The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health. UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will: Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities. Job overview The Colindale Operations team aims to deliver a high performing service for all departments on the Colindale site. This will ensure that all the important functions carried out on the site are able to deliver critical services. The team brings together a range of support services ranging from estates and facilities management, front of house and site operations. The Facilities Management (FM) Department is responsible for delivering high quality and cost-effective Estates and FM services across UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Colindale and Chilton, Leeds and Glasgow and for providing suitable facilities for the delivery of the UKHSA operations and services, consistent with government policies. The FM team supports the Head of Site Services in the execution of their role, and delivers the accommodation capital programme, proactively manages the FM services on the Colindale site, and ensures the smooth daily running of accommodation related contracts. The role will also support similar operations at Chilton. We are looking for an experienced Safety Manager who will be positioned within the Engineering Department and will play a pivotal role in supporting a complex, high-risk environment, including scientific facilities and high-containment laboratories. While the post does not include direct line management, it requires close collaboration with Facilities project management and a range of outsourced providers delivering Hard and Soft FM services. Advert The Safety Manager is integral to ensuring safety compliance, risk management, and operational assurance across critical infrastructure. Working across multi-disciplinary teams, the postholder will provide expert advice and leadership on safety matters, helping to maintain safe, legally compliant, and resilient research and containment environments. The Safety Manager will assist and advise the Head of Site Services and Project Managers in all matters of construction/alternations on site FM Health and Safety and actively maintain a high level of awareness of Health and Safety practice and legislation. The Safety Manager will also support safety inspections and ensure safety audit programmes are carried out in accordance with UKHSA safety policies and assist in ensuring that all safety documentation including risk assessments, are available, comprehensive and up to date. The Safety Manager will also assist in the implementation of ISO 9001 in FM Services. Working for our organisation We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all. Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers Detailed job description and main responsibilities Main Responsibilities Maintain close liaison with scientific, technical, engineering, estates, maintenance and administrative staff to ensure high standards of Health & Safety Actively maintain a high level of awareness of Health & Safety practice and legislation. Maintain and develop a high level of understanding of the nature and significance of the work carried out by the technical, engineering, estates, maintenance and administrative staff with whom they are associated Ensure that safe systems of work are in place for all staff and contractors, and that they are being implemented. Highlight any critical issues to the Operational Lead and Head of Department and authorise the stopping of any work deemed to seriously compromise the safety of individuals or the integrity of the organisation Carry out ongoing reviews of all risk assessments that are applicable to the Department, to ensure that they are suitable, sufficient and in date Ensure that regular inspection programmes (e.g. H&S inspections, visual electrical checks etc.) are carried out in all teams Contribute to the system of auditing and seeking assurance of health and safety in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures, and the National Infection Service’s Health and Safety plan Ensure the timely progression of Health and Safety actions arising from incident investigations, inspections and audits Deliver Health and Safety Training to FM Department Have an overview of data entry onto the Trackwise system, as applied to Health and Safety incidents and near misses, to ensure the quality of reports and the appropriate root cause analysis and progression of actions Develop and administer procedures to ensure compliance with Health and Safety in specialist areas and produce regular Health and Safety reports for FM department management, or other stakeholders as required, including Trackwise report summaries Contribute to the development of health and safety standards and systems applied to FM Department and the whole site Promote the image of UKHSA as a centre of excellence in safety through personal example and maintaining safety awareness Participate and lead as necessary in emergency and unplanned events. This may include participating in on call duty for evenings and weekends (voluntary) and participate in safety groups and in investigations of accidents and incidents as necessary Maintain in an appropriate form such records and systems as are necessary to fulfil health and safety policy including those containing confidential information To identify Health and Safety training requirements for FM Department staff, including safety induction, and ensure that they are implemented, and develop and deliver training in core safety subjects and also specialist health and safety areas Participate in Departmental and site Safety Committees, and ensure that actions affecting the Department arising from these meetings are carried out in a proper and timely manner Undertake work in accordance with the UKHSA Policies and Guidance, and to work within any Quality Systems that are applicable to FM Department, and to comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures Ensure, in conjunction with Project Managers and Supervisors, that all existing and new equipment is fit for purpose with respect to safety and ensure that all spaces are fit for purpose and maintained to enable safe working Perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of these roles. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required. The job description and person specifications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation. Essential role criteria The successful candidate must: Have NEBOSH general certificate in Occupational Safety and Health - construction Have thorough knowledge and understanding of construction/engineering/laboratory safety requirements and procedures including quality assurance procedures and the role of IT in FM Have evidence of developing staff by teaching, training and delegation, including experience of assessing performance of staff Have evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing systems and processes to innovate and initiate change in laboratory practice Have experience of critically assessing current ways of working and introducing efficient and effective practices Have experience and understanding of planning and project management and has an understanding of, and is supportive of, research and development Be able to analyse and evaluate evidence e.g. in planning, problem-solving, decision making, negotiation and counselling Have leadership and people management experience with an aptitude for being able to manage and motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate, assess performance and get the best out of people Have communication and IT skills to be able to convey instructions, ideas and opinions clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing Have an aptitude for developing staff skills and capabilities Be able to criticise constructively, to design and introduce improvements and to manage change Be able to plan and use own time economically and effectively Be able to predict and drive change in a rapidly changing environment Have an understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships Desirable role criteria Maintain professional competence IN building and engineering health and safety Be a member of a recognised professional body (IOSH or equivalent) Have experience of working in a number of different types of Laboratory including containment level three Microbiology laboratories Understand microbiology and its application in clinical practice and public health Application & Sift This vacancy is using Competency. At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the job advert. You will be required to complete an: • Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) • 1000 word supporting statement Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 word count. This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role. You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV – please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead essential criteria will be conducted: Must have NEBOSH general certificate in Occupational Safety and Health – construction Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of: 1. Meets all essential criteria 2. Meets some essential criteria 3. Meets no essential criteria Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through. Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage. Interview Stage (Competency based) You will be invited to a face-to-face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. This vacancy is being assessed using Competency. During the interview we will assess against the below based on the essential criteria: Knowledge Experience Skills and Abilities You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The presentation subject is: Health and Safety Management in a High Hazard Environment Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. External Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Additional Information Security Clearance Level Requirement All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is: Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) For this role you will also need to meet: Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) DBS Requirement: Basic DBS This role is being offered is based at our site office: Colindale Scientific Campus, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ Please note hybrid working is not available for this role. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. Please note: If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms. IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Link below: Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks. This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window) For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment. For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary. For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy. Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment. Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered. Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here. Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list. The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available. Interview expenses will not be reimbursed. UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there. Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. Benefits of working at UKHSA include: Generous annual leave: -26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service -28 days after 5 years of continuous service -32 days after 10 years of continuous service -Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions. Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving. Access to a retail discounts and cashback site. We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing. We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package. Hybrid Working UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home. Disability Confident Scheme The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview. If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form. Reasonable Adjustments The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should: Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/ International Police Check If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and could be time accrued over that period. Internal Fraud check If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service. Security Vetting Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels Future location UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.