Head of Health & Safety

Paradigm Housing Group; High Wycombe; Hybrid; GBP 76,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading housing group in High Wycombe is seeking a Health & Safety Manager to lead the operational delivery of health and safety strategy. This role requires significant experience in health and safety leadership, understanding of UK legislation, and a proactive mindset to ensure organizational compliance. The position is hybrid, requiring attendance at the office two days a week. The successful candidate will oversee a team, implement best practices, and champion a safety culture. Benefits include an annual salary of £76k, generous leave, and a pension scheme.

Benefits

30 days holiday plus Christmas closure

Generous pension scheme

Health cash plan

Qualifications

• Proven significant experience in health and safety leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and best practices.
• Ability to identify emerging trends in health and safety and regulatory changes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational delivery of health and safety strategy across the organisation.
• Ensure compliance with legislation and best practice.
• Manage a team of health and safety professionals and oversee risk management.

Skills

Health and safety leadership

Knowledge of UK health and safety legislation

Statutory compliance understanding

Job description

Lead the Health & Safety function; drive a proactive, innovative approach that enhances compliance, improves processes, and delivers high-performance aligned with organisational goals. Reporting to the Director - Health, Safety & Facilities you will play an important role in reviewing current policy and procedures in our merged organisation and advising on necessary changes to ensure we are fully compliant, and our colleagues, residents and contractors are safe.

The role is hybrid and requires attendance for at least two days per week at our offices in High Wycombe, Bucks and Letchworth, Herts. This is particularly important as the role requires stakeholder engagement which is enhanced when meeting in person.

Are you looking to join a growing, values-led organisation with a clear social purpose?

At SettleParadigm, we’re proud to be the largest housing group in the region, managing over 27,000 homes across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.

Everything we do is about delivering excellent services, high quality homes, neighbourhoods we can be proud of and maximising number of new affordable homes we build. Through our merger we’ve brought together shared values, skills and ambition, so we can build more affordable homes and make an even bigger difference in the communities we serve.

If you're ready to grow your career in a supportive, inclusive environment while helping to shape stronger communities, we’d love to welcome you on our journey. Together, we’re building a better future.

About the Role:

You will lead the operational delivery of health and safety strategy across the organisation, ensuring compliance with legislation and best practice. Reporting to the Director – Health, Safety & Facilities, this role will manage a team of health and safety professionals, oversee risk management, and embed a positive safety culture throughout all business activities, and provide strategic support in shaping policies and frameworks that safeguards residents, colleagues, and contractors.

A key element of this role is to lead, influence and drive the evolution of health and safety processes and procedures for our Property and Development & Regeneration services, which form over half of our operations. This will be achieved through adopting a strong business partnering / mentoring approach to guide continuous improvements. A strong self-starter mindset who views challenges as chances to innovate and learn.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review existing H&S processes and identify areas to standardise procedures across functions for consistency and efficiency and implement best-in-class solutions.
• Ensure adherence to all relevant legislation, regulations, and sector-specific requirements.
• Oversee audits, inspections, and incident investigations, ensuring corrective actions are completed within specified time frames.
• Engage stakeholders at all levels to promote ownership and leadership of health and safety.
• Work with L&D to ensure impactful training and awareness programs are delivered.
• Champion a proactive safety culture, providing training, coaching and guidance to staff and contractors.

Must haves:

• Proven significant experience in health and safety leadership roles.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and best practice.
• Understanding of statutory compliance with legislation and regulations including but not limited to asbestos, legionella, LOLER, electricity, gas, fire etc.
• Working knowledge of CDM regulations and its application across development sites and project works.
• Ability to identify emerging trends in health and safety and regulatory changes.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to deliver practical solutions to ensure safety.

Nice to haves:

• Experience in managing change.
• Confident and experienced presenter.

At SettleParadigm, we believe in creating an environment where our people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. Our comprehensive benefits and rewards package reflects this commitment.

annual salary package of:£76k p/a

30 days holiday,plus Christmas closure and buy options

Generous pension scheme– up to 9.5% employer contribution via salary sacrifice

Family-friendly leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

Health cash plan– claim up to £1,800 for everyday health costs (plus free kids’ cover)

Life cover and income protection

Flexible working– hybrid options, modern offices, free parking & EV charging

And that’s just the beginning! We’re also thrilled to provide:

• Mental Health First Aiders available to support
• Car leasing via salary sacrifice (for permanent colleagues subject to conditions)
• Funded training, qualifications & apprenticeships
• 3 paid volunteering days in the local communities
• Peer-recognition rewards platform
• Paid professional subscription (one per year)

Our Commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce, by reflecting and representing the diversity of the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; people who identify as disabled, neurodiverse, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from underrepresented groups.

Accessibility and Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in advance of any suitable arrangements required.

Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a basic or enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made.

There is no need to write a cover letter for this role, instead we have some role specific questions that we'd like you to answer in addition to providing your CV.