Head of Compliance, Governance and Risk

University of Sheffield; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 61,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global university in Sheffield is seeking a Head of Compliance, Governance and Risk to oversee strategic compliance and quality assurance across its expansive estate. The role involves providing leadership to diverse teams, ensuring regulatory adherence, and driving innovation within the Estates & Facilities Management department. Candidates should possess substantial experience in compliance and risk management, ideally with chartered membership in a relevant professional body, and display exceptional leadership skills. Competitive salary and hybrid working arrangement offered.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in engineering or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in compliance, governance, and risk management.
• Strong leadership in a complex estate environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction to maintenance and project teams.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Lead initiatives to address complex compliance challenges.

Skills

Leadership skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic and analytical mindset

Change management

Compliance expertise

Education

Chartered Membership of CIBSE/IET/IMechE/CIWEM

Job description

16/12/2025

Job Id: 1981

School/Department: Estates & Facilities Management

Work Arrangement: Full Time (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary per annum (£): £61,759.00 - £69,488.00

Closing Date: 01/02/2026

The University of Sheffield is seeking to appoint an exceptional Head of Compliance, Governance and Risk to lead strategic compliance and quality assurance across our diverse and complex estate, which spans over 500,000m². This senior leadership role sits within our Estates & Facilities Management department and is critical to ensuring statutory compliance and operational excellence across engineering, maintenance, and project activities.

The University of Sheffield is a truly special place, with a bold and ambitious future. A leading global university renowned for the excellence, impact and the distinctiveness of its research‑led learning and teaching across a wide range of disciplines, we are home to 30,000 of the brightest students and over 8,000 staff from more than 140 countries around the world. We want Sheffield to be an international centre of excellence for centuries to come, so we recruit ambitious, creative people from across the globe and we nurture their talent.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Associate Director of Engineering & Maintenance, you will provide strategic direction and senior leadership to maintenance and project teams, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations and statutory obligations. You will lead strategic initiatives that keep the University ahead of regulatory change, influence multiple workstreams, and tackle complex compliance challenges head‑on.

Qualifications

We are seeking an individual with a proven track record in engineering or a related discipline, ideally with Chartered Membership of a professional body (CIBSE, IET, IMechE, CIWEM). You will have extensive experience in compliance, governance, and risk management within a complex estate environment, strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to inspire teams and influence at senior levels. A strategic and analytical mindset, capable of driving continuous improvement, change and operational excellence, is essential.

Step into a role where your expertise truly shapes the future. You'll demonstrate exceptional leadership and communication skills, drive innovation and change, and make a lasting impact on a diverse and dynamic estate.

For further information, you can view the candidate brochure here: Uni of Sheffield - Head of Compliance, Governance and Risk