Head of Health & Safety

Karter Thomas Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Karter Thomas Limited is seeking an experienced Head of Health & Safety / Compliance to provide strategic leadership across health, safety and compliance services within a large property portfolio. You will report to the Group Director of Property & Places and drive safe working environments, regulatory adherence and continuous improvement across all compliance areas.

This is a high-visibility leadership role requiring proactive, commercially aware leadership with the ability to influence at

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading Health & Safety and Compliance functions within housing, property, construction, charity or regulated environments.
• Experience developing and implementing Health & Safety strategies, policies and governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety legislation and compliance management.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders, Executive Teams and Boards.
• Experience managing audits, compliance programmes and performance reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation's Health & Safety and Compliance function.
• Act as the subject matter expert on all Health & Safety and Compliance matters.
• Develop and implement Health & Safety strategies, policies and improvement plans.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to senior leadership, Executive Teams and Boards.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of legislative developments, including Building Safety and Fire Safety reforms.
• Develop strong relationships with external stakeholders, regulators and industry bodies.
• Promote a positive health, safety and compliance culture across the organisation.
• Oversee Health & Safety management systems, compliance monitoring tools and reporting frameworks.
• Develop and maintain robust audit and assurance processes.
• Produce weekly, monthly and quarterly compliance reports for senior leadership and Board members.
• Review and improve policies, procedures and compliance processes to ensure they remain effective and fit for purpose.
• Lead horizon scanning activities, identifying emerging risks, legislative changes and best practices.
• Work with property, operational and leadership teams to ensure all statutory compliance requirements are met.
• Oversee Fire Risk Assessments, General Risk Assessments and associated compliance activity.
• Lead on Business Continuity and Emergency Response arrangements.
• Provide specialist advice on construction safety, CDM regulations, contractor management, asbestos, COSHH and wider property-related compliance matters.
• Ensure all legislative documentation, safety records and compliance information are accurately maintained.
• Oversee mandatory Health & Safety training programmes and compliance monitoring.
• Manage a departmental budget of approximately £500,000.
• Work with finance and senior leaders to develop annual budgets and business plans.
• Monitor performance against KPIs and compliance objectives.
• Maintain accurate financial and operational records.
• Deliver regular management reports and performance updates.

Job description

Salary: £60,000 - £65,000 per annum
Location: Agile Working (Home-Based with Travel Across Portfolio)
Hours: 35 Hours per Week

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Head of Health & Safety / Compliance to provide strategic leadership across health, safety and compliance services within a large and diverse property portfolio.

Reporting to the Group Director of Property & Places, you will be responsible for ensuring the organisation remains compliant with all relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and best practice standards. Working closely with senior leaders, operational teams and external stakeholders, you will develop and implement strategies that promote safe working environments, protect residents and colleagues, and support continuous improvement across all areas of compliance.

This is a highly visible leadership role, requiring a proactive and commercially aware individual who can influence at Executive and Board level whilst driving operational excellence across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation's Health & Safety and Compliance function.
• Act as the subject matter expert on all Health & Safety and Compliance matters.
• Develop and implement Health & Safety strategies, policies and improvement plans.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to senior leadership, Executive Teams and Boards.
• Maintain an up‑to‑date understanding of legislative developments, including Building Safety and Fire Safety reforms.
• Develop strong relationships with external stakeholders, regulators and industry bodies.
• Promote a positive health, safety and compliance culture across the organisation.

Compliance & Assurance

• Ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations and internal policies.
• Oversee Health & Safety management systems, compliance monitoring tools and reporting frameworks.
• Develop and maintain robust audit and assurance processes.
• Produce weekly, monthly and quarterly compliance reports for senior leadership and Board members.
• Review and improve policies, procedures and compliance processes to ensure they remain effective and fit for purpose.
• Lead horizon scanning activities, identifying emerging risks, legislative changes and best practices.

Operational Delivery

• Work with property, operational and leadership teams to ensure all statutory compliance requirements are met.
• Oversee Fire Risk Assessments, General Risk Assessments and associated compliance activity.
• Lead on Business Continuity and Emergency Response arrangements.
• Provide specialist advice on construction safety, CDM regulations, contractor management, asbestos, COSHH and wider property-related compliance matters.
• Ensure all legislative documentation, safety records and compliance information are accurately maintained.
• Oversee mandatory Health & Safety training programmes and compliance monitoring.

Budget & Performance Management

• Manage a departmental budget of approximately £500,000.
• Work with finance and senior leaders to develop annual budgets and business plans.
• Monitor performance against KPIs and compliance objectives.
• Maintain accurate financial and operational records.
• Deliver regular management reports and performance updates.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience leading Health & Safety and Compliance functions within housing, property, construction, charity or regulated environments.
• Experience developing and implementing Health & Safety strategies, policies and governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety legislation and compliance management.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders, Executive Teams and Boards.
• Experience managing audits, compliance programmes and performance reporting.