Head of Health and Safety

The opportunity

University of the Arts London (UAL) is looking for an experienced, confident and forward‑thinking health and safety leader to join us as Head of Health and Safety. This is a high‑profile opportunity to shape and influence a positive, inclusive and enabling safety culture across one of the world’s leading creative universities.

Responsibilities

In this senior leadership role, you will provide operational leadership for the Health and Safety team, drawing on your professional expertise to guide, develop and inspire a team of Health and Safety Advisers working across UAL’s Colleges and University Services. You will play a central role in ensuring that health and safety practice supports — rather than restricts — creativity, innovation and learning.

You will lead the development and delivery of Health and Safety Operational Improvement Plans across Colleges and departments, driving continuous improvement through insight, collaboration and proportionate risk management. A core part of the role will be producing clear, high‑quality and impactful reports on operational health and safety performance for the Director of Health and Safety, helping senior leaders understand risk, performance and opportunity.

Building strong, trusted relationships will be key to your success. You will work closely with senior leaders, operational managers and trade union representatives to embed inclusive and effective emergency arrangements and to foster a proactive, engaged health and safety culture across the University.

You will also lead the design and implementation of a risk‑based audit and assurance programme, ensuring that UAL’s health and safety management systems are robust, effective and continuously improving. Through overseeing audit delivery, evaluating outcomes and monitoring assurance activity, you will ensure risks are effectively managed in line with regulatory and sector expectations.

Qualifications

We are looking for a highly experienced health and safety professional with a NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent qualification, and a strong track record of developing and delivering comprehensive health and safety performance reporting. You will demonstrate a commitment to advancing professional practice in health and safety through ongoing development and active engagement with IOSH requirements, alongside experience of RIDDOR investigations and the ability to develop innovative, organisation‑wide solutions.

You will bring excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a high‑performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous learning and professional growth.

E‑Equal Employment Opportunity

UAL is proud to hold a Bronze Award from the Race Equality Charter (REC), is a member of the Business Disability Forum and Employers for Carers, and maintains its status as a Disability Confident Scheme and Living Wage employer. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.

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