Deputy Director Health & Safety

This is an exciting time to be a leader in the Civil Service, within Defra. Defra’s ambitious 25-year Environment Plan and legislative agenda is delivering sweeping change across the Environment, Agriculture and Marine sectors. Put simply, our people are our greatest asset, without them Defra cannot deliver its strategic objectives.

The primary role of Deputy Director for Health & Safety is to develop and steer overall strategy and vision for health and safety to assist Defra, and the Accountable Officer (Permanent Secretary) to meet their legal obligations as an employer under the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (and all subsequent health, safety and fire, regulations).

The postholder will play a significant role within Defra group Corporate Services assisting Defra, and the Accounting Officer, to achieve operational excellence across a broad portfolio of health and safety operations.

The portfolio includes strategic accountability for both people safety related policies and procedures – where the focus is on prevention of physical and psychological work-related harm - and property related safety standards ensuring our workplaces are safe and secure enabling our employees, and others, to work safely and productively and finish their working day safe and well. The role will also oversee resilience and emergency planning across the Defra group property estate to make sure we are prepared for any risks that turn into issues.

Defra is committed to ensuring our work does not impact negatively employee health and the role will have SRO accountability for a range of work-related physical, mental health and safety support services and contracts.

The role sits within Defra group Corporate Services which support Defra to deliver its day-to-day strategic objectives, its ambitions for Thriving People under the ‘Future Defra’ programme, and our aims to be A Great Place to Work.

This key leadership role requires negotiation and influence across Defra and the wider Defra group, Supporting and complementing, other internal strategies owned and/or driven by other functions within Defra group Corporate Services such as Defra group HR Wellbeing, HR Equality Diversity & Inclusion, Defra group Security, Digital and IT equipment, Defra group Communications and Defra group commercial where we have supply chains not acting according to our H&S policy. This will ensure that health and safety factors are identified, considered and embedded at the highest level of business decision via relevant Boards and Committees such as Group Corporate Services Board/SLT, ExCo and the People Committee.

Defra is seeking an appropriately qualified, and experienced, Health and Safety Professional and leader to provide strategic leadership, coordination, and planning for the Defra group Property Health & Safety function.

They will do this by owning, developing, and steering the overall strategy and vision for health and safety at work to assist Defra, and the Accountable Officer (Permanent Secretary) to meet their obligations as an employer under the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (and subsequent health, safety and fire, regulations).

Successful delivery is of critical importance to both Defra, Corporate Services, and the wider Defra Group. The post will hold SRO budget accountability and overall responsibility for the deliverables of the Health & Safety function in Defra group Property. The role is accountable for delivery of work through the existing People Safety Team, the Weybridge Science Facilities Safety Team, and the Business Resilience and Emergency planning Team. The role holder will also recruit

The post holder will be the SRO accountable for existing services, and associated budgets, for a variety of employee health and safety support services such as Mental Health First Aid service, DSE & Safety Eyecare, Driver risk profiling and training, Specialist ergonomic assessments and furniture, and International Travel Health & Safety Support etc.

The post holder will also act as the most senior Safeguarding at Work Champion in Defra, ensuring the roles of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding Officer (who sit within the People Safety Team) are adequately trained and resourced, and that suitable processes are in place for core-Defra employees.

As Deputy Director for Health & Safety you will also provide a strategic steer (where common standards are required) within Defra group Property working alongside, for example, the Workplace & FM Legal Standards & Compliance and Technical Services Teams. You will be an active and influential member of both Defra group Property, and wider group Corporate Services Senior Leadership teams, working alongside senior leaders to gain insights into any areas of common or significant concern, drive improvements across systems and working practice, and champion health and safety good practice in everything that Defra does.

You will lead a strategic workplace/work-related function for the set up and management of the overarching ‘Health & Safety Management System’ including governance, reporting, systems, and controls to ensure health and safety risks – that could impact on physical and mental health - are effectively identified, escalated, owned, and managed by the relevant functions and at all levels across the business in Defra.

