Senior Health, Safety and Risk Practitioner

Chesterfield Borough Council; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority is seeking a dynamic Senior Health, Safety and Risk Practitioner. This role involves driving positive change across services, ensuring health and safety standards, and fostering a modern culture within the organization. The successful candidate will leverage digital tools to enhance H&S practices, contribute to transformative efforts, and collaborate across multiple departments. Candidates should bring significant experience in change management and policy development, plus be a Chartered member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

Benefits

Generous leave entitlement

Access to local government pension scheme

Discounted leisure membership and car parking

Flexible and agile working conditions

Qualifications

• Proven ability to drive positive change in health and safety practices.
• Experience managing various directorates to ensure health and wellbeing.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with teams.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with directorates to ensure safety and wellbeing of employees.
• Maintain a strong health and safety culture within the organization.
• Develop and implement innovative cost-effective health and safety practices.

Skills

Experience in change management

Knowledge of health and safety policies

Ability to handle challenging situations

Proficient in developing innovative working methods

Education

Chartered membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health

Job description

Senior Health, Safety and Risk Practitioner

Reference: CBC243091

Salary details: £43,421 - £46,464 per year (Pay Award pending)

Job term: Permanent

Appointment type: Full time

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Town Hall

Department: Digital, Human Resources and Customer Services

Chesterfield Borough Council is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Health, Safety, and Risk Practitioner to join our ambitious and forward‑thinking team.

In this newly created senior role, you will have the opportunity to drive significant positive change across our diverse range of services.

About the Role

• As a key member of our health, safety, and risk service, you will: collaborate with various directorates to ensure the safety, health, and wellbeing of our employees, partners, and the public. Safeguard Council assets, property, and reputation through effective health, safety, risk management and resilience practices.
• Maintain a visible presence within the services you support, fostering a strong and modern H&S culture. Act as a facilitator, not a blocker, ensuring that health and safety measures enable, rather than hinder, operational efficiency.
• Develop and implement cost‑effective innovative ways of working, to support H&S policies and practices that leverage digital tools and data‑driven insights.

What We Offer

• A chance to be part of a vibrant and supportive team dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of health and safety, risk management and resilience arrangements.
• The opportunity to contribute to a period of significant transformation within the Council.
• A role that requires and values your experience in change management, gap analysis, and improvement programmes.

Flexibility is required, including the possibility of out‑of‑hours work. Experience in management, emergency planning, or business continuity is beneficial but not essential. Interested?

To excel in this role, you should be

• A Chartered member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
• Self‑motivated, tenacious, and professionally competent.
• Skilled in handling challenging situations and resistant to change with calmness and professionalism.
• Experienced in developing and applying H&S policies and innovative working methods.
• Comfortable deputising for the Strategic Health, Safety, and Risk Manager and participating in the internal emergency planning liaison team.

For a more detailed description of the role or to have an informal conversation, please contact Grant Ilett. The job description and person specification are attached.

The Council is an excellent employer with rewarding conditions of service which include generous leave entitlement and sick pay, flexible and agile working, progressive HR policies, access to the local government pension scheme, discounted leisure membership and car parking.

How to apply

Interested candidates should initially apply with their CV and a covering letter stating the job title, and clearly demonstrating suitability and experience for the role.