH, IIRSM.
• ISO accredited Internal Auditor or willingness to obtain within the first year.

Experience, Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience of strategic health & safety at a senior management level.
• Leading a team of diverse professional subject matter experts.
• Experience of managing an operational safety function within a diverse and complex environment (experience of construction safety is not essential but would be desirable).
• A comprehensive and up to date knowledge, experience and understanding of safety legislation, codes of practices, industry standards and best practice developments.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with key customers, stakeholders and colleagues at all levels.
• The ability to challenge appropriately and robustly to ensure adherence to procedures.
• Ability to lead a team, building and maintaining strong collaborative partnerships to achieve organisational goals, whilst upholding the values of equality, diversity and inclusion and supporting team progression and capability.
• Strong written and oral communications skills with the ability to produce succinct reports and have the ability to determine appropriate solutions and mitigate risks.

Next Steps and Additional Information:

If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter with a 500-word limit. More information on the application process can be found here: Application process - UK Parliament. Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances. We may close the vacancy prior to the closing date stated due to a high volume of applications.