HSEQ Health and Safety Officer

The Norwich BioScience Institutes; Norwich; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in Norwich seeks a motivated HSEQ Health and Safety Officer. This role involves overseeing health and safety documentation, ensuring compliance with regulations, and supporting a healthy environment. Ideal candidates have qualifications in Occupational Health and Safety, alongside excellent communication and IT skills. Competitive salary and annual leave offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave

Defined contribution pension scheme

Recreational facilities

Qualifications

• Support the review and migration of HSEQ documents.
• Experience in a similar HSEQ role.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Review and transfer health and safety-related documents.
• Liaise with stakeholders on H&S documentation.
• Monitor compliance with HSEQ frameworks.

Skills

Knowledge of UK Health and Safety legislation

Document management skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Leadership skills

Education

Minimum Level 3 qualification in Occupational Health and Safety

GCSEs at grade C/4 or above

Essential A-levels or equivalent

Tools

Document management systems

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Job description

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes Partnership (NBIP) has an exciting opportunity for a HSEQ Health and Safety Officer to join our busy team. The HSEQ team supports the John Innes Centre, Earlham Institute, Quadram Institute, The Sainsbury Laboratory, and the Partnership teams.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to support the implementation of the NBIP Health & Safety policy and arrangements. Key responsibilities include reviewing, updating, and migrating HSEQ and H&S Facilities-related documentation into our new H&S management system, ensuring compliance and operational alignment. The role will also support the Head of HSEQ and the wider team in delivering an outstanding service.

The post holder will contribute to the implementation of HSEQ programmes and policies across the Institutes and Partnership teams, while also helping to coordinate a joined-up approach with the Facilities team and those involved in the new research building project (part of the Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI)).

The successful candidate will be self‑motivated, collaborative, and a positive role model, promoting a healthy and safe working environment in line with legislation and best practice. This role requires both formal and informal leadership, alongside strong communication and influencing skills.

Key Relationships

The position will report to the Head of HSEQ and be supervised on a daily basis by the HSEQ business system coordinator. The post holder will work closely with the other HSEQ members and NBIP facilities team to contribute to the delivery of an outstanding H&S support on site.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

HSEQ Document Review & Migration (45%):

• Support the review and transfer of risk assessments and other health and safety-related documents into the new Health & Safety Management System.
• Audit existing HSEQ/Facilities policies, procedures, and records.
• Review and update documentation in line with the approved NBIP Health & Safety Policy and arrangements.
• Oversee the structured upload, categorisation, and version control of documents within the new Environment Health and Safety (EHS) management system.

Coordination (15%):

• Liaise with HSEQ, Facilities, and other stakeholders to collect, verify, and update relevant H&S documentation.
• Provide guidance and training to colleagues on new processes and system use.

Compliance Monitoring (10%):

• Identify gaps in documentation or practice in line with H&S legislation and NBIP policy.
• Support the monitoring of compliance with the NBIP Health & Safety framework across all functions.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement (10%):

• Provide regular progress reports to the Head of HSEQ on implementation status.
• Contribute to the refinement and continuous improvement of health and safety arrangements.

Additional Responsibilities (10%):

• Provide cover and support to HSEQ team members during absences, particularly for engineering and construction queries.
• Maintain accurate H&S records, including accident logs, training records, incident reports, and inspection checklists.
• Provide general administrative support, including monitoring email inboxes, responding to queries, assigning actions, and ensuring timely completion.
• Provide the Head of HSEQ with high-quality H&S compliance data and reports.
• Promote a culture of health, safety, and environmental stewardship throughout the organisation.

System Implementation Support (10%):

• Act as a key point of contact for EHS system usage relating to document control and compliance tracking.
• Ensure workflows and version controls are correctly established and maintained.

As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post.

Person Profile

Education & Qualifications

Requirement Importance: 5. GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English and Mathematics.
Essential Minimum Level 3 qualification in Business or Administration (e.g., NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration or equivalent experience).
Essential A-levels or equivalent further education qualification.
Desirable HND in Business Studies or equivalent qualification.
Desirable Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g., Environmental Science, Facilities Management, Business Administration, or related field).

