National Health & Safety Manager

GC149: National Health & Safety Manager
Location: Hybrid – 3 x days in Weybridge / 2 days WFH pw
Salary: Competitive day rate

Working Arrangements:

• Hybrid working model with three days per week onsite in Weybridge.
• Occasional travel may be required across the wider estate portfolio.
• Participation in out-of-hours support arrangements may be required.

Overview:

Our client is seeking an experienced Life Safety Systems Manager to provide specialist technical leadership across a complex, highly regulated science estate. This role will act as the subject matter expert for life safety systems, ensuring critical assets remain safe, compliant, operationally resilient and aligned with statutory requirements and industry best practice.

The successful candidate will provide governance, assurance and technical oversight for life safety systems across the Weybridge site and wider science estate, supporting both operational activities and capital programmes.

*Due to the secure nature of the programme, applicants should be able to satisfy the security requirements associated with the role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the technical lead and subject matter expert for life safety systems.
• Provide governance, assurance and compliance oversight across critical life safety infra-structure.
• Lead the management and performance assurance of:
o Fire detection and alarm systems
o Fire suppression systems, including gas suppression and sprinklers
o Emergency and escape lighting
o Smoke control and pressurisation systems
o Oxygen depletion monitoring systems
o Man-trapped alarm systems
o Emergency egress and protected building systems
• Ensure systems are maintained, tested, validated and fully operational.
• Develop and maintain technical standards, procedures and best practice guidance.
• Conduct audits, inspections and technical assurance reviews.
• Identify, assess and mitigate operational and compliance risks.
• Support incident investigations and provide technical reporting and recommendations.
• Act as Intelligent Client, providing technical oversight of Facilities Management suppliers and contractors.
• Review designs, modifications and installations to ensure legislative and regulatory compli-ance.
• Support capital projects through design reviews, commissioning activities, factory ac-ceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT).
• Maintain accurate asset information, technical documentation and compliance records.
• Support lifecycle planning, investment decisions and budget planning activities.
• Deliver training, guidance and competency development for engineers, contractors and stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement, system resilience and performance optimisation.

Essential Experience:

• Significant experience managing life safety systems within complex, high-risk or highly reg-ulated environments.
• Demonstrable knowledge of fire detection, suppression, emergency lighting, smoke control and gas detection systems.
• Experience managing the full lifecycle of life safety systems, from specification and installa-tion through to operation and maintenance.
• Knowledge of statutory compliance, engineering governance and safety management re-quirements.
• Experience conducting technical audits, inspections and compliance reviews.
• Strong contractor and supplier management experience.
• Experience supporting engineering investigations and root cause analysis activities.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Experience working with asset management and contractor management systems.
• Strong understanding of risk assessment, safe systems of work and permit controls.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction, Safety Management or related discipline.
• Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng), or actively working towards professional registration.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) qualification or equivalent.
• Membership of a recognised professional body such as IOSH, IET or equivalent.

Desirable Experience:

• NEBOSH qualification.
• Experience within laboratory, scientific, research, pharmaceutical or highly regulated envi-ronments.
• Understanding of Building Management Systems (BMS) and integration with life safety sys-tems.
• Knowledge of SFG20 maintenance standards.
• Experience supporting estate-wide compliance and assurance programme.

Key Competencies:

• Life Safety Systems Expertise
• Technical Assurance and Governance
• Safety Leadership
• Compliance Management
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation
• Stakeholder Management
• Contractor Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Facilities and Estate Management