Head of Safety and Compliance

Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester Metropolitan University is seeking a strategic leader for the Safety and Compliance function. This high-impact role involves leading a team to enhance health and safety standards, ensuring statutory compliance across the university's diverse estate. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in safety compliance, excellent leadership skills, and the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Mentoring programmes

Accessibility resources

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant experience in leading safety and compliance in large, complex environments.
• Expert knowledge of UK health and safety legislation.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and manage teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Safety and Compliance team across health and safety, fire safety, and building compliance.
• Design and maintain effective policies and monitoring systems.
• Ensure statutory compliance and drive a culture of continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Change Management

Communication

Compliance Knowledge

Education

NEBOSH Diploma

IOSH Chartered Membership

Job description

About Us

At Manchester Metropolitan University, we're proud to be one of the UK's most progressive and ambitious institutions. Our values of sustainability, inclusion, and innovation are embedded across everything we do—from world-class teaching and research to our award-winning estate.

Our Estates, Facilities, and Capital Development (EFCD) team plays a central role in delivering a safe, sustainable, and inspiring environment for our students, staff, and visitors. We're now looking for an experienced and visionary professional to lead our Safety and Compliance function.

The Role

This is a high-impact, senior leadership role with responsibility for shaping and delivering the University's approach to health and safety, fire safety, and statutory compliance across a diverse and complex estate.

You'll lead a team of specialists and promote a proactive, risk-based compliance culture that supports both our legal responsibilities and strategic objectives.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Safety and Compliance, you'll work closely with stakeholders across the University and with external partners to ensure best practice in safety and compliance is embedded throughout our operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team covering health and safety, fire safety, and building compliance.
• Provide expert advice and assurance to senior leadership on compliance and safety risk management.
• Design and maintain effective policies, frameworks, and monitoring systems that align with evolving legislation and best practice.
• Ensure statutory compliance across the estate (e.g. PUWER, LOLER, CDM).
• Oversee audits, inspections, and reporting, driving a culture of continuous improvement.
• Act as the University's lead advisor on all safety and compliance matters, building strong internal and external partnerships.
• Develop second-line assurance systems that deliver real-time oversight of regulatory compliance.

About You

We're looking for a strategic, forward-thinking leader with a passion for driving positive change and embedding a culture of accountability and excellence. You will be an effective communicator, able to influence at all levels and lead by example.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Significant experience leading safety and compliance in a large, complex environment (e.g. higher education, public sector, or estates-focused organisations).
• Expert knowledge of UK health, safety, and statutory compliance legislation.
• Strong leadership, people management, and change management skills.
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and build collaborative relationships.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as NEBOSH Diploma or IOSH Chartered Membership (or equivalent).
• Experience in continuous improvement, with a proactive, team-oriented mindset.

We welcome candidates who may have gained their experience in other sectors but can demonstrate the transferable leadership and compliance skills needed for this role.

Manchester Metropolitan University fosters an inclusive culture of belonging that promotes equity and celebrates diversity. We value a diverse workforce for the innovation and diversity of thought it brings and welcome applications from local and international communities, particularly those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We support a range of flexible working arrangements, including hybrid and tailored schedules, which can be discussed with your line manager. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know so we can provide appropriate support.

Our commitment to inclusivity includes mentoring programmes, accessibility resources, and professional development opportunities to empower and support underrepresented groups.

Manchester Met is a Disability Confident Leader and, under this scheme, aims to offer an interview to disabled people who apply for the role and meet the essential criteria as listed in the attached Job Description for that vacancy.