Health and Safety Manager (Operations)

George Watson's College; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in Edinburgh seeks a proactive Health and Safety professional to oversee operational health and safety and promote a positive culture. The role demands IOSH or NEBOSH certification and strong communication skills. Competitive salary with extensive benefits including enhanced holidays and pension scheme.

Benefits

Enhanced holiday allowance (37 days minimum)

Generous pension scheme (up to 11% employer contribution)

Enhanced sick pay, maternity and paternity pay

Family friendly policies

Employee Assistance programme

Opportunities for involvement in the school community

Qualifications

• Proven track record in operational health and safety.
• Ideally experienced in education or similar setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational health and safety initiatives.
• Promote wellbeing and compliance.
• Ensure a safe and inspiring workplace.

Skills

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Solution-focused and approachable

Emotionally intelligent and resilient

Attention to detail

Collaborative and inclusive mindset

Up-to-date knowledge of HSE legislation

Education

IOSH or NEBOSH certification

Job description

Overview

The following content displays a map of the jobs location – Edinburgh

Between GBP47,089 – GBP53,113 p/a, depending on qualifications and experience

Working Hours:

37 hours per week, Monday to Friday usually 8.00am–4.30pm & Friday 8.00am–4.00pm

Location:

Edinburgh

Closing Date:

15/08/2025

Department:

Operational/Professional Services

Region / Division:

George Heriot\'s School

Job Role:

Operational/Professional Services

Package Description

When you join the team at Heriot\'s, you become part of our community, where the contribution of every individual is important and valued. The Heriot\'s motto, to distributed chearfullie, is at the heart of school – distributing of kindness, of support and of generosity remains as live today as it was in 1628 when George Heriot founded the school.

Our most recent staff survey reported that 97% of employees at Heriot\'s feel motivated and happy to work here and we aim to provide a friendly, welcoming, and supportive environment for all of our people. This aim is reflected in the package we offer which, for Support Staff, in addition to basic salary, includes:

• Enhanced holiday allowance (37 days minimum)
• Generous pension scheme (up to 11% employer contribution with 5% employee contribution)
• Enhanced sick pay, maternity and paternity pay
• Family friendly policies (Including Personal Emergency Leave Days)
• Annual review and opportunities for training and continued professional development
• Travel to work schemes
• School Fee Remission (non–contractual benefit)
• Employee Assistance programme, including 24/7 counselling helpline and high street, supermarket, and general retail discounts
• Opportunities for involvement in the wider school community

We aim to attract and retain a diverse group of talented people, who are committed to upholding the school\'s ethos. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

The Role

Are you passionate about creating safe, supportive, and thriving workplaces? Do you want to make a meaningful impact in a values–driven educational environment? We\'re looking for a proactive and people–focused Health and Safety professional to help shape and sustain a positive health and safety culture across our school community.

Reporting to the Director of Governance, Risk and Compliance, and working closely with HR, Estates, and the Health and Safety Manager (Education), you\'ll lead operational health and safety initiatives that protect and empower our staff and young people. You\'ll be a key voice in promoting wellbeing, compliance, and continuous improvement–ensuring our school remains a safe, inclusive, and an inspiring place to work and learn.

Responsibilities

Please see attached job description for full details.

The Ideal Candidate

You will have a proven track record in operational health and safety, ideally in education or a similar setting along with the following skills and qualifications.

• IOSH or NEBOSH certification (essential).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Solution–focused and approachable.
• Emotionally intelligent and resilient.
• Strategic thinker with attention to detail.
• Collaborative and inclusive mindset.
• Up–to–date knowledge of HSE legislation and ISO standards.

Additional Information

Heriot\'s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

This post is considered Regulated Work with Vulnerable Children and/or Protected Adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and the successful candidates will be required to obtain membership of the PVG scheme.

Parking is not available on our campus.

George Heriot\'s School is governed by George Heriot\'s Trust, Scottish Charity number SC011463.

About the school/organisation

George Heriot\'s School

George Heriot\'s School is Edinburgh\'s leading independent school. Academically proven and recognised as sector–leading by Education Scotland in June 2024, the school\'s best practice expertise in wellbeing, equality and inclusion, and in raising attainment and achievement, is acknowledged. The school has 1,670 pupils aged from 4–18, with a distinct family feel shaped by its 400–year motto: I distribute chearfullie. Working hard, being kind, and being yourself are the values which bind staff and pupils into a cohesive whole. Put simply, Heriot\'s cares about its staff and pupils.

As Edinburgh\'s oldest school, Heriot\'s was founded through the generosity of George Heriot, jeweller and goldsmith to the court of King James VI/I and his wife Queen Anne. Goldsmiths at that time were the principal money lenders and Heriot was able to amass a small fortune which he left to found a school for the \'poor bairns of Edinburgh\'. Since it opened, the Foundation at Heriot\'s has developed an unrivalled understanding of providing bereavement support and over the years has educated in excess of 5,700 Foundation pupils, each of whom received a fully funded education in keeping with the Founder\'s wishes.

Separately, the school has continued to apply the transformative powers of education, opening 21 Out Schools in the 1800s which educated over 100,000 boys and girls in Edinburgh before the advent of the Children\'s Act, and more recently supporting Serbian, Syrian and Ukrainian refugees to build a better life in Scotland. Each year the school spends approximately GBP1.3 million to support the education of bursary and Foundation pupils.

Today the school is an award–winning beacon: the only school in Scotland to receive the Gold Award from SAPERE for its teaching of philosophy in Junior School; awarded a third consecutive gold award for being a UNICEF Rights Respecting School and being voted the Sunday Times School of the Decade by readers in their Parent Power survey.