At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead health and safety strategy at Thorpe Park Resort, ensuring a safe environment for guests and staff.
- Company: Join Merlin Entertainments, a leader in creating unforgettable family experiences.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and the chance to shape safety in a fun environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to influence and collaborate with passionate teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on safety while working in one of the UK's most loved attractions.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in Health & Safety leadership with NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 90000 £ per year.
What you'll bring to the team
Our Purpose: Bring Every Family Closer Through Play
Our Vision: To Be The Worlds Most Loved Family Escape
At Merlin Entertainments, our purpose is simple: to bring every family closer through play. Every day, millions of guests create unforgettable memories across our world-famous attractions, and behind every magical experience is an unwavering commitment to safety. We're looking for an exceptional Health & Safety Director to join the Senior Leadership Team at Thorpe Park Resort. This is a unique opportunity to shape the health and safety strategy for one of the UK's most exciting visitor attractions, leading a high-performing team while ensuring our guests, colleagues and contractors can enjoy and deliver extraordinary experiences safely. If you're a strategic safety leader who thrives in fast-paced, operational environments and enjoys influencing at the highest level, we'd love to hear from you.
About the Role
As Health & Safety Director, you'll provide both strategic direction and operational leadership for all aspects of health and safety across the resort. Reporting to the UK Health, Safety & Security Director and working closely with the Site Vice President and Senior Leadership Team, you'll champion a proactive safety culture, ensuring compliance with legislation while driving continuous improvement across every area of the business. You'll be a trusted advisor to senior leaders, supporting major operational decisions, future developments and investment projects whilst leading a visible, engaged Health & Safety team. This role also plays an important part in incident management and crisis response, participating in the local Incident Director rota when required. This will include some evening and weekend work.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading the overall health and safety strategy across Thorpe Park Resort.
- Inspiring, developing and managing the Health & Safety team.
- Providing expert advice and guidance to leaders across all departments.
- Driving a positive, proactive safety culture through coaching, visibility and engagement.
- Ensuring compliance with UK legislation, Merlin standards and regulatory requirements.
- Managing audits, inspections, reporting and governance activities.
- Maintaining the resort risk register and ensuring actions are delivered.
- Supporting capital projects, new attractions and resort developments from a safety perspective.
- Managing incident investigations, corrective actions and regulatory reporting.
- Building strong relationships with external agencies including the HSE, Environmental Health, Police and Local Authorities.
- Managing departmental budgets including both OPEX and CAPEX planning.
Qualifications & Experience
What We're Looking For
You'll bring significant leadership experience together with a genuine passion for creating safe environments where both people and businesses can thrive. You'll ideally have:
- NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent).
- A minimum of 10 years' experience within Health & Safety leadership.
- Experience leading high-performing teams.
- Strong knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation and best practice.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Experience working with senior leadership teams and executive stakeholders.
- Membership of a recognised professional body (or willingness to obtain this).
- Experience within hospitality, leisure, attractions, or another operationally complex/ public facing environment.
The Kind of Leader You Are
We're looking for someone who naturally demonstrates our leadership behaviours:
- Soulfully Curious: You enjoy learning, ask thoughtful questions and continually seek better ways of working.
- Results Focused: You set high standards, take ownership and consistently deliver meaningful outcomes.
- Extraordinary Teammate: You build trusted relationships, collaborate across teams and help others succeed.
- Develops People: You coach, mentor and empower others to grow, creating an environment where people perform at their best.
Why Merlin?
This is more than a Health & Safety role. You'll have the opportunity to influence the future of one of the UK's most iconic resorts, working alongside passionate experts who genuinely care about creating unforgettable experiences safely. At Merlin, safety isn't just about compliance—it's about enabling millions of families to make lifelong memories with confidence. If you're ready to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you. Together, we'll continue bringing every family closer through play.
Health & Safety Director in Chertsey employer: Thorpe Park Resort
Thorpe Park Resort in Chertsey is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. Employees benefit from ongoing training opportunities and discounts, ensuring both personal and professional growth in a dynamic environment dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences. Join us to be part of a team that values safety and innovation while working in one of the UK's most exciting leisure destinations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Health & Safety Director in Chertsey
✨Get Involved with Local Health Initiatives
Join local community health events or volunteer for organisations like public health agencies. This not only builds your experience but also helps you network with industry professionals who might know of openings at places like Thorpe Park Resort.
✨Tap into Professional Associations
Check out associations like the Institute of Healthcare Management. They often have job boards, networking events, and conferences that are perfect for connecting with potential employers in health sciences administration.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow health policy news and trends—being knowledgeable about the current landscape will not only help you in interviews but also make you stand out as a candidate. You can discuss recent developments and their implications when chatting with folks at Thorpe Park Resort.
✨Apply Through Our Website for Better Visibility
When you find roles that excite you, especially at places like Thorpe Park Resort, don’t forget to apply through our website. This can sometimes give you an edge by showing the employer you’re savvy and committed to finding the right fit.
We think you need these skills to ace Health & Safety Director in Chertsey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in health sciences administration, it's super important to spotlight any relevant experience you have in healthcare settings. Whether you've worked in a hospital, a clinic, or any related environment, make sure to detail those roles in your CV – focusing on your responsibilities and achievements that align with the job at Thorpe Park Resort.
Showcase Your Administrative Skills:Administrative skills are key in this field, so don’t hold back! Make sure your CV reflects your proficiency in things like scheduling, data management, and compliance with health regulations. Mention specific software you’ve used, such as patient management systems, as this will demonstrate your hands-on abilities and readiness for the role at Thorpe Park Resort.
Craft a Meaningful Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the health sciences field and your eagerness to contribute to Thorpe Park Resort. Share a bit about why you’re drawn to this sector, any impactful situations or challenges you’ve encountered, and how they’ve shaped your desire to work in health sciences administration. This personal touch can really set you apart!
Tailor Your Documents to the Job:Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach! Make sure your CV and cover letter are specifically tailored for this role. Highlight any certifications you have relevant to health administration, and ensure you clearly connect your previous roles to the skills needed for the full-time position at Thorpe Park Resort. This way, you're showing them you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in being a part of their team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Thorpe Park Resort
✨Showcase Your Administrative Skills
In health sciences administration, being organised is key. Make sure you can demonstrate your skills in managing schedules, paperwork, and data accurately. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, like electronic health record systems or scheduling software, and how they improved efficiency in your past experiences.
✨Know Your Regulations
Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance is crucial. Brush up on HIPAA, GDPR, or other relevant policies before your interview. We recommend preparing examples of how you've ensured compliance or handled sensitive information in past roles—this will show you're not just knowledgeable but also responsible.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Interviews for administrative roles often involve scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills. Practice responses to common situations you might face, such as dealing with a challenging patient or managing a sudden schedule change. This will not only demonstrate your ability to think on your feet but also highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Align Your Goals with the Organisation
As a full-time candidate, employers will want to know how your long-term career goals align with their mission. Take some time to research Thorpe Park Resort’s values and be ready to tie your passion for health sciences administration into their objectives. Demonstrating enthusiasm and career alignment can be a game-changer in this competitive field!
