Strategic Health and Safety Manager

Salary Salary starting from £46,483 per annum

Job profile for Strategic Health and Safety Manager

08/09/2026 Strategic Health and Safety Manager

The job requirements are detailed below. Further information can be found in the link in the Job Details section below.

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Salary Salary starting from £46,483 per annum Date posted 26/08/2026 Job reference COLREQ
01692

Working hours: 37 hours per week

Contract type: Permanent

Are you an experienced health and safety professional looking for a strategic leadership role where you can make a lasting impact across a complex and diverse organisation?

We are seeking a proactive and highly motivated Strategic Health & Safety Manager to lead the Council's Health & Safety function and provide strategic leadership on health, safety and wellbeing, statutory compliance, property and asset safety, organisational assurance and safety culture across the Council.

This is a high-profile role that will lead the development of a positive and proactive safety culture, ensuring that health and safety risks are effectively identified, managed and mitigated to protect employees, residents, visitors, contractors and the Council's assets. Working closely with senior managers, councillors and external regulators, you will play a key role in strengthening compliance arrangements, providing assurance to senior leaders and supporting the Council in delivering safe and effective services.

As Strategic Health & Safety Manager, you will:

• Lead and develop the Council's Health & Safety Team, promoting a positive and high-performing culture.
• Act as the Council's principal adviser on health and safety, providing expert advice and challenge to managers and councillors.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Council's Health & Safety Framework, policies and assurance arrangements.
• Oversee health and safety compliance, corporate H&S risk management, audits, investigations and performance reporting.
• Work with the Council's operational services to ensure effective management of building compliance, contractor safety and other high-risk activities.
• Champion continuous improvement, organisational learning and a positive safety culture across the Council.

We're looking for someone who is:

• Is an experienced and inspiring leader with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Has substantial experience leading health and safety services within a large or complex organisation.
• Has strong knowledge of health and safety legislation, compliance, assurance and risk management.
• Can influence, advise and constructively challenge senior managers, councillors and stakeholders.
• Has excellent communication, presentation and report-writing.
• Holds a NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent Level 6 qualification) and Chartered IOSH status, or is working towards it.

At Colchester City Council, you'll have the opportunity to lead a vital corporate function that protects people, supports services and helps ensure the Council delivers its services to the community safely and effectively.

We offer:

• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Free gym membership.
• Employee discounts and wellbeing support.
• Additional leave over the Christmas period.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced health and safety professional to take a leading role in shaping the Council's approach to health, safety, compliance and organisational assurance at a time of significant change and transformation.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Hayley McGrath, Service Director - Governance
Email: hayl
Telephone:

Colchester City Council has a wide range of services and facilities that can involve dealing with children or vulnerable adults. We treat our obligations for the safety of children and vulnerable adults seriously and expect our staff to be committed to the principles of our published policies and to adhere to the procedures contained within them.