Head of Health Safety and Wellbeing (QHSE) in Sheffield

This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape and lead the health, safety and wellbeing agenda across SYMCA. You will play a vital role in creating a safe, healthy and resilient organisation by providing strategic direction, assurance and oversight across a diverse range of services, programmes and partnerships. As a key member of the organisation’s leadership community, you will help embed a proactive culture where health, safety and wellbeing are integral to decision‑making, service delivery and organisational success.

As Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing, you will provide strategic leadership and expert oversight for all aspects of health, safety and wellbeing across the organisation. You will develop and deliver a comprehensive organisational framework that supports compliance, risk management and continuous improvement while enabling the safe and effective delivery of services and programmes. You will act as the organisation’s lead professional authority, advising senior leaders and governance bodies on health, safety and wellbeing matters, and providing independent assurance on risk, compliance and performance. You will establish and maintain effective governance, reporting and assurance arrangements that support informed decision‑making and organisational accountability.

The role involves overseeing the development and implementation of safety management systems, ensuring a consistent approach across operational, corporate, commissioning and partnership environments. You will also lead organisational preparedness and resilience activities, including risk management, incident response, emergency planning and business continuity. Working collaboratively across the organisation and with external partners, regulators and stakeholders, you will help ensure health, safety and wellbeing considerations are embedded into major programmes, operational delivery and future organisational developments. You will also lead and develop a specialist team, promoting high standards, professional excellence and continuous improvement.

You are an experienced health, safety and wellbeing leader with a strong track record of operating at a senior level within a complex organisation. You are confident providing strategic advice and assurance to senior leaders and have experience influencing decision‑making in challenging and high‑profile environments. You have extensive knowledge of health and safety legislation, governance and risk management frameworks, and are skilled at applying these in a practical and proportionate way. You understand how to balance compliance with effective service delivery and can translate technical requirements into clear and actionable guidance. You are a strong and credible leader who can build effective relationships across teams, services and partner organisations. You are committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive and accountable culture, enabling others to understand and fulfil their responsibilities for health, safety and wellbeing. You are proactive, resilient and solutions‑focused, with a passion for continuous improvement and a commitment to creating environments where people can work safely, thrive and perform at their best.

Benefits include access to a Local Government Pension Scheme, holiday entitlement from 28 to 36 days annual leave (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays, an Annual Leave Purchase Scheme, hybrid working options, a Flexible Hours Scheme, and support with upskilling through on‑the‑job training and qualifications. Professional membership fees may be reimbursed where applicable.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief. All employees are eligible to request Flexible Working arrangements from day one of employment.