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement Importance: Minimum Level 3 qualification in Occupational Health and Safety (e.g., NEBOSH National General Certificate or equivalent).
Essential: Working knowledge of UK Health and Safety legislation and relevant compliance standards.
Essential: Excellent document management skills including version control and audit processes.
Essential: Ability to coordinate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Essential: Strong IT skills, including experience with document management systems, databases, or other digital HSEQ tools.
Essential: Experience in a similar role.
Essential: NEBOSH Health and Safety or construction Certificate – or an equivalent qualification may be an advantage.
Desirable: Membership (or eligibility for membership) of a recognised professional body such as IOSH (TechIOSH or above).
Desirable: Formal training or certification in document control or quality management systems.

Supporting Skill Sets:
Essential: Managing documentation, version control, and workflows within a structured compliance framework.
Essential: Excellent IT skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (knowledge of Power BI advantageous).
Essential: Providing training, guidance, or support to colleagues on H&S procedures or digital systems.
Desirable: Exposure to EHS or risk management systems implementation projects.
Desirable: Liaising with multiple stakeholders and departments to deliver H&S or compliance initiatives.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Essential:
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer‑focused skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organisation.
• Good teamworking and collaborative skills.
• Proactive attitude: willingness to learn, adapt, and take on additional tasks.
• Effective time management and ability to prioritise workload.
• Ability to work independently.
• Meticulous attention to detail.

Additional Requirements

Essential:
• Attention to detail.
• Full clean UK driving licence.
• Promotes equality and values diversity.
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
• Willingness to embrace expected values and behaviours of all staff, ensuring a positive workplace culture.
• Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, supporting reputation and public engagement aims.
• Able to handle sensitive and confidential information professionally.
• Willingness to work outside standard hours when required.
• Promote continuous improvement in HSE practices and performance through regular review and updating of policies and procedures.

Who We Are

The NBI Partnership provides non‑scientific services to the John Innes Centre (JIC), Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Earlham Institute (EI) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL). All of these organisations carry out scientific research funded by the UK Government, European Union, Charitable and Industrial Sponsors. The Partnership employs around 140 staff to cater for the needs of approximately 1100 Research Staff, Students and Visiting Scientists who are all located in close proximity on the Norwich Research Park.

The John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute Bioscience, the Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory are registered charities (No’s 223852, 1058499, 1136213 and 106550) and are Equal Opportunity Employers.

The Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ) team provides comprehensive non‑scientific support across the Norwich Research Park’s four research institutes; the John Innes Centre (JIC), the Earlham Institute (EI), the Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL). In addition to supporting these institutes, HSEQ also delivers dedicated health and safety guidance and oversight to the Partnership teams, including the Facilities team. The team’s remit covers a wide range of areas, including ensuring regulatory compliance, promoting best practices in laboratory and workplace safety, managing environmental responsibilities, and maintaining quality assurance standards. Through its work, HSEQ plays a key role in fostering a safe, sustainable, and high‑quality research and working environment across the Partnership.

Who We Are – Backup

HSEQ Health and Safety Officer
NBIP has an exciting opportunity for a HSEQ Health and Safety Officer to join their busy Health, Safety and Quality Assurance department.
Background:
The Norwich Bioscience Institutes are a cluster of internationally renowned research organisations, working to tackle major challenges of the 21st Century – the sustainability of our environment, our food supplies and healthy ageing.
The NBI Partnership provides high quality, non‑scientific support services for the diverse community of staff, students and visiting workers at the Institutes (the Earlham Institute, John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory and Quadram Institute Bioscience) and for the NBI Partnership.
Based on the Norwich Research Park amongst 230 hectares of parkland, you will be joining a committed, professional and welcoming team. In addition, you will enjoy a competitive salary and annual leave, our defined contribution pension scheme, excellent recreational facilities and a range of other employee benefits.
HSEQ team provides comprehensive non‑scientific support... (excerpt continues).

Salary and Application

Salary on appointment will be within the range £28,890 to £35,670 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full‑time contract of 12 months.

For further information and details of how to apply, please visit our website http://jobs.nbi.ac.uk/ or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450814 or [e-mail] quoting reference 1004996.

Interviews will be held on 15 December 2025.

The NBI Partnership is an equal opportunities and disability confident employer. We are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining the best talent, and welcome all applications.

The closing date for applications will be 7 December 2025

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.