RQ1689290-Interim Health & Safety Lead (Standards, Engagement & Culture) WCR 5 Max
26 days ago
London
Interim Health & Safety Lead (Standards, Engagement & Culture) Location: Hybrid (2 days in the London office, 3 days remote) Contract: 3–6 months (with potential extension) Reporting to: Head of Corporate Health & Safety Aatom Recruitment is currently working in partnership with a local authority to appoint an Interim Health & Safety Lead (Standards, Engagement & Culture) for a high-profile, strategic assignment. This is a senior interim opportunity for an experienced Health & Safety professional to provide leadership and stability during a period of transition, while permanent roles are being recruited. About the Assignment The City Council is seeking an experienced Interim Health & Safety Lead to provide senior-level capacity during a critical transition period. This is a high-impact, time-limited assignment focused on: • Stabilising current Health & Safety activity, • Progressing priority improvements, • Establishing clear, practical frameworks, • Establish a clear baseline of Health & Safety maturity across the Council, • Progress priority work aligned to an ISO 45001-style management system, • Improve visibility, consistency, and engagement across services and Directorates, • Design pragmatic and deliverable frameworks for permanent staff, • Produce a structured roadmap and handover to support continued implementationKey Priority Areas1. Health & Safety Standards & Systems, • Review and update Health & Safety policies, procedures, and management systems, • Identify key risks, gaps, and areas of duplication, • Define a proportionate ISO 45001-aligned framework suitable for the City Council, • Refresh or develop priority corporate standards and model risk assessments, • Design a pragmatic audit and assurance framework (design phase only)2. Engagement, Communications & Culture, • Review and reset the Health & Safety engagement and communications approach, • Develop a simple, deliverable engagement strategy tailored to Directorates, • Increase visibility of Health & Safety through clear and consistent messaging, • Support managers in embedding Health & Safety into day-to-day operations, • Design leading and lagging indicators to measure performance and engagement3. Training & Capability (Design Phase), • Conduct a high-level training needs analysis, • Develop a Health & Safety training and competency matrix, • Identify priority gaps and quick wins, • Produce a clear roadmap for training and capability development4. Leadership & Handover, • Act as a senior advisor to Directors and senior managers, • Provide concise, accurate reporting to governance and leadership forums, • Coach and support existing Health & Safety team members, • Produce a comprehensive handover covering:, • Baseline and maturity assessment, • Work completed, • Key risks and dependencies, • Delivery of full ISO 45001 accreditation, • Long-term cultural change programmes, • Senior Health & Safety leadership experience within large, complex organisations, • Proven experience designing, reviewing, or implementing ISO 45001-aligned systems, • A strong track record of improving Health & Safety management frameworks, • Experience driving engagement and influencing Health & Safety culture, • Ability to deliver at pace within time-limited interim assignments, • Confidence influencing senior stakeholders without formal authority, • Public sector or local government experience (highly desirable)Personal Attributes, • Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset, • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, • Strong stakeholder management and facilitation abilities, • Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise within a short-term assignment, • A clear baseline of Health & Safety maturity and priority risks, • Defined and documented standards aligned to an ISO 45001-style framework, • Engagement and training approaches ready for implementation, • Increased organisational confidence in Health & Safety leadership