Head of Safety Management - Central Laser Facility

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: £75,382 per annum
Hours: Full time – limited part time can be considered
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), Harwell, Oxfordshire

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

A rare opportunity has opened up to join us in a senior leadership position at the Central Laser Facility (CLF) to lead our safety management.

We are recruiting a Head of Safety Management for the CLF. This position is a senior management role in CLF and STFC, reporting to the CLF Director, with safety oversight for all activities conducted in the CLF’s five operational laser facilities and those under construction (not the civil construction). We are currently investing over £200M in building two new large scale facilities, EPAC (2020-2025) and Vulcan 20-20 (2023-2029), and enhancing two others Ultra and Artemis via the HiLUX project (2023-2027).

The Central Laser Facility is one of the world’s leading laser facilities, providing external scientists predominately from the UK and Europe with access to an unparalleled range of state-of-the-art large scale laser technology. The CLF’s wide ranging applications include experiments in physics, chemistry, biology, environmental sciences, cultural heritage and the sciences of life and disease. From advanced, compact, tuneable lasers which can pinpoint individual particles to high power laser installations that recreate the conditions inside stars, a vigorous multidisciplinary development programme ensures that our facilities maintain their international competitiveness. CLF operations couple pretty much every safety hazard imaginable with an external user community that is very often inexperienced students and our staff. Safety management is therefore at the very heart of safely delivering this programme and developing the next generation technologies and facilities.

About the Role

The CLF Senior Safety Manager reports to the CLF Director. At the Division Leader level within the CLF you will be a defining mind in the safe operation and development of the CLF’s current and new research facilities, bringing your expertise and experience to work closely with the CLF’s senior leadership in helping the department in realising its ambitions.

As the CLF Senior Safety Manager you will provide leadership, mentoring and support to a team of over 100 scientists, engineers and technicians across a wide range of disciplines and competencies. You will ensure that Health and Safety remain at the heart of everything we do in the delivery of our world-class science programme. Maintaining our excellent record for safety and preventing work-related ill health will continue to be the highest priority for CLF and this role will lead in overseeing this goal.

Main Responsibilities

1. Oversee the safe operation and enhancement of the CLF’s operational programme across the five facilities working closely with the senior management team.
2. Oversee the safe operation and enhancement of the CLF’s major projects: EPAC; Vulcan 20-20 and HiLUX.
3. Support the development and planning of new opportunities, contributing to Business cases and proposals as required.
4. Ensure the CLF complies with all the statutory safety responsibilities associated with its delivery, including Ionising Radiation; Artificial Optical Radiation; Safety interlocks; Loan Working; Fire; PSSR; PED; DSEAR; Legionella; CDM; COSHH; Asbestos compliance. Ensure compliance with RAL SHE Safety Codes.
5. Function as the CLF Safety Lead, the Departmental Safety Contact and the Senior staff member responsible for advising the Director and CLF senior staff on safety matters within the CLF. Prepare monthly safety reports for the CLF Management Board. Contribute to SHE Safety Code revisions / development as required. Conduct or manage safety investigations as required.
6. Chair the CLF Departmental SHE Committee – Manage CLF departmental SHE committee. Plan and progress a programme of CLF Safety Tours. Facilitate and lead the annual CLF Safety Improvement Plan Away Day. “Own” the CLF Safety Package and ensure it is up to date, including the appointment of responsible persons annually. Manage the CLF Safety Risk Register and CLF SHE Improvement Plan.
7. Represent CLF at RAL SHE Committee and other safety related bodies as required.
8. Be the Overall Laser Responsible Officer – Ensure that CLF complies with current rules relating to the safe use of lasers and advise senior management accordingly. Arrange an annual independent Laser Safety Inspection.
9. Be the Overall Fire Manager (CLF) – Liaise with STFC Fire Safety Coordinator, CLF management and CLF staff to ensure that fire safety in the buildings is managed appropriately.
10. As a senior member of staff, contribute to the general need / requirements / strategy of the department as identified by the Director in areas outside of the safety brief, and on occasion for STFC or UKRI. Occasionally deputise for the Director as required.

A champion of collaboration and an excellent problem solver you must have a “can do / can solve” attitude, able to instil enthusiasm to deliver world leading technology to the teams you work with in a pragmatic, safe way.

STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.

Person Specification

The below criteria will be assessed at Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I)

Essential

1. Degree, ideally in a scientific discipline, or equivalent experience (S).
2. Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of safety areas relevant to the CLF, including ionising radiation, artificial optical radiation, electromagnetic fields; high vacuum systems, pressurised gas systems, high voltage; fire management and building wide processed water systems, COSHH etc.
3. Demonstrable experience / lead in the practical design or implementation of safety systems in many of these areas, and demonstrable experience of balancing safety and practicability of operational systems. An ability to understand and implement regulatory requirements whilst also maintaining the ability to operate a complex facility.
4. Experience of leading and managing a large multidisciplinary team at a senior level (S&I).
5. Ability to multi-task and prioritise against a full workload and achieve demanding targets (I).
6. Knowledge of appropriate safety procedures and experience of safety management in a scientific environment (S&I).
7. Good oral and written communication skills (I).
8. An understanding of EDI issues in the research environment and a commitment to improving EDI in the CLF (I).

Desirable

1. A previous senior leadership role in an engineering based and/or scientific facility (S&I).
2. Experience of working with industry in a research environment (S&I).
3. Hold a recognised professional membership or chartered status in a relevant discipline (S&I).
4. Have a recognised Safety qualification such as a NEBOSH Certificate (S&I).

Additional Information

The role will involve UK and Overseas travel as required. This role is ideally full time, but limited part time would be considered for the right candidate. It is not remote, but work at home on an infrequent ad hoc basis would be fine. It is based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire.

How to Apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

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