Asbestos Manager

Somerset Council; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

Flexible/hybrid work

Annual leave 30 days

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking an experienced professional to manage the Asbestos team within its site operations. You will oversee asbestos surveys, risk mitigation and incident response, while helping deliver external, income-generating services to schools and other clients.

Lead planning and allocation of work, supervise staff and contractors, maintain the Asbestos Register, and ensure compliance with UKAS guidance and current HSE legislation.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years proven experience in asbestos management and consultancy services across a diverse property portfolio.
• Experience managing statutory duties relating to asbestos management.
• Experience managing a team, contractors and delivering compliance programmes.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day management and technical support to the Council’s asbestos team, including planning, directing and monitoring performance.
• Allocates work to staff and makes decisions on operational aspects of work.
• Oversees delivery of the asbestos survey plan, ensuring the schedule of surveys is maintained to ensure compliance with SC policy and legislation.
• Respond to emergency incidents involving asbestos and provide testing and guidance on the outcomes and actions to be taken.
• Produces reports relating to incidents / accidents involving asbestos for inclusion in the H&S incident report.
• Responsible for the maintenance and updating of the Somerset Council records in the Asbestos Register database.
• Undertake asbestos surveys and site investigations to support the team as and when required.

Skills

Asbestos management

Team leadership

Contractor management

Risk assessment

HSE guidance

Tools

Asbestos TEAMS

Job description

You will be managing Somerset Council’s Asbestos team, an operational site team that carries out asbestos surveys. You’ll be helping this team to proactively mitigate asbestos risks, preventing incidents and protecting the health and wellbeing of the workforce and all building users. You will also help deliver income-generating external services, working for external clients such as schools, academies and the Avon Fire and Rescue Services.

Key responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day management and technical support to the Council’s asbestos team, including planning, directing and monitoring performance.
• Allocates work to staff and makes decisions on operational aspects of work.
• Oversees delivery of the asbestos survey plan, ensuring the schedule of surveys is maintained to ensure compliance with SC policy and legislation.
• Respond to emergency incidents involving asbestos and provide testing and guidance on the outcomes and actions to be taken.
• Produces reports relating to incidents / accidents involving asbestos for inclusion in the H&S incident report.
• Responsible for the maintenance and updating of the Somerset Council records in the Asbestos Register database.
• Undertake asbestos surveys and site investigations to support the team as and when required.

What you’ll bring

• Knowledge and understanding of UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) requirements, technical guidance, and codes of practice relating to working in an asbestos consultancy.
• Strong understanding of UK asbestos legislation and HSE guidance documents to provide professional advice and guidance.
• Knowledge of property compliance systems and asset management software e.g. Asbestos TEAMS.
• Demonstrate a range of management skills, including resource and staff deployment.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the requirements of managing health and safety in accordance with current legislation.
• A minimum of 5 years proven experience in asbestos management and consultancy services across a diverse property portfolio.
• Experience of managing statutory duties relating to asbestos management.
• Experience managing a team, contractors and delivering compliance programmes.

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most generous and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council:

• This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week.
• Based in Somerset Scientific Services, Westpark, with some homeworking as well as regular site visits.
• Site visits / audits will need to be completed in some dangerous environments, in all weather conditions, with PPE required and other hazards, such as unsafe roofs and confined spaces, identified prior to works.
• Some working at height may be required.
• Occasional out of hours work may be required for emergency response or site access.
• 30 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays)

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.