Head of Group Sustainability, Health, Safety and Compliance
£50,832 to £63,540 per annum (For exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £73,071 per annum)
Hybrid
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location with the opportunity to work remotely available in line with our Adaptive Working Framework.
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
The University of Derby Estates Department is dedicated to cultivating a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable campus environment, that supports our passion for delivering world class education and ground-breaking research.
The Estates team has over 250 colleagues, working across all of our sites on everything from the refurbishment of buildings to catering.
About the Team
The Estates Compliance and Risk team sits within the wider Estates function and plays a critical role in ensuring the University’s buildings, infrastructure and activities are safe, resilient and fully compliant with statutory and regulatory requirements.
The team leads on the development and delivery of compliance and risk strategy across Estates, providing both strategic oversight and hands‑on operational support. This includes assurance of corporate, statutory and legislative compliance, coordination of Estates risk management processes, and delivery of integrated audit and assurance programmes that support institutional governance and executive decision‑making.
Working closely with colleagues across the University, the team drives a proactive compliance culture moving from reactive assurance to preventative risk management through training, guidance and capability building. Key operational responsibilities include asbestos and radon management, statutory building engineering services compliance, contractor management and permit‑to‑work systems, business continuity planning, and health and safety assurance relating to construction and property activities.
The team also provides specialist advice, reporting and assurance to senior leaders and governance committees, helping to strengthen organisational resilience and continuously improve compliance performance across the estate.
The Head of Compliance and Risk provides strategic and operational leadership for Estates compliance and risk management, ensuring statutory, legislative and corporate requirements are met across the University estate.
Reporting to the Head of Group Sustainability, Health, Safety and Compliance, the post holder leads the development of Estates compliance and risk strategy, embeds assurance and audit frameworks, and supports institutional governance through high‑quality reporting and executive engagement. The role acts as the senior subject matter expert for Estates compliance, advising on emerging risks and regulatory change.
The role includes hands‑on operational leadership, with responsibility for asbestos and radon management, statutory building engineering services compliance, contractor management and permit‑to‑work systems, and health and safety assurance relating to construction and property activities. The post holder will provide cover for key technical roles when required to maintain statutory compliance.
You will lead a specialist team, including line management of the Fire Safety Manager and Asbestos Manager, and lead on the Safe Place University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee. Key objectives include strengthening compliance assurance, embedding preventative risk management, improving governance visibility, and building organisational capability across Estates.
Flexibility is required to respond to urgent compliance matters. This senior role offers the opportunity to shape compliance strategy, influence executive decision‑making and drive continuous improvement across a complex estate.
The anticipated interview date will be W/C 27th April 2026.
You will be an experienced compliance and risk professional with a strong background in estates or property environments, combining strategic oversight with hands‑on operational delivery. You will bring demonstrable experience of risk management, compliance assurance and business continuity, alongside a proven ability to develop and embed policies, frameworks and audit programmes that drive continuous improvement.
You will have comprehensive knowledge of property‑related statutory and legislative requirements, with experience managing contractor compliance, permit‑to‑work systems and statutory inspection regimes. You will be comfortable providing operational cover for senior technical roles when required and ensuring continuity of critical compliance activities.
A proactive, collaborative team player, you will have experience managing high‑performing teams and working in partnership across departments to achieve shared objectives. You will be confident engaging and influencing at senior level, building strong stakeholder relationships, and producing clear executive‑level reports that support informed decision‑making. You will actively seek opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency and move the organisation towards a more preventative, solutions‑focused approach to compliance and risk.
Essential requirements for this role include significant experience in estates compliance, contractor management, and integrated health & safety systems, alongside a strong track record of managing and mitigating risk. You will be confident challenging established ways of working, while maintaining a supportive and collaborative approach that brings others with you.
* Lead the formulation of the Compliance and Risk strategy for the University by defining the elements relating to Estates and playing a key role in the overall decision‑making process around Compliance and Risks.
* Provide a comprehensive core specialist advisory service to the Estates department to meet statutory and legislative compliance. Act as the senior subject matter expert for compliance and risk within Estates, accountable for ensuring visibility and associated governance that all buildings within scope are fully compliant with regulatory and statutory requirements, working collaboratively with the Estates Leadership Team.
* Plan, design and implement strategic compliance and risk reporting frameworks and annual reviews which will be reported at many levels, including the University’s Executive Board. This will include completion of the monthly Lead Indicator spreadsheet to the Executive and contribution to assurance mapping and internal control frameworks where required.
* Lead the development of a proactive compliance and risk culture within Estates, moving from reactive assurance to preventative risk management through training, guidance and capability building.
* Engage externally across industry, professional bodies and the HE sector to identify and introduce best practice and innovation, including horizon scanning for regulatory developments and advising senior leaders on emerging risks and required organisational responses.
* Support institutional governance and assurance processes through the provision of risk and compliance reporting to relevant committees and Executive Board, contributing to organisational resilience and informed decision‑making.