Key Responsibilities

This position is a senior leadership role within Defra group Corporate Services, specifically requiring an experienced and competent health and safety professional, and leader, appropriately qualified to provide the ‘Competent Person’ function on behalf of the Permanent Secretary. The role is accountable to the Director of Defra group Property.

Delivering on vision and objectives

Leading and owning the overarching Health & Safety Management System and subsequent strategy and arrangements to be implemented by the business at all levels delivering the benefits and outcomes required by Defra.

Driving improvement plans for key health (including mental health) and safety priorities, contributing to business planning, risk management and performance monitoring.

Maintaining, attracting, leading, and inspiring a team of competent professionals and promoting an energised, inclusive culture – ensuring we are fit for the future and continuously evolve.

Drawing down from Civil Service and other industry best practice – including from across the Defra group - and ensuring group and Civil Service partnering where appropriate.

Stakeholder Management

This post is very much at the heart of everything Defra, it’s Executive Agencies, and its arm’s length bodies does and an influential role within Defra group Corporate Services. The role will be at the hub of health and safety engagement and influence across both Defra group Property, and senior leaders across the wider business. You will inspire positive behaviours and culture across Defra.

You will work closely with Defra leaders via, for example, the group Corporate Services SLT, group Corporate Services Board, EXCO etc. and provide assurance that all suitable arrangements are in place for the business to fulfill their health and safety duty of care.

You will work with all key internal stakeholders in a way that encourages collaboration and builds trust, including other corporate services functions such as Defra group HR, and Defra group Security.

You will establish a partnership approach with external providers of workplace and facilities management on workplace and property health and safety compliance matters as well as other supply chain partners. Creating a proactive relationship with those delivering our services is essential to embed our core safety values and hold them to account.

You will act as a strategic enabler for Future Defra and Defra group outcomes framework and ensure appropriate representation on health and safety initiatives at Civil Service level.

Governance, Reporting and Assurance

Establishing and overseeing the role of a new H&S Planning & Performance team, ensuring development and maintenance of risk, data, and assurance systems.

Exploring opportunities for digital solutions for incident reporting and assurance systems to be utilised across the breadth of Defra group Property and other Corporate Services (e.g. security incidents).

Ensuring development of audit and assurance programmes to monitor effectiveness of the health and safety arrangements operationally delivered through the business whether that be people, property, or science estate solutions.

Ensuring timely submission of reports and papers to committees such as ExCo, Audit and Risk Committee, Group Corporate Services Board, etc.

Establishing improved Trade Union consultation mechanisms to provide a unified route for consultation and communication for common risks to safety, health, and wellbeing and associated policy making.

Leadership

As an influential member of the senior leadership team within Defra group Property, and the wider Corporate Services, you will work alongside other senior leaders to gain insights into any areas of common or significant concern, drive improvements across systems and working practice, and champion good practice in everything that Defra does.

You’ll provide the holistic strategic direction for health and safety across Defra group Property, via direct line management of the following senior managers and their teams:

• G6 Head of People Safety Team,
• G6 Head of Weybridge Science Facilities H&S Team,
• G6 Head of Business Resilience, Emergency planning & Physical Security Team
• G6 Head Planning & Performance Team

You will also provide peer leadership, partnership, and collaboration with DgP H&S SLT colleagues (Technical Services, WP & FM, Data Planning & Performance) to ensure alignment across DgP for health and safety matters

Working across all operational teams within Defra group Property, via the H&S Planning & Performance team, to establish a clear strategy and management system.

You will need to identify synergies, and drive cross-team alignment, to ensure that Defra group Property teams’ function effectively to mitigate health and safety risks.

Oversight and coordination of overall group property budget and resourcing, ensuring the operational teams in Defra group Property are clear on their responsibilities for delivery of safe outcomes and the resources available to them. Future digital advancements for reporting systems and other improvements will increase current budget oversight.

Fair and inclusive leadership and line management of the team leaders within the function.

Drives a positive culture working within operational teams alongside Defra Senior Leaders.