Strategic Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Lead

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do. Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services. We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!

The role: Liverpool City Council is a large, complex organisation with significant statutory responsibilities for the health, safety and wellbeing of its workforce and the city's residents and school communities. We are creating a new senior role to provide clear strategic leadership, professional assurance, and integration across health, safety and wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior professional leadership and assurance across health, safety and wellbeing for the Council and its maintained schools
• Take strategic responsibility for occupational health and wellbeing, including client management of a new Occupational Health contract and the development of an integrated wellbeing offer
• Act as the Council’s principal advisor on health, safety and wellbeing to senior leaders and Elected Members, producing high‑quality reports and attending corporate and member‑led committees
• Lead the integration of health and safety provision following the transfer of Liverpool Streetscene Services Limited (LSSL) to the Council and statutory and traded services to schools
• Drive continuous improvement by learning from incidents, audits, data and employee feedback, and by drawing on best practice from professional networks, Core Cities and the Liverpool City Region

Qualifications

• Chartered membership of IOSH or equivalent senior‑level professional credibility in health and safety
• Significant experience operating at a strategic level across health, safety and/or wellbeing
• A strong track record of advising, influencing and constructively challenging senior leaders
• Experience developing strategy, governance and assurance frameworks, and presenting complex information clearly
• Experience of strategic contract management, including commissioning and performance oversight
• Confidence working with regulators, auditors or external assurance bodies
• Strong communication, influencing and report‑writing skills

Benefits

• At least 31 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 35 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes
• Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• Employee Volunteering Scheme

Next steps

• Closing date: midnight on Sunday 31 May 2026
• Shortlisting date: W/C 1 June 2026
• Interview date: Friday 12 June 2026
• Interview type: face‑to‑face

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Once the role has closed, you will not be able to submit an application, and we are unable to reopen the vacancy for you to complete it. We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the closing date to avoid disappointment.

Equal Opportunities

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under‑represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. As part of the Equality Act 2010, reasonable adjustments may be made to the application process, including a different format or additional time to complete your application. If you require such support, please contact recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.