Permit Office Support

Permit Office Support

Company Description

At Wade Construction Management Consultants, we deliver high-profile pharmaceutical and life sciences construction projects. Through a collaborative and transparent approach, we provide our clients with confidence, control, and certainty, while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and compliance.

The Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a Permit Office Support to join our team which would be based in North East of England, reporting to the Permit Office Manager. The role provides permit office services on client sites, operating the client's safe system of work (SSOW) and permit-to-work process on the client's behalf.

Why Join Wade

• Work on high-profile pharmaceutical and life sciences projects
• Join a collaborative and specialist team
• Be part of a team shaping the future of GMP construction delivery
• Opportunities for career progression and professional development

Our Culture at Wade

At Wade, how we work is just as important as what we deliver. Our approach is built on integrity, collaboration, and accountability, ensuring every project is delivered safely, compliantly, and to the highest standards.

We look for people who:

• Act with integrity – accountable, transparent, and professional
• Put the project first – focusing on the best outcomes for clients and teams
• Take ownership – proactive, innovative, and solution-driven
• Work collaboratively – contributing to a supportive, high-performing team

People are our foundation. At Wade, we back our people to thrive at work and in life, because when our people grow, so does our impact.

Scope of Role

Provision of permit office services on client sites, operating the client's safe system of work (SSOW) and permit-to-work process on the client's behalf.

Main Purpose

To provide a professional permit office service on operational pharmaceutical and life sciences facilities. The role operates the client's safe system of work, which is aligned to industry benchmarks and best practice, including HSE guidance HSG250 on permit-to-work systems. The Permit Office Support makes sure that permits are processed, issued, controlled and closed out correctly, that conflicting activities are identified before work starts, and that accurate records are maintained. The role works closely with the client's operations, engineering, quality and EHS teams, the Principal Contractor and contractors, so that work is carried out safely and live manufacturing operations are protected.

Key Responsibilities

The following list is not exhaustive but includes:

• Receive, check and process permit applications in line with the client's SSOW
• Check that approved RAMS, inductions, competence cards and authorisations are in place before a permit is prepared
• Prepare permits and supporting certificates for authorisation, and administer their issue, extension, suspension, hand-back and close-out
• Identify conflicting or simultaneous activities across permits and raise them for resolution before work starts
• Maintain isolation registers, lock-out/tag-out records and key and lock box control
• Maintain permit registers, display boards and live records of who is working where, to support emergency arrangements
• Brief permit holders on permit conditions, controls and hand-back requirements
• Liaise with client operations, engineering, quality and EHS teams on area access, release and hand-back
• Carry out permit audits and site checks, and report findings and non-compliances
• Produce permit office reports and performance data for the Permit Office Manager and the client
• Support permit-to-work training and awareness sessions for contractors and site teams
• Contribute to the review and continual improvement of the SSOW and permit office procedures

CDM 2015 Responsibilities

The role supports the Client and the Principal Contractor in meeting their duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Responsibilities include:

• Processing permits only where RAMS are approved, relevant to the task and briefed to the workforce
• Checking that everyone named on a permit has completed a site-specific induction
• Checking that permit controls are consistent with the Construction Phase Plan and client site rules
• Supporting co-operation and co-ordination between contractors by managing permit conflicts and shared work areas
• Withholding or suspending permits where controls are not in place, and escalating unsafe work
• Reporting hazards, near misses and non-compliances promptly
• Applying the requirements of the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, DSEAR/ATEX, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Work at Height Regulations, LOLER and COSHH, as they relate to the permits being processed

Pharmaceutical Environment

• Work in line with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) expectations and client quality, EHS and security procedures
• Check that approved client change control and quality sign-off are in place before permits are issued for GMP areas
• Co-ordinate area release and hand-back with production so that manufacturing is protected
• Apply gowning and contamination control requirements when visiting cleanrooms and classified areas
• Keep records accurate, legible, contemporaneous and complete to meet data integrity and audit requirements
• Maintain confidentiality regarding client processes, products and information

Essential Requirements

Qualifications & Certifications

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• CSCS card, or willingness to obtain one

Experience

• At least 2 years working within a permit office or operating a permit-to-work system
• Working in high-hazard, regulated or live operational environments
• Dealing with contractors and site teams in a customer-facing role

Skills & Knowledge

• Understanding of permit-to-work principles
• Working knowledge of CDM 2015 and wider UK health and safety legislation
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in record keeping
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office
• Clear verbal and written communication
• Confidence to challenge and withhold permits where requirements are not met

Desirable Requirements

Qualifications & Certifications

• IOSH Working Safely or equivalent
• Permit-to-work awareness training

Experience

• Pharmaceutical, life sciences, chemical or COMAH sites
• Using electronic permit or isolation management systems
• Carrying out permit or safe system of work audits

Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of HSE guidance HSG250 on permit-to-work systems
• Awareness of GMP, change control and contamination control
• Understanding of isolation and lock-out/tag-out practice
• Understanding of simultaneous operations risk

Other Relevant Information

• The duties listed are not exhaustive. You may be asked to carry out other reasonable tasks outside your usual remit to support the business.
• You may be required to move to other projects or duties within the North East as business needs require.
• During holiday periods and absences, you may need to cover duties normally carried out by colleagues.
• The role may involve shift work, early starts and working during planned shutdowns.
• This job description may be updated from time to time in line with business needs and your development.