Permit Office Manager

Wates Group; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Wellcome Genome Campus in Saffron Walden requires an experienced Permit Office Manager to lead the Permit Office operations on site, ensuring safe and compliant contractor activities across the campus. The role oversees permits, inductions, and system improvements, interfacing with Facilities Management and stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have a strong Engineering/M&E background, deep knowledge of UK health and safety, CDM, and permit-to-work controls, with leadership and audit experience

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation and CDM regulations.
• Experience managing statutory compliance on a complex site.
• Ability to lead permit-to-work end-to-end and support contractors without compromising safety.
• Experience carrying out H&S audits and reviews.
• Experience monitoring and improving safety and permit systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Permit Office team to deliver an efficient, compliant operation.
• Oversee the preparation, authorisation, issuance, execution and close-out of all permits and control certificates.
• Ensure contractor inductions and CDM compliance.
• Manage staffing levels for escorting and assisting systems across the campus.
• Chair or support weekly/monthly permit review meetings.

Skills

Permit-to-work

UK Health & Safety

CDM regulations

QHSE systems

Outlook/Word/Excel

Project leadership

H&S audits

NEBOSH certificate

Education

Engineering/Construction/M&E qualification

AP appointment (height, hot works, etc.)

IOSH/CIOB/RICS membership (desirable)

Tools

Aconex

Buzzsaw

Job description

Location: Saffron Walden

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Permit Office Manager to lead our Permit Office operations at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Saffron Walden. This is a site-based leadership role, integral to ensuring the safe, compliant, and efficient delivery of all contractor activities across a world-leading scientific research campus.

If you have a strong background in Engineering, Construction or M&E, with deep knowledge of health & safety, CDM and permit-to-work systems, this is an exceptional opportunity to lead a critical function supporting complex maintenance and project activity.

What You'll Be Doing

As the Permit Office Manager, you will take ownership of the entire Permit to Work function and lead the Permit Office Team. Your responsibilities will include:

Leadership & Operational Management

• Leading and managing the Permit Office team to deliver an efficient, compliant Permit Office operation.
• Overseeing the preparation, authorisation, issuance, execution and close-out of all permits and control certificates.
• Ensuring all contractors are correctly inducted and compliant with WGC policies and CDM requirements.
• Managing staffing levels for escorting and assisting systems across the campus.
• Chairing or supporting weekly/monthly permit review meetings.

Compliance, Auditing & Risk Management

• Promoting and driving a positive safety culture across the Wellcome Genome Campus.
• Conducting on-site safety and performance audits of contractors and subcontractors.
• Ensuring the suitability and sufficiency of all Construction Phase Plans (CPPs) in collaboration with Estates & Facilities colleagues.
• Monitoring health & safety documentation, challenging gaps or unsafe practices where necessary.
• Maintaining a live campus map showing all active permits and transfers of control.

System Ownership & Continuous Improvement

• Taking full ownership of the electronic Permit to Work software system.
• Managing system uptime in collaboration with IT providers and leading on system improvements.
• Developing the contractor onboarding process to improve safety and operational efficiency.
• Proactively identifying improvement opportunities, ensuring WGC remains compliant, innovative, and efficient.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Acting as a key liaison between Facilities Management teams, visiting contractors, principal contractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently, and without unnecessary delays.
• Supporting Contractors through inductions and system processes as needed.

What We're Looking For

Essential Qualifications & Skills

• Strong background in Engineering, Construction or M&E with proven permit-to-work experience.
• Excellent knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation, CDM regulations and risk management.
• Experience managing statutory compliance on a complex site.
• Strong understanding of QHSE systems.
• Solid IT skills (Outlook, Word, Excel) and experience with systems such as Aconex, Buzzsaw or similar.
• Experience managing or overseeing large and small projects.
• Proven leadership, organisational and motivational skills.
• Experience carrying out H&S audits and reviews.
• NEBOSH General/Construction Certificate (or equivalent).

Desirable

• Formal qualification in Engineering, Construction or M&E.
• AP appointment in areas such as working at height, confined spaces, hot works, electrical, LOTO, pressure systems, etc.
• Membership of IOSH, APS, CIOB, RICS.

Experience Required

• Strong communication skills, able to work confidently with operational teams, managers and senior stakeholders.
• Able to lead the permit system end-to-end and support contractors without compromising safety.
• Experience reviewing safety documentation, challenging poor practices, and ensuring compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to support project delivery safely, on time, and within budget.
• Experience monitoring and improving safety and permit systems.

Desirable

• Experience managing high volumes of permits across multiple projects.
• Ability to identify high-risk areas and communicate risks clearly to contractors.
• Strong auditing experience, able to identify trends and elevate concerns appropriately.

Personal Attributes

We're Looking For a Permit Office Manager With

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Collaborative and personable working style
• Strong leadership and a solutions-focused mindset
• Confidence in challenging unsafe or non-compliant activity
• Innovation, attention to detail and a drive for continuous improvement
• A results-driven approach with commitment to delivering safe, efficient operations

You’ll be at the heart of a high-profile, high-complexity site where safety, precision and compliance are paramount. Your work will directly support the vital research and scientific breakthroughs happening every day at the Wellcome Genome Campus.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape, lead and continuously improve the Permit Office function in a dynamic, prestigious environment.

Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant’s criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks.

To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting