Divisional Safety Lead

Full time – with part-time working as a minimum of 0.8 FTE considered.

About the Role:

You will provide strategic and professional leadership on health and safety across the Medical Sciences Division, ensuring effective oversight, risk management and continuous improvement. As a strong people manager and leader, you will lead and develop the Divisional Safety Team, fostering a collaborative, supportive and high-performing culture. You will work closely with departments and University colleagues to strengthen health and safety arrangements and promote a positive culture of accountability across the Division.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead, manage and develop the Divisional Safety Team, creating a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.
• Provide expert strategic and professional health and safety advice to departments and senior leaders across the Medical Sciences Division.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Division’s health and safety strategy, risk management and assurance arrangements.
• Build strong relationships with departments, safety professionals and other key stakeholders, promoting shared learning and a positive safety culture.
• Oversee and prioritise the Safety Team’s work programme, ensuring resources are focused on the Division’s key risks and priorities.
• Use data, audits, inspections and incident investigations to identify emerging risks and drive evidence-based continuous improvement.
• Represent the Division and work collaboratively with the wider University safety community, NHS Trusts and other partners on shared health and safety matters.

Skills and Qualifications:

Please see the job description for a full list of essential and desirable criteria

• Hold a NEBOSH Certificate (or be willing to attain within the first two years) and substantial professional experience in health and safety leadership within a large, complex organisation.
• Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Demonstrable experience of leading, developing and inspiring specialist professional teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.
• Significant experience of handling complex, sensitive or high-risk health and safety issues, exercising sound professional judgement and delivering proportionate, pragmatic solutions.

How to Apply:

You will be required to upload a covering letter/supporting statement describing how you meet the criteria, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 23 November 2026. Interviews will take place in person on 07 December 2026, you will be requested to complete a presentation as part of the interview process.

If you are interested in applying and wish to have an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Jennifer Kain, Head of Assurance by email at jennifer.kain@medsci.ox.ac.uk

Advert information