Technical Specialist - Health and Safety Operations

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working for some roles

Generous pension scheme

Staff discounts

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Technical Specialist - Health and Safety Operations to lead laboratory compliance and drive continuous improvement across the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering.

You will provide expert guidance, deliver safety training, and coordinate audits with the School Safety Officer to mitigate risks and enhance safety across facilities.

Qualifications

• Good honours degree or equivalent and 5 years' experience in a Health & Safety position.
• Deep technical knowledge in laboratory/workshop operations across materials processing or related fields.
• Recognised NEBOSH Safety qualification.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage laboratories compliance and continuous improvement processes across the School.
• Oversee a full compliance audit program with the School Safety Officer.
• Provide training, advice and guidance on operational safety and risk mitigation.
• Coordinate safety policy development and annual reviews with senior leaders.
• Organise safety training for staff and contractors and maintain records.
• Investigate accidents and incidents and implement recommended actions.
• Support risk assessments, SOP development, and safety induction for staff and visitors.

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

The Technical Specialist - Health and Safety Operations will lead and manage laboratories compliance and continuous improvement processes in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering.

Possessing deep technical and cross-disciplinary scientific knowledge, you will provide leadership, training, advice and guidance on a broad range of operational and infrastructural improvement processes to support laboratory and workshop operations. You will oversee and manage a full compliance audit program in collaboration with the School Safety Officer and work with the School Technical Manager to ensure mitigation of identified risks and improvement in School physical and operational infrastructure.

You will be an experienced health and safety practitioner with real-life application experience and the ability to affect change, design and implement institutional policy. A team player, you will possess the ability to influence and drive positive change around health and safety operational practice and process.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Possessing deep technical and cross-disciplinary scientific knowledge, you will provide leadership, training, advice and guidance on a broad range of operational and infrastructural improvement processes to support laboratory and workshop operations across engineering operations.
• Oversee Stores operations with regards to safe operating procedures around transport of dangerous goods, export control - working with own knowledge and that of Technical Specialist colleagues to ensure legislative compliance.
• Be fully familiar with the University's Health and Safety Policy and work with the Head of School, School Technical Manager (where in post), School Manager and other senior leaders to develop, implement and annually review the School Safety Programme in line with University guidance referencing best practice.
• Oversee and manage a full compliance audit program in collaboration with the School Safety Officer and work with the School Technical Manager to ensure mitigation of identified risks and improvement in the physical and operational infrastructure across the School.
• Make frequent and regular visits to facilities across the School to monitor compliance with University health and safety policies (including the safe operation of equipment, the maintenance of health and safety records, general housekeeping and the use of personal protective equipment), and assist staff in implementing these policies.
• Jointly lead the Department's preparation for Health and Safety audits carried out by the central Health and Safety team, ensuring all reports are made by the due date.
• Investigate accidents and incidents ensuring that all necessary reports are made to the University Safety Services and recommended actions are carried out.
• Working with relevant colleagues within the School, coordinate and deliver training on safety-related topics, ensuring that appropriate health and safety training/induction of staff and visitors is provided and that suitable records are maintained.
• Maintain and disseminate health and safety information and reports as appropriate to staff.
• Monitor arrangements for fire prevention and first aid to ensure adequate cover.
• Organise and attend the School Health and Safety Committee assisting in setting the agenda and following up on actions.
• Advise on School arrangements for risk assessment (generation, approval & review) and SOPs. Monitor to ensure that the documents are suitable & sufficient. Provide support for employee induction and training and work with the Head of School to ensure that suitable monitoring and enforcement of safety requirements takes place.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Criterion: A good honours degree or equivalent 5 years experience in a H&S position Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview

Criterion: Have deep technical knowledge in one or more areas of laboratory / workshop operations around semi-industrial materials processing and manufacturing, heavy engineering or chemical process engineering with a high level of application experience Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview /test

Criterion: Recognised NEBOSH Safety qualification Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview

Criterion: Experienced in ensuring that all Health, Safety & Environmental policies, procedures, rules and regulations are adhered to and are regularly reviewed, updated and communicated Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview /test

Criterion: Ability to develop a safer working environment through positive safety communication and initiatives Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview /test

Criterion: Strong leadership and influencing skills with the ability to persuade and influence a wide range of people to achieve changes in behaviour Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview /test

Criterion: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt approach and level of advice for the recipient (staff at all levels and contractors) Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview /test

Criterion: Proven competence in knowledge and interpretation of legislation and good practice with the ability to explain legislation and the control measures and assessment methodologies relating to hazards Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview /test

Criterion: Ability to devise solutions and develop creative approaches to problem-solving Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: interview /test

Criterion: Ability to analyse and solve problems with an appreciation of longer-term implications Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: interview /test

Criterion: Consultative and facilitative style of service delivery with strength of character to ensure that breaches of legislation and or university policy are challenged and resolved Essential or desirable: Essential Stage(s) assessed at: Application/interview /test

Further Information

Grade: 7

Salary: £39,560 - £48,337 per annum, with potential to progress up to £52,788 per annum

Work arrangement: Full-time

Duration: Permanent

Line manager: School Technical Manager

Right to work in the UK: If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK visa and immigration website .

Our website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/cmbe

For informal enquiries about this job contact Andrew Crawford, School Technical Manager: on [e-mail] .

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will consist of an interview and test activity. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage as soon as possible following the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail] .

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Technical Career Route
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.