Senior Health and Safety Manager

On behalf of ONS , we are looking for a Senior Health and Safety Manager (INSIDE IR35) for a 6 month contract which is a hybrid role so does require 2 days a week in the Titchfield office in Hampshire for workshops and staff meetings

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime and migration.

Embedded within the Census Field Services group, this challenging and pivotal role acts as a key link between the Census Programme, ONS’ corporate Health and Safety team, and other internal and external stakeholders with an interest in the census field operation, including Devolved Administrations census teams.

Building on and modifying processes already established in ONS’ Social Surveys field teams and those used in the Census 2021 field operation, the role shapes the Health & Safety requirements for the Census 2027 Test field operation and its supporting services);; it develops and embeds effective Health and Safety processes into those operations and services; and it oversees the Health and Safety of the field operation and others events such as Census Community Engagement events, throughout the 2027 Census Test period.

In 2027, the field team is planned to be c480 posts, based in 6 Test Areas, dispersed across England and Wales. Field Officers and Managers will be remotely-based, working on a shift-roster basis, 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends, and who will be dealing directly with members of the public.

As a Senior Health and Safety Manager , your main responsibilities will be:

Working in support of Field Service Owners and other senior leaders in the programme, you will use your leadership and H&S technical skills and experience to:

- Lead the development, implementation, assurance and continuous improvement of Health and Safety arrangements for Census 2027 Test field operations and other publicfacing events, ensuring compliance with legislation, organisational policy and industry best practice.
- Provide expert health and safety advice to senior leaders , operational managers and teams, supporting effective management of operational, wellbeing and regulatory risks.
- Develop and maintain risk assessments, safe systems of work, guidance, controls and implementation plans, to support the safe delivery of Census 2027 Test field and other activities.
- Ensure effective controls are in place for key operational risks, including (but not restricted to) lone working, personal safety, travel, adverse weather, and out-of-hours working.
- Support statutory compliance and operational readiness by ensuring field colleagues have access to appropriate training, information, equipment, supervision, emergency arrangements and welfare support.
- Oversee health and safety governance, conducting audits and assurance checks to ensure arrangements are suitably applied and managed
- Implement and oversee incident and nearmiss management , providing trend analysis , assurance reporting, compliance monitoring and implementing lessons learned.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including trade unions, contractors, partner organisations and corporate health and safety teams, to promote practical and inclusive health and safety arrangements.
- Produce and present risk updates, assurance reports and recommendations to governance forums and senior leaders , maintaining clear records and audit trails to support effective decision -making.
- Advise commercial colleagues on H&S requirements for Census contracts to ensure H&S requirements are included where applicable and that liability is correctly attributed and documented.

Essential Skills

- Proven experience leading H&S initiatives in a large-scale operational environment, providing clear H&S advice and guidance to colleagues, managers and senior leaders
- Proven ability to build strong relationships at all levels and to work with colleagues and managers, to ensure that working practices are safe, risk assessed and compliant with corporate and statutory H&S policies and procedures
- Experience developing, iterating and maintaining H&S risk assessments, nearmiss and incident reporting, and ensuring lessons are learned
- Experience auditing H&S statutory compliance, and producing management reports highlighting recommendations for improvements
- Experience of working with Trade Union and / or other staff bodies, providing clear H&S advice and influencing complex operational issues
- Experience using technology to ensure compliance with H&S management arrangements.

Qualifications

- NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, ONS encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates . Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, ONS welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".