Head of Technical Compliance

About the role

The post holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day management and oversight of the Technical Compliance Team, ensuring health, safety and wellbeing for the King's Community, including students, staff, contractors and visitors. Through management and monitoring of safety performance, they will reduce risks to people and assets to the lowest possible level. The role includes developing, auditing and reviewing the Directorate’s policies, procedures and processes, and developing, implementing and managing an effective Health & Safety Management System.

Compliance & Safety Management

• Fire safety management
• Asbestos management
• Legionella management
• Electrical safety
• Insurance risk mitigation
• Equality
• General health & safety support and guidance

Deputised and Associate Directorate Support

• Ensure health and safety of all staff and third‑party providers; develop processes, tools and SOPs.
• Identify regulated estate assets and risks; develop appropriate mitigation measures.
• Oversee statutory and regulatory inspections and maintenance; report deficiencies and develop recovery plans.
• Ensure all staff have completed mandatory training; maintain up‑to‑date training records.
• Deploy systems, training and tools for reporting health and safety incidents, including near misses; conduct investigations and implement recommendations.
• Track outcomes for investigations and risk assessments; share lessons learned.
• Develop local emergency and business continuity plans; advise stakeholders and implement best practice.
• Maintain auditable compliance records; produce accurate management information.
• Develop, implement, review and audit policies, procedures and guidelines across the Directorate.
• Collaborate with third parties to ensure best practice across all campuses.

Main Duties and Tasks

• Monitor policies, procedures and processes to ensure statutory, regulatory, health, safety and building management compliance.
• Handle contractors, statutory inspections, testing, remedial works, risk assessments, hazard identification, safe systems of work, workshops, plant rooms, housekeeping, accidents, incidents, investigations and compliance documentation.
• Support other areas with development, implementation and review of procedures and guidance.
• Oversee the Directorate’s computerised permit to work system.
• Build strong relationships with Health & Safety Services, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and other groups for statutory compliance.
• Maintain an online Safety Management System for compliance monitoring and performance measurement.
• Develop and implement action plans with SMART objectives for continual improvement in compliance and safety performance.
• Audit contractor performance; provide consistent risk minimisation across the estate.
• Manage corrective action plans; report to Associate Director Engineering Operations on risks and actions.

People Management & Leadership

• Pastoral and performance management of the Technical Compliance team; provide training, development and support to achieve high professional standards.
• Lead functional teams for specific projects or objectives as required.
• Lead local employee engagement; act as interface with employee representatives.
• Promote professional codes of practice aligned with organisational needs and industry best practice.

Other Duties

• Undertake duties appropriate to the level and character of work as reasonably required.
• Support and deputise for the Associate Director Engineering Operations when absent or required.
• Implement continuous improvement and innovation to enhance quality, value for money, transparency and resilience of the estate.

This is a full‑time role (35 hours per week) and will be offered an indefinite contract.

About you

Essential Criteria

• Degree/Post‑grad in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Member of a relevant professional organisation (IOSH or equivalent).
• Demonstrable knowledge of H&S legislation with NEBOSH or equivalent.
• Highly IT literate.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Extensive management experience and team leadership skills.
• Managing and operating to KPIs and SLAs.

Desirable Criteria

• Ability to work effectively alone and across multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Calm demeanor; remains un‑flustered in high‑pressure situations.
• Experienced and confident in budgetary management accounting principles.

Equality and Diversity Statement

The Equality Act 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfill our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.