Role