Are you passionate about creating safe, supportive, and compliant working environments? Do you thrive in a role where your expertise in health and safety can make a real difference? SEF, in partnership with OCS UK&I, is seeking a proactive and knowledgeable Health & Safety Lead to champion a culture of safety across our Total Facilities Management (TFM) contract at the University of Sussex.
This is a pivotal role where you’ll lead on all operational health and safety matters, ensuring compliance, driving continuous improvement, and embedding a positive safety culture across both hard and soft FM services.
As part of your role, your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- As the Health & Safety Lead, you will act as the go-to advisor for all H&S matters across SEF, offering clear, practical advice to operational directors, senior managers, and frontline teams.
- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the SEF Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSM), ensuring alignment with both SEF and University of Sussex policies.
- Promote a strong safety culture by supporting incident reporting, conducting audits, and ensuring robust investigations with actionable outcomes.
- Work closely with University stakeholders, contractors, and internal teams to ensure seamless delivery of safety protocols and foster a culture of shared responsibility.
- Oversee the development of H&S scorecards, risk assessments, and compliance plans, using data to inform decisions and drive continual improvement.
This role is not just about qualifications—it’s about leadership, credibility, and the ability to influence a culture of safety in a complex, high-stakes environment. We’re looking for someone who brings deep expertise, sound judgment, and a proactive mindset to the table from day one.
The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:
- NEBOSH Level 6 Diploma (or equivalent), or NEBOSH General Certificate with active progression toward Level 6.
- Chartered IOSH status preferred; candidates must be working toward chartered status.
- Extensive experience managing health and safety in a Total Facilities Management (TFM) environment, ideally within higher education or research-intensive settings.
- In-depth knowledge of statutory compliance, including SFG20, HTMs, and premises and asset safety.
- Proven ability to investigate serious incidents, liaise with enforcement agencies, and manage civil and criminal compliance risks.
- Hands-on leadership style with the ability to operate confidently at all levels—from front-line teams to senior stakeholders.
Core Competencies:
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust and influence across diverse teams.
- Demonstrated ability to foster a “Just Culture”, encouraging learning from incidents and promoting psychological safety.
- Ethical, transparent, and committed to sustainable and inclusive practices.
- Holds a full UK driving licence and is willing to travel across the University estate as needed.
Desirable Attributes:
- Working knowledge of environmental law and sustainability practices.
- A natural coach and motivator, with a passion for developing others.
- Committed to performance excellence, continuous improvement, and fair treatment for all staff.
- Embraces diversity and inclusion as strengths in building a resilient safety culture.