Health & Safety Deputy Manager

West Herts College; Watford; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site gym

Cycle to work

Free parking

Pension

Generous holiday scheme

Early finishes on Fridays

Employee discounts

Job summary

West Herts College in Watford seeks a Health & Safety Deputy Manager to shape a positive safety culture across its campuses. You will balance regulatory requirements with practical guidance and support managers to keep students and staff safe.

You will develop, implement and review health and safety policies, provide expert advice and drive continuous improvement across the organisation. The role involves travel to Hemel Hempstead and Luton campuses and reporting to senior leaders.

Qualifications

• NEBOSH Diploma or working towards
• Membership of IOSH
• Experience in a health and safety role
• Experience developing, implementing and reviewing H&S arrangements
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Good analytical and investigative skills including data interpretation
• Proactive approach to problem-solving and flexibility to changing needs

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and review health and safety policies, procedures and arrangements.
• Provide practical, professional advice and guidance to managers and colleagues across the College.
• Monitor health and safety performance, analyse accident data and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead and support accident and incident investigations, identifying root causes and preventing recurrence.
• Prepare clear reports, statistics and performance information for senior management.
• Build positive relationships to promote good practice and ensure compliance.
• Champion continuous improvement and embed a proactive safety culture across the organisation.

Skills

NEBOSH Diploma

IOSH member

H&S experience

Policy development

Communication

Analytical skills

Proactive problem solving

Job description

Health & Safety Deputy Manager

Make a difference. Champion safety. Help shape a positive culture.

Are you passionate about creating safe, supportive environments where students and colleagues can thrive? Do you have the expertise, confidence and enthusiasm to influence health and safety standards across a multi-campus organisation?

We’re looking for a proactive and motivated Health & Safety Deputy Manager to join our team and play a key role in developing and strengthening a positive health and safety culture across the College.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced health and safety professional who enjoys combining technical expertise with practical problem-solving, building strong relationships and helping others understand the importance of working safely.

About the role

Working closely with colleagues and senior leaders, you’ll help ensure that effective health and safety arrangements are in place, understood and consistently applied across our campuses. You’ll provide expert advice, support continuous improvement and encourage a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing, implementing and reviewing health and safety policies, procedures and arrangements.
• Providing practical, professional advice and guidance to managers and colleagues across the College.
• Monitoring health and safety performance, analysing accident and incident data, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Leading and supporting accident and incident investigations, helping identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
• Preparing clear reports, statistics and performance information for the senior management team.
• Building positive working relationships with colleagues at all levels to promote good practice and ensure compliance.
• Championing continuous improvement and helping embed a proactive, positive approach to health and safety throughout the organisation.

About you

You’ll be a confident and enthusiastic health and safety professional who can balance regulatory requirements with a practical, people-focused approach. You’ll be comfortable working independently, influencing others and finding solutions to challenges in a busy, changing environment.

You’ll have:

• A NEBOSH Diploma or working towards.
• Membership of IOSH.
• Relevant experience in a health and safety role.
• Experience of developing, implementing and reviewing health and safety arrangements.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain technical information clearly and build effective relationships.
• Good analytical and investigative skills, including the ability to interpret accident and incident data and identify trends.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, with the flexibility to respond to changing priorities and organisational needs.

Why join us?

We believe that investing in our people is essential to achieving our ambitions. You’ll be joining a supportive and forward-thinking College, with the backing of a dynamic senior management team and the opportunity to contribute your own ideas, knowledge and experience.

We’re committed to training and professional development, and you’ll be encouraged to build on your existing expertise, develop new skills and continue progressing in your career.

Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to make a tangible difference — helping protect the wellbeing of our students, colleagues and visitors while shaping a culture where everyone feels responsible for safety.

Location

The role will be based at our Watford Campus, with regular travel required across our Hemel Hempstead and Luton campuses. Flexibility and a collaborative approach will be important in supporting the needs of the wider College community.

Ready to make a difference?

If you’re passionate about health and safety, enjoy working with people and want to help shape a positive safety culture across a diverse college environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Bring your expertise, share your ideas and help us make health and safety an integral part of everything we do.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 8th November 2026. The successful candidate will be starting in January 2027.

We have a free on-site gym at our Watford Campus, and you can access a wide range of discounts and benefits including a cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, pension, generous holiday scheme, time off at Christmas and early finishes on a Friday.

WHC Group is positive about disabled people.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Company Details

Company: West Herts College

Salary: from £42,000 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Watford, WD17 3EZ

Working pattern: On-site

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 23 Oct 2026

Closing date: 8 Nov 2026