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Health & Safety Manager
- Location
- West Dean
- Recruiter
- West Dean College
- Contract
- Permanent
- Salary
- £ 39,578.45 per annum
Job description
Health & Safety Manager
Location: West Dean, West Sussex
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: £39,578.45 per annum
Closing date: 10 November 2026
Interview date: Mid-November 2026
West Dean is a unique place to work, bringing together an internationally recognised centre for arts, design, craft and conservation, award-winning gardens, historic collections and a working estate.
Set within the beautiful South Downs National Park in West Sussex, our 6,350-acre estate includes West Dean College, heritage glasshouses, a kitchen garden, a Tapestry Studio and historic buildings that host events, exhibitions and private functions. Our London campus, home to the KLC School of Design, completes a distinctive organisation that combines education, heritage, hospitality and visitor experiences.
Working at West Dean means joining a community that values creativity, craftsmanship, sustainability and inclusivity, while helping to protect and share an important part of the UK's cultural heritage.
About the roleWe are looking for an experienced and proactive Health & Safety Manager to lead the development and implementation of health, safety and fire safety across West Dean.
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Estates and Campus Services, you will provide expert advice and practical guidance to colleagues across the organisation, ensuring that our working, teaching and public spaces meet relevant legislation and best practice.
You will oversee risk assessments, safety audits and inspections, staff training, incident investigations, RIDDOR reporting, emergency planning, fire safety and first aid provision. You will also monitor emerging risks, support continuous improvement and provide clear reporting to senior management and relevant committees.
Working collaboratively with colleagues at all levels, you will play a key role in promoting a positive, proactive safety culture and ensuring that health and safety is embedded in everyday working practices.
This is an opportunity to take ownership of an important organisational function, influence improvements and make a tangible difference to the safety and wellbeing of our staff, students, visitors and wider community.
About youYou will be an experienced health and safety professional with a strong understanding of UK health and safety legislation, risk management and compliance. You will be confident carrying out risk assessments, audits and investigations, developing effective policies and procedures, and advising colleagues on practical solutions.
You will also bring:
- Experience implementing health and safety practices across multiple buildings, locations or campuses.
- Practical experience of risk management systems, safety inspections and compliance auditing.
- Experience developing codes of practice and safe operating procedures.
- Strong analytical, organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to influence and engage colleagues at all levels.
- A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach, balancing operational needs with appropriate risk management.
- The ability to work independently while building effective relationships across a diverse organisation.
A NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and Graduate Membership of IOSH are specified in the person specification. Experience of fire safety, first aid, incident management and delivering health and safety training would also be valuable.
Key responsibilities- Maintain and improve West Dean's Safety Management System, policies and procedures.
- Ensure risk assessments are completed, reviewed and appropriately recorded.
- Advise and support managers and departments on safe working practices and compliance.
- Identify and coordinate appropriate health and safety training, including through our e-learning system.
- Carry out safety inspections and audits, produce reports and monitor corrective actions.
- Lead the reporting and investigation of accidents, near misses and other incidents, including RIDDOR reporting where required.
- Develop and review fire safety, first aid, emergency evacuation and incident response arrangements.
- Coordinate first aiders, mental health first aiders and fire safety representatives.
- Prepare monthly management dashboards and contribute to quarterly reporting.
- Attend Health & Safety Committee meetings and act as a key contact for external regulators and enforcement agencies.
- Keep senior colleagues informed of relevant legislative changes and compliance requirements.
- 33 days' annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays.
- A contributory pension scheme, with employer matching from 4% to 7.5%.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Access to Mental Health First Aiders.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Free entry to West Dean Gardens.
- Discounts in our Sussex campus shops.
- Free and discounted places on short courses at West Dean College.
- Free use of West Dean's Sussex campus facilities, including the swimming pool, library and tennis courts.
- Subsidised bed and breakfast rates at the Sussex campus.
If you are passionate about creating safe working environments and enjoy working collaboratively to make practical improvements, we would love to hear from you.
Closing date: 10 November 2026
Interviews: Mid-November 2026
Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK for the duration of their employment.
Equality, diversity and inclusionWest Dean College values the diversity of our staff and students. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and representative workplace and do not condone discrimination. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates from a wide range of backgrounds.
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