ID 4216

The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.

Vacancy details

Vacancy title

Senior Safety Advisory Function Manager

Closing date

28/10/2026, 16:00

Advertising basis

Fixed Term, Permanent

Actual starting salary

£47,675

Salary range or pay band

SEO £47,675 to £56,445

Allowances

No

Work pattern

Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)

Group

Operational Effectiveness Group

Directorate

People & Places

Branch

Facilities

Location (s)

Pan Wales

‘Pan Wales’ means the post holder can be based in any Welsh Government office, subject to business needs. Roles based outside Wales, including London, are not available unless explicitly stated in the advert.

A list of the Welsh Government’s offices can be found on www.gov.wales/welsh-government-offices. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.

The post holder’s travel from their home to their assigned Welsh Government office is considered their ‘ordinary commute’ and must be done in their own time and at their own cost.

Purpose of post

The Senior Safety Advisory Function Manager acts as the Welsh Government's lead competent person for the purposes of Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, providing authoritative health and safety advice, governance and assurance.

The role leads the development and continuous improvement of the organisation's health and safety management system, ensuring statutory compliance, effective risk management and a positive safety culture across a complex multi-site estate in Wales, and offices in London and Brussels.

Working closely with senior leaders and stakeholders, the postholder provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of health and safety arrangements, supporting informed decision-making and organisational assurance. The role's remit focuses on health and safety governance, compliance, risk management and assurance.

Responsibility for employee wellbeing programmes, occupational health services, stress management and Display Screen Equipment (DSE) arrangements sits within Human Resources. The postholder will work collaboratively with Human Resources where necessary, and with relevant Trade Unions as part of the WG’s social partnership agreement.

Key tasks

The postholder will be responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the organisation's health and safety management system in accordance with HSG65, Managing for Health and Safety, including:

Leadership and Governance

• Develop and maintain the organisation's health and safety policy framework, standards and guidance.
• Establish and maintain effective health and safety governance, accountability and reporting arrangements.
• Ensure health and safety risks are appropriately escalated and managed through corporate governance processes.
• Support governance groups through the provision of performance information, assurance reporting and recommendations for improvement.
• Promote a positive and proportionate approach to health and safety management across the organisation.

Planning and Risk Management

• Lead the development and implementation of the organisation's health and safety risk management framework.
• Identify, assess and monitor significant health and safety risks, ensuring proportionate controls are established and maintained.
• Provide strategic advice on health and safety risks associated with organisational change, projects, operational activity and the estate.
• Ensure health and safety risk management is embedded within organisational planning, decision-making and governance processes.

Implementation

• Develop, implement and maintain health and safety policies, standards, procedures and guidance.
• Promote a positive and proportionate health and safety culture across the organisation.
• Advice on arrangements for key risk areas, including fire safety, contractor management and premises-related risks.

Monitoring and Assurance

• Monitor compliance against health and safety legislation, organisational standards and management system requirements.
• Lead audits, inspections and assurance reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of risk controls and management arrangements.
• Monitor and report health and safety performance, emerging risks and assurance findings to senior leaders and governance groups.

Learning and Improvement

• Oversee the investigation of significant incidents and ensure lessons learned are identified and implemented.
• Monitor the effectiveness of corrective actions and risk control measures.
• Lead the continual improvement of the organisation's health and safety management system and risk management arrangements.

Partnership Working

• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, enforcement authorities and professional bodies.
• Work collaboratively with Human Resources, and relevant Trade Unions as part of the social partnership programme.
• Assisting the Division with other business priorities as required.

Development opportunities

An exciting opportunity to join the Facilities Management function within the Chief Security Officer's Division. The postholder will have the opportunity to shape and influence corporate health and safety policy, governance and assurance arrangements across the Welsh Government estate.

The role offers exposure to a diverse range of strategic and operational risks, providing excellent development opportunities in leadership, risk management and organisational assurance while contributing to continuous improvement across the organisation.

Other vacancy related information

The following qualifications and current memberships are essential criteria for this role:

• NEBOSH Diploma (or Level 6 equivalent qualification);
• IOSH membership (graduate).

Candidates are also required to have undertaken relevant continuing professional development (CPD) in areas such as risk management, policy development, governance and assurance.

Desirable criteria will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage

• Membership of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) is desirable;
• Membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) is desirable.

Confirmation of all your professional memberships should be included within your CV. Evidence that you hold the qualifications and memberships will be required at the onboarding stage or earlier.

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Experience 1. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.

A verbal presentation on criterion: Experience 2 - will be required at interview stage. Candidates are permitted to use flashcards but not visual aids. More information will be provided on the topic in the invitations for that stage.

A CV is requested, the CV will not be scored but will be used by the panel to gain a fuller understanding of your experience and employment history.

The postholder will participate in the Facilities Management escalation arrangements and may be required to provide support and advice outside normal working hours in response to significant incidents or emergencies. Such requirements are expected to be infrequent.

The successful candidate will be required to travel across the estate to include sites not easily accessible by public transport, so a car and driving license would be beneficial.

Vetting level

Basic

Number of posts

1

Contact point for further information regarding the post

[email protected] [email protected]