Head Of Safety & Compliance

Seymour John Ltd; Hounslow; Hybrid; GBP 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive healthcare organisation is seeking a Head of Safety & Compliance to lead compliance and assurance functions across multiple sites. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in health and safety, compliance frameworks, and risk management. This pivotal leadership role requires a blend of strategic insight and people-centred leadership. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with statutory regulations and enhance safety culture while managing teams and building strong relationships with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in compliance, health and safety, or risk management.
• Skilled in interpreting compliance frameworks.
• Experience leading diverse teams and managing budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of compliance frameworks across services.
• Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee risk management processes including audits and inspections.
• Provide high-quality assurance reporting to leaders.
• Build relationships with regulators and enforcement agencies.
• Lead ISO accreditation initiatives.

Skills

Compliance knowledge

Health and safety expertise

Risk management

Leadership

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Strategic insight

Education

Professionally qualified in a relevant discipline (e.g., CMIOSH, MIIRSM)

Job description

Head of Safety & Compliance

Salary: £56,370 per annum (Agenda for Change Band 8a) Location: Hybrid working, with a minimum of three days per week on site Contract: Full-time Closing date: 12 January 2026 Interviews: Week commencing 26 January (in person; may move to the following week depending on candidate availability)

About the Organisation

This is an exciting opportunity to join a progressive, values‑driven organisation delivering essential services across a large and complex healthcare environment. With a strong focus on safety, quality, and continuous improvement, the organisation plays a critical role in supporting patient care and operational excellence across multiple hospital sites.

As part of a wider transformation journey, the organisation is strengthening its approach to compliance, assurance, and risk management — ensuring services are safe, resilient, and aligned with statutory, regulatory, and contractual obligations. You will join a collaborative, supportive leadership team committed to delivering exceptional services every day.

Join Our Team

We are seeking an experienced and forward‑thinking Head of Safety & Compliance to lead the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of compliance, safety, and assurance functions across a multi‑site healthcare setting.

This is a pivotal leadership role, providing strategic direction, expert guidance, and visible leadership to compliance teams and operational managers. You will shape and embed robust frameworks, strengthen organisational resilience, and ensure that services meet the highest standards of safety, governance, and regulatory compliance.

Working closely with senior leaders, regulators, and operational teams, you will be a trusted advisor — combining technical expertise with a pragmatic, solutions‑focused approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of compliance frameworks, policies, and audit programmes across all service areas.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements, including health and safety legislation, environmental standards, and internal governance processes.
• Oversee risk management processes, including risk registers, audits, inspections, and incident investigations.
• Provide high‑quality assurance reporting to senior leaders and governance forums.
• Build strong relationships with regulators, enforcement agencies, and partner organisations.
• Lead ISO accreditation initiatives and support continuous improvement across compliance functions.
• Provide visible leadership to compliance teams, ensuring effective workforce planning, performance management, and professional development.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and learning across the organisation.
• Contribute to wider operational planning as part of the senior management team.

Ideal Candidate

You will bring a blend of technical expertise, strategic insight, and people‑centred leadership. We are looking for someone who is:

• Professionally qualified in a relevant discipline (e.g., CMIOSH, MIIRSM) with significant experience in compliance, health and safety, or risk management.
• Skilled in interpreting and applying compliance, governance, and assurance frameworks.
• Experienced in leading diverse professional teams and managing budgets.
• Confident in working across multiple sites and building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Analytical, solutions‑focused, and able to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Committed to continuous improvement, professional development, and inclusive leadership.
• Knowledge of NHS compliance standards (HTMs, HBNs, CQC requirements), CDM, or fire safety is desirable but not essential.

Recruitment Timetable

• Closing date: 12 January 2026
• Interviews: Week commencing 26 January (in person; may move to the following week depending on candidate availability)

Contact Us

For more information and a detailed candidate briefing pack, please contact John Lavictoire, Director at Seymour John Public Services,

All third‑party applications will be redirected to our retained executive search partners at Seymour John Public Services