* Work proactively with the Health & Safety (H&S) team to lead on statutory inspection programmes, including establishing ownership of assets, ensuring information is up to date, creating clear procedures to clarify responsibilities and accountabilities, updating the H&S Charter and coordinating communications across the University.
* Provide overall management for asbestos and radon across the University. Acting as Line Manager to the Asbestos and Radon Manager and providing hands‑on operational cover during periods of absence to ensure continuity of statutory compliance, contractor coordination, permit approvals and urgent decision‑making. Review and maintain management plans and procedures to ensure robust practices are in place, ensuring Estates teams and other departments undertaking intrusive works operate fully within regulatory requirements. This will include developing clear procedures and coordinating appropriate training provision.
* Lead assurance of statutory Building Engineering Services (BES) compliance across the University, including oversight of servicing regimes for critical systems (such as HVAC, pressure systems, lifts and electrical infrastructure), working with Estates and Health & Safety teams to ensure robust records, governance and escalation of non‑compliance, with direct involvement in resolving compliance gaps where required.
* Provide operational leadership for contractor management within Estates, including issuing permits to work where required, monitoring contractor performance and ensuring compliance with University policies and statutory requirements. Design, implement and embed a University‑wide contractor management framework, including policies, procedures, training programmes and assurance mechanisms, working collaboratively with departments to build capability and consistency of approach.
* Develop and deliver contractor management training and guidance for relevant staff across the University. Act as an authorised signatory for permits to work, ensuring appropriate risk assessments, method statements and controls are in place prior to works commencing.
* Working with the Health & Safety and Maintenance teams, establish and maintain appropriate organisational procedures for portable appliance testing, including formulation of agreed processes, supporting departments to maintain up‑to‑date asset registers, contributing to amendments of the H&S Charter and coordinating communications regarding the system.
* Lead the Safe Place University Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee, setting agendas, coordinating inputs from across the University, driving actions to completion and ensuring effective escalation of key risks and compliance issues. Prepare and submit regular compliance, risk and performance reports to the Committee, with onward reporting to Executive Board where required.
* Build relationships within the risk and compliance sector across the HE sector.
For the complete list, please see the attached Job Description
* Degree in a relevant subject area, an equivalent qualification or relevant professional experience
Experience
* Demonstrable experience of risk management and/or business continuity
* Experience of establishing and developing new risk and/or business continuity policies and processes
* Experience of engaging and influencing at a senior level and across an organisation
* Experience of writing reports for Executives and Boards
* Experience of implementing best practice and embedding a culture of continuous improvement, including internal and external auditing and development of compliance assurance regimes
* Experience of managing high performing teams
* Experience of hands‑on operational compliance delivery within estates or property environments
* Experience of contractor management and permit‑to‑work systems
* Experience of providing operational cover for senior technical roles or maintaining service continuity during absence
* Evidenced significant knowledge in integrated health & safety and quality management systems in industry
Skills, knowledge and abilities
* Comprehensive knowledge of property related statutory and legislative obligations and experience in developing compliance assurance regimes to ensure those obligations are met.
* Knowledge of external accreditation and statutory compliance standards across, Maintenance and H&S areas
* Specialist auditing expertise in the area of compliance and risk by performing independent audits of management systems and risk control systems
* Proven track record of managing and mitigating risk
* The ability to develop and influence a key network of influential stakeholders. Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to communicate and influence across a range of levels throughout the institution
* Developing and communicating plans and campaigns, including briefing and managing third parties to deliver tactical elements and measuring results.
Qualifications
* Professional Qualification in Quality Management, Risk Management and/or Business Continuity or equivalent
* Recognised Auditor Qualification
* Chartered Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) or equivalent professional status
Skills, knowledge and abilities
* Knowledge of NEBOSH Construction Health and Safety
* Knowledge of current Fire Safety legislation and regulatory requirements
* Generous annual leave entitlement of 42 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
* Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family‑friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
* Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
* Discounted onsite gym
* Access to employer‑funded Private Health Insurance
* Holiday purchase
* Cycle to Work scheme
* A flexible working environment
* A commitment to personal and professional development
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Adam Gomes, Head of Group Sustainability, Health, Safety and Compliance via a.gomes@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk .
This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI ; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (£41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025).
If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if:
Your job is on the Immigration Salary List
You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education
Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and is therefore subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Any information you provide will be treated in confidence and only used when considering your suitability for the post.
To enable us to process your DBS check please ensure you are able to supply the documentation listed on the DBS website at interview stage.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation.
We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.
Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non‑binary‑inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training.
When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender‑neutral title ‘Mx’. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns.This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non‑binary candidates.Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system.
The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.
However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population.
At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University’s strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University’s objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.
Continue your career evolution with us, apply now at University of Derby.
How to apply
You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.
The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@derby.ac.uk .
Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.
The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.
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