Health & Safety Standards & Assurance Manager

The Health , Safety, Environmental , Personal security & Premises (COE)  Safety provides Group-wide subject matter expertise, risk oversight and challenge in relation to Health & Safety risk. The role supports the development and maintenance of the Group Health & Safety policy, standards, legal register and associated management-system requirements, and assesses whether these requirements are appropriately implemented and evidenced across Business Units and Group Functions. 

The role provides expert advice to risk owners, 1LOD stakeholders  , governance forums, identifies emerging legal and regulatory requirements, delivers risk-based assurance and recommends proportionate action where control weaknesses, non-compliance or material risk exposure are identified. 

The role operates independently from First Line control ownership and implementation, providing evidence-based oversight, challenge and assurance in accordance with the Group’s Three Lines of Defence model. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Provide Group-wide subject matter expertise and competent Health & Safety advice to risk owners, Business Units, Group Functions and relevant governance forums.  

• Develop, maintain and periodically review Group Health & Safety policy, standards and management-system requirements, ensuring alignment with applicable legal and regulatory obligations.  

• Define clear minimum control and evidence expectations, while maintaining appropriate separation between Risk Specialist oversight and First Line control ownership.  

• Undertake Health & Safety inspections and compliance reviews to assess the implementation and effectiveness of Group standards, policies and management system requirements. 

• Provide independent review and challenge of risk assessments, control assessments, assurance outcomes and remediation plans, escalating material weaknesses through appropriate governance.  

• Analyse risk, control, incident, assurance and compliance information to identify trends, emerging risks, systemic weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.  

• Produce clear risk insight, assurance conclusions and recommendations for senior stakeholders, committees and risk owners.  

• Monitor agreed remedial actions and assess the adequacy of evidence submitted to support closure.  

• Support effective consultation and engagement with Business Units, Group Functions, colleague forums, recognised trade unions and relevant external specialists.  

• Promote continuous improvement, organisational learning and consistent application of Health & Safety requirements across the Group.  

• Maintain professional knowledge of legal, regulatory and industry developments and assess their implications for the Group’s risk and control environment. 

Key Skills and Experience 

• Substantial experience in a Health & Safety, risk, compliance or assurance role within a large, complex or regulated organisation. 

• Strong working knowledge of Global Health & Safety legislation and the ability to interpret legal and regulatory change and translate it into proportionate organisational requirements. 

• Experience developing or maintaining Health & Safety policies, standards, legal registers or management-system requirements. 

• Experience designing or delivering risk-based assurance, compliance reviews or control assessments. 

• Ability to analyse complex risk and control information and form clear, evidence-based conclusions. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present concise risk insight and recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance forums. 

• Demonstrable ability to challenge constructively, influence without direct authority and work across organisational boundaries. 

• Strong judgement, with the ability to prioritise activity according to risk, materiality and regulatory significance. 

About working for us

We're committed to building a more inclusive, sustainable future. We've set bold goals on diversity and inclusion and continue to create an environment where everyone can thrive. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and are committed to an inclusive recruitment process, providing reasonable adjustments to support you at every stage.

We also offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• An annual performance-related bonus
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• 30 days' holiday, with bank holidays on top
• A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies

Ready to apply?