Safety, Health and Environment Team Leader

Science and Technology Facilities Council

Salary: £64,463 |
UKRI Band F-S2 |
Closing date: 1st March 2026

Hours: Full-time

Contract Type: Open-ended

Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether its sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when youre surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Group Team Leader at STFC's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) site in Oxfordshire.

STFC provides a wide range of SHE challenges arising from the cutting‑edge scientific and technology programmes that it delivers in the UK and internationally.

Dependent on skills and experience, a very attractive salary is offered supported by flexible working conditions and generous pension scheme.

This is a key senior role leading an enlarged team of specialists responsible for shaping and implementing the STFC SHE Management system.

The role reports directly to the STFC Head of SHE, for whom they may be required to deputise.

As part of a team of health and safety professionals this is a busy, varied and exciting role, working closely with all departments on site, and giving great opportunities to use and develop your skills to make a difference to UK science.

• Provide timely, professional SHE advice and guidance to personnel across at all levels of the organisation and across all STFC sites, liaising with management, staff, tenants, and facility users as required.
• Build and maintain good working relationships with all stakeholders, thereby fostering and supporting a collaborative and positive SHE culture across the organisation.
• Maintain and support the development of the STFCs documented SHE Management System and its supporting processes.
• Assist in shaping STFCs SHE Management System to meet requirements, and contribute to the development and implementation of UKRIs SHE policies and procedures to ensure these are complimentary.
• Monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of STFCs SHE Management System, its policies and procedures at RAL, and other STFC sites as appropriate, to drive continuous improvement.
• Communicate and engage with key stakeholders in STFCs SHE Management System, particularly with health and safety and environment committees, trade union (TU) and other safety representatives, departmental SHE contacts, nominated responsible persons, etc.
• Act as a lead auditor in STFCs audit programme, in alignment with the ISO 450001 audit standard.
• Provide senior management with assurance regarding implementation of STFCs SHE Management System, highlighting any issues where STFC is failing to comply with legislative requirements.
• Write briefing papers and reports for senior managers to support strategic decision‑making in relation to SHE.
• Ensure the continuous improvement of the SHE Management System based upon experience, audit findings, external best practice, and legislative changes.
• Ensure that all SHE incidents are reported and investigated, and that action is taken to minimise the likelihood of recurrence, promulgating learning widely across STFC and UKRI wherever possible.
• Where incidents meet reporting criteria, ensure that they are reported to the appropriate authority, e.g. the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or other relevant regulatory body.
• Be the principal contact at RAL for regulatory authorities during site visits, e.g. HSE.
• Lead, manage and develop the RAL SHE Group in the provision of effective, efficient and professional SHE services to all stakeholders. This includes administrative programmes for statutory inspection, and SHE training, as well as developing the competence of the SHE Advisers according to existing skills and the growing needs of the site.
• Scope, prepare and deliver…