Senior Health and Safety Lead - People Safety

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Sheffield; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the United Kingdom is seeking a Health and Safety leader to manage health and safety policies for around 90,000 staff across over 900 sites. The role involves leading a diverse team, providing expert advice, and ensuring compliance with legal obligations. Candidates should have a strong background in health and safety management and the ability to influence stakeholders effectively.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading health and safety initiatives.
• Strong understanding of legal health and safety requirements.
• Ability to collaborate and influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a geographically dispersed team on health and safety policies.
• Provide expert advice for legal health and safety obligations.
• Communicate key health and safety requirements across the department.

Job description

Strategically lead a large, geographically dispersed team with clarity and purpose, setting strategic direction and aligning team efforts to organisational goals. Fostering an inclusive environment where diverse views are valued and individual needs are respected.

Provide expert H&S advice to ensure DWP has robust arrangements in place, enabling staff to meet legal obligations as far as reasonably practicable.

• Lead the development of best practice, lessons learned, and timely communications to inform the business of key H&S requirements. Enhance the accessibility and impact of H&S learning and capability across the Department.
• Anticipate legal and business changes, working with stakeholders and senior leaders to assess and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate closely with Estates colleagues to identify and resolve estates-related H&S issues.
• Support negotiations with senior stakeholders, service partners, and Departmental Trade Union Side (DTUS), resolving issues directly with union safety representatives where appropriate.
• Prepare clear and concise briefings, Parliamentary Questions (PQs), and Freedom of Information (FOI) responses at short notice.
• Influence H&S development across the team and wider DWP, identifying opportunities for efficiency through collaboration and alignment of policies and procedures.

Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to .

An exciting opportunity has arisen as a Health and Safety (H&S) leader within the People Health and Safety Team. This is a business-critical role where you will be leading on vital H&S policy across the department, within England, Wales and Scotland for circa 90,000 people in over 900 sites.

Keeping our people safe and well at work is at the heart of DWP’s culture. The People Health and Safety Team have been wholly central to DWP’s safe business delivery, rapidly responding to changing risk challenges, developing and implementing risk management solutions, monitoring the delivery of policies, and supporting managers and colleagues throughout the business.

This is a critical role that directly supports DWP's commitment to safe working environments and high health and safety standards across all locations.