Corporate Health & Safety Officer

About the Role: An opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly motivated individual to join the council as Corporate Health & Safety Officer, taking the lead in delivering the council’s health and safety responsibilities and promoting a safe working environment. They will be at the forefront of driving a proactive and practical health and safety agenda across all organisational levels. This pivotal position involves leading the Corporate Health and Safety service, crafting and implementing an innovative health and safety framework, and ensuring the Council, its employees, contractors, and partners are not only compliant but also empowered to maintain a robust health and safety culture. The role provides strategic insights on health and safety implications, championing adherence to statutory obligations and best practices. This role promises excitement and variety, requiring flexibility to meet the demands of the service; making a significant impact on the safety and well-being of the entire organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Engaging with stakeholders to provide support, advice, and training on H&S and risk.
• Managing risk assessments, accident reporting, H&S audits, and COSHH systems.
• Investigating incidents and advising on corrective actions.
• Developing and maintaining H&S policies to ensure compliance and best practices.
• Staying informed on legislation and engaging in professional development.

About You: The ideal candidate will have a professional qualification at diploma/degree level or equivalent qualification in relation to health and safety at work, with substantial experience of undertaking risk assessments and preparing comprehensive reports. You will be an effective communicator with experience of developing and delivering health & safety training. Your ability to engage with stakeholders, provide training, and ensure effective governance arrangements makes you an invaluable asset to the Council. Flexibility and a proactive approach are key to your success, enabling you to meet the demands of the service. Your expertise in creating and maintaining policies ensures compliance and promotes best practices across the organisation. You will have a full UK driving licence and be prepared to work outside of normal office hours to respond to emergency call outs, when required.

About Us: Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans. We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.

At Maidstone Borough Council, we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits this can bring to both our staff and the Council. We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return. As such, we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies, enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work life balance.

Our Offer: A range of benefits including:

• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
• 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years’ LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave
• Additional 3 days’ leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year
• Free parking
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role

Selection Process: Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect a job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview. This role is customer-facing and the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is an essential element of the role. Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

For further information or to discuss this opportunity in more detail, please contact Uche Olufemi, Enterprise Risk & Resilience Manager. To apply for the position please select the apply button shown and complete the online application form. Closing Date: 26th May 2025.