Safety First Quality, Assurance and Systems Lead

The Crown Estate; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension

Bonus

Flexible working

Family policies

Private healthcare

Life and critical illness cover

28 days holiday

Job summary

The Crown Estate is seeking a senior leader to drive quality, assurance and management systems within the Safety First agenda. You will translate strategy into clear, measurable outcomes across projects and assets, shaping governance and continuous improvement across the organisation.

You will own the quality and assurance workstream, influence senior stakeholders, and use data, digital tools and AI to identify risks, drive corrective action and support informed decision making.

Qualifications

• Senior-level quality management qualification including ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.
• Health and safety qualification such as NEBOSH, IOSH or equivalent.
• Experience leading quality, assurance, audit or management systems in a complex environment.
• Strong knowledge of assurance frameworks, governance, audit methodology and continual improvement.
• Strong analytical skills, turning data into clear insights and recommendations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication at senior levels.
• Strategic, collaborative and digitally confident approach to drive improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the quality and assurance workstream, translating strategy into plans and measurable outcomes.
• Own and improve the Safety First management system, aligning with legislation and standards.
• Develop a risk-based assurance approach across projects, assets and operations.
• Use assurance data and reporting to identify risks and support decisions.
• Provide expert guidance and constructive challenge to senior stakeholders and partners.
• Champion use of data, digital tools and AI to enhance assurance and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Quality management qualification (ISO 9001 Lead Auditor)

Health and safety qualification (NEBOSH/IOSH)

Job description

Purpose of Role:

This is a role within The Crown Estate’s Safety First agenda, providing strategic leadership across quality, assurance and management systems.

Advert Close date: 23/10/2026

This is a role within The Crown Estate’s Safety First agenda, providing strategic leadership across quality, assurance and management systems.

Context of opportunity / Main accountabilities:

This is an opportunity to shape how quality and assurance are embedded across The Crown Estate, translating the Safety First strategy into clear, practical and measurable outcomes.

• Lead the quality and assurance workstream, translating strategy into clear plans, standards and measurable outcomes.
• Own and continually improve the Safety First management system, ensuring alignment with legislation, ISO standards and industry best practice.
• Develop a risk-based assurance approach across projects, assets and operational activity.
• Use assurance data and reporting to identify risks, drive corrective action and support informed decision-making.
• Provide expert guidance and constructive challenge to senior stakeholders, colleagues and external partners.
• Champion the effective use of data, digital tools and AI to improve assurance and continuous improvement.

Most important skills based requirements:

We are looking for someone who combines deep quality and assurance expertise with the ability to influence, create structure and deliver meaningful change in a complex organisation.

• A senior-level quality management qualification, including ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or equivalent.
• A relevant health and safety qualification, such as NEBOSH, IOSH or equivalent.
• Significant experience leading quality, assurance, audit or management systems in a complex environment.
• Strong knowledge of assurance frameworks, governance, audit methodology and continual improvement.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex findings and data into clear insights and recommendations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the confidence to influence and constructively challenge at a senior level.
• A strategic, collaborative and digitally confident approach, with the ability to drive meaningful and sustainable improvement.

Our Offering / benefits:

As well as a competitive salary, pension and performance related bonus offering, we have a wealth of benefits available:

• competitive salary, pension and performance related bonus offering
• flexible working
• market leading family policies and shopping discounts in the West End
• private healthcare
• life and critical illness cover
• 28 days holiday with the option to buy more

Can I use AI to help with my application?

Yes. AI can be a useful tool for organising your thoughts, improving clarity, checking spelling and grammar, or helping you prepare for an interview.

What matters most is that your application is accurate, authentic and reflects your own skills, achievements and motivations. We want to get to know you, not an AI-generated version of you.

Disability Disclaimer:

We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity.

If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us directly, or at [e-mail]

The Crown Estate is a unique business with a distinct heritage and a portfolio unlike any other.

It includes some of central London’s best places to work, shop and spend time, retail and leisure destinations across the country, and a substantial rural portfolio. As manager of the seabed and half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we play a role in the UK’s world-leading offshore wind sector as well as marine aggregates, cables and pipelines. We are also responsible for the Windsor Estate, including the world-renowned Windsor Great Park.