Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead workspace governance and compliance across Standard Life’s UK property portfolio.
- Company: Join a leading financial services company committed to safety and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, private medical cover, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and a supportive, inclusive workplace culture.
- Why this job: Shape the future of workspace governance and ensure safe, resilient environments.
- Qualifications: Strong governance and health & safety experience in corporate settings required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Head of Workspace Policy & Governance to provide strategic leadership of workspace governance, policy and compliance across Standard Life’s UK property portfolio. This is a senior role with accountability for ensuring our workspace environments operate within a robust governance framework, supporting statutory compliance, risk management, organisational resilience and workspace wellbeing.
Acting as the authority for workspace policy and governance, you’ll define standards, oversee compliance and provide assurance that workspace risks are effectively managed across all sites. If you bring strong experience in governance, health & safety and risk leadership within a corporate organisation, preferably within a financial services or other regulated environment, and enjoy working at the intersection of policy, compliance and operational delivery, this is an opportunity to shape how workspace governance supports a safe, resilient and inclusive working environment.
Job Type: Permanent
Location: Edinburgh or Birmingham. Hybrid working is supported with regular travel required across UK office locations (Edinburgh, Birmingham, London and Telford). You’ll spend time on site to support effective governance oversight, engagement with operational teams and consistent standards across the estate.
Flexible working: All roles are open to part‑time, job‑share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process.
Salary and benefits: Salary range £70,000 to £90,000 dependant on experience plus an indicative bonus range of 30–60%, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, income protection, career breaks, 3 volunteering days and much more.
The role involves leading the development, implementation and oversight of workspace governance and compliance frameworks across Standard Life’s property portfolio. You’ll be responsible for defining and maintaining workspace policies, standards and governance arrangements that ensure compliance with statutory obligations, regulatory requirements and internal risk frameworks. Working closely with operational teams, risk, compliance and people functions, you’ll ensure governance frameworks are embedded effectively across the estate.
With a strong focus on health & safety governance, organisational resilience and business continuity, you’ll provide assurance to senior leaders that workspace risks are identified, managed and controlled, and that workspaces are safe, resilient and aligned to colleague wellbeing and inclusion objectives.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the development and ownership of the organisation’s workspace policy and governance framework
- Establishing and maintaining clear standards for health & safety, statutory compliance and workspace risk management
- Providing governance oversight and assurance across all workspace locations, including third‑party service providers
- Overseeing ISO management systems, including ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001, and leading internal and external audit activity
- Ensuring health & safety governance frameworks support safe, healthy and inclusive working environments
- Leading workspace‑related business continuity and resilience planning in line with organisational risk frameworks
- Maintaining oversight of compliance risks including fire safety, asbestos, water hygiene and statutory engineering obligations
- Leading investigation, reporting and analysis of safety incidents, risks and trends
- Providing expert advice to senior leaders on workspace governance, risk and compliance matters
- Leading and developing the Workspace Policy & Governance team and specialist resources
Regular UK travel will be required as part of this role.
What are we looking for?
We focus on essential capabilities and encourage applications from candidates whose experience may look different, but who bring strong governance leadership and judgement. You’ll have:
- Significant experience leading governance, compliance and/or health & safety functions within a corporate organisation, preferably within a financial services or other regulated environment.
- Proven experience developing and implementing policy frameworks and governance structures
- Strong knowledge of built‑environment regulatory requirements and workspace compliance obligations
- Experience managing organisational risk and compliance frameworks at a strategic level
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing specialist teams and influencing senior stakeholders
The following are desirable:
- Experience working across multi‑site property portfolios
- Experience supporting organisational resilience or business continuity activity
- Professional qualifications such as NEBOSH Diploma or chartered IOSH membership
We want to hire the whole version of you. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.
Head of Workspace Policy & Governance in Birmingham employer: Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group)
Contact Detail:
Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Workspace Policy & Governance in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at Standard Life or similar companies. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s workspace policies and governance practices. Show us you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about how you can contribute to their mission of creating safe and inclusive work environments.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities of the Head of Workspace Policy & Governance role. Highlight your governance leadership and risk management skills to make a lasting impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our goals.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Workspace Policy & Governance in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in governance, compliance, and health & safety. We want to see how your background aligns with the specific requirements of the Head of Workspace Policy & Governance role.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: This is a senior position, so don’t hold back on showcasing your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've led teams or projects, especially in a corporate or regulated environment. We love to see strong leadership in action!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make your achievements stand out. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets right to the heart of your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group)
✨Know Your Governance Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in workspace governance, compliance, and health & safety regulations. Brush up on ISO standards like ISO 45001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001, as these will likely come up in conversation. Being able to discuss how you've applied these in previous roles will show your expertise.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing teams and influencing senior stakeholders. Think about specific situations where you’ve led governance initiatives or improved compliance frameworks, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Understand the Company’s Values
Research Standard Life’s approach to workspace wellbeing and organisational resilience. Be prepared to discuss how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to creating a safe and inclusive working environment. This shows that you’re not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in their mission.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about their current challenges in workspace governance or how they measure success in this area. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.