Divisional Safety Lead

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee assistance programme

Family leave schemes

Cycle and electric car loan schemes

Discounted bus travel and season-ticke

Job summary

University of Oxford’s Medical Sciences Divisional Office is seeking a Divisional Safety Lead to provide strategic leadership on health and safety across the division. You will lead and develop the Divisional Safety Team, working with departments to strengthen safety arrangements and foster a culture of accountability.

You will deliver the division's safety strategy, risk management and assurance programmes, build relationships with key stakeholders and drive continuous improvement through data,

Qualifications

• NEBOSH Certificate and substantial health and safety leadership experience.
• Experience leading specialist professional teams and driving high performance.
• Experience handling complex, sensitive, or high-risk safety issues with sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the Divisional Safety Team, creating a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.
• Provide expert strategic and professional health and safety advice to departments and senior leaders across the Medical Sciences Division.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Division's health and safety strategy, risk management and assurance arrangements.
• Build strong relationships with departments, safety professionals and other key stakeholders, promoting shared learning and a positive safety culture.
• Oversee and prioritise the Safety Team’s work programme, ensuring resources are focused on the Division’s key risks and priorities.
• Use data, audits, inspections and incident investigations to identify emerging risks and drive evidence-based continuous improvement.
• Represent the Division and work collaboratively with the wider University safety community, NHS Trusts and other partners on shared health and safety matters.

Skills

NEBOSH Certificate

Health & safety leadership

Team leadership

Risk management

Job description

UK date and time: 05-November-2026 13:45

Medical Sciences Divisional Office Safety Team, across Headington and Oxford

OPEN TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL APPLICANTS

Divisional Safety Lead, Medical Sciences Divisional Office

• Full time - with part-time working as a minimum of 0.8 FTE considered.

About the Role:

You will provide strategic and professional leadership on health and safety across the Medical Sciences Division, ensuring effective oversight, risk management and continuous improvement. As a strong people manager and leader, you will lead and develop the Divisional Safety Team, fostering a collaborative, supportive and high-performing culture. You will work closely with departments and University colleagues to strengthen health and safety arrangements and promote a positive culture of accountability across the Division.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead, manage and develop the Divisional Safety Team, creating a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.


• Provide expert strategic and professional health and safety advice to departments and senior leaders across the Medical Sciences Division.


• Lead the development and implementation of the Division's health and safety strategy, risk management and assurance arrangements.


• Build strong relationships with departments, safety professionals and other key stakeholders, promoting shared learning and a positive safety culture.


• Oversee and prioritise the Safety Team’s work programme, ensuring resources are focused on the Division’s key risks and priorities.


• Use data, audits, inspections and incident investigations to identify emerging risks and drive evidence-based continuous improvement.


• Represent the Division and work collaboratively with the wider University safety community, NHS Trusts and other partners on shared health and safety matters.

Skills and Qualifications:

Please see the job description for a full list of essential and desirable criteria

• Hold a NEBOSH Certificate (or be willing to attain within the first two years) and substantial professional experience in health and safety leadership within a large, complex organisation.


• Demonstrable experience of leading, developing and inspiring specialist professional teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.


• Significant experience of handling complex, sensitive or high-risk health and safety issues, exercising sound professional judgement and delivering proportionate, pragmatic solutions.

What We Offer:

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees' wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

• Employee Assistant Programme


• Family Leave schemes


• Cycle and electric car loan schemes


• Discounted bus travel and season ticket travel loans

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement describing how you meet the criteria, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 23 November 2026. Interviews will take place in person on 07 December 2026, you will be requested to complete a presentation as part of the interview process.

If you are interested in applying and wish to have an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Jennifer Kain, Head of Assurance by email at [e-mail]