Director of Health & Safety

Teaching Vacancies; Doncaster; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

DN Colleges Group is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Health & Safety to lead and develop our health, safety, wellbeing, incident response and business continuity functions across the organisation.

This senior leadership role provides expert advice, independent assurance and strategic direction to support a safe, inclusive and high-performing environment for staff, students, visitors and stakeholders. Travel between sites and after-hours response may be required.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in health and safety management across multiple sites.
• Experience developing and implementing organisational H&S strategy and reporting to senior leaders/boards.
• Solid understanding of UK H&S legislation, governance, risk management and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and independent assurance on health, safety, wellbeing, incident response and business continuity.
• Lead development and continuous improvement of a positive safety culture.
• Develop, implement and review health and safety policies, strategies and frameworks.
• Present performance, compliance updates and risk analysis to senior leaders and committees.
• Lead the Health & Safety, Incident Response and First Aid teams.
• Oversee emergency planning, business continuity and incident management.
• Manage audit, inspection and compliance programmes for performance monitoring.
• Chair health and safety committees and stakeholder forums.
• Develop health and safety communications, guidance and training initiatives.
• Maintain relationships with regulators, insurers and external partners.
• Oversee incident investigations including root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Ensure fire safety and property compliance across the estate.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Health & safety leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Level 6 Diploma in OSH

IOSH Chartered membership

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

Role Summary

DN Colleges Group is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Health & Safety to lead and develop our health, safety, wellbeing, incident response and business continuity functions across the organisation.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for providing expert advice, independent assurance and strategic direction to support a safe, inclusive and high-performing environment for staff, students, visitors and stakeholders. Working closely with senior leaders, governors, regulators and external partners, you will drive a positive safety culture, ensure compliance with statutory requirements and promote continuous improvement across a complex multi-site organisation.

Leading a dedicated Health & Safety team, you will play a key role in shaping organisational strategy, managing risk, overseeing critical incident response and ensuring robust governance arrangements across all aspects of health and safety.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership, expert advice and independent assurance on health, safety, wellbeing, incident response and business continuity matters.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of a positive organisational safety culture.
• Develop, implement and review health and safety strategies, policies and associated frameworks.
• Present performance reports, compliance updates and risk analysis to senior leaders, governors and committees.
• Lead and develop the Health & Safety, Incident Response and First Aid teams.
• Oversee emergency planning, business continuity arrangements and critical incident management activities.
• Manage organisational audit, inspection and compliance programmes to monitor performance and statutory compliance.
• Chair and lead health and safety committees and stakeholder forums.
• Develop and deliver health and safety communications, guidance and training initiatives.
• Maintain effective relationships with regulators, enforcement bodies, insurers and external partners.
• Lead on accident, incident and near-miss investigation processes, including root cause analysis and preventative actions.
• Provide assurance on fire safety, property compliance and statutory safety requirements across the estate.
• Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health (such as NEBOSH or equivalent).
• Chartered IOSH membership, or working towards Chartered status.
• Significant leadership experience within health and safety management in a complex, multi-site organisation.
• Experience of developing and implementing organisational health and safety strategy and presenting assurance information to senior leaders, boards or committees.
• Comprehensive knowledge of UK health and safety legislation, governance, risk management principles and compliance requirements.

Important Things to Note

• In DN Colleges we call this role Director of Health & Safety but you might know this as Head of Health & Safety, Health & Safety Director, Director of Safety, Health Safety and Wellbeing Director, Corporate Health & Safety Lead.
• The role will involve travel between sites and the ability to respond to serious incidents or emergencies outside of normal working hours when required.
• We are not looking for agency support for this role.

If you need more information, please contact us at [e-mail].

What the college offers its staff

Benefits for Working for DN Colleges

At DN Colleges Group, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across a large and diverse educational organisation, helping to create safe, supportive and inclusive environments where people can thrive.

Working as part of a values-led organisation, you will contribute to our commitment to ambition, support, partnership, innovation, responsibility and equality. You will join a collaborative environment where professional expertise is valued, continuous improvement is encouraged and wellbeing remains a key priority.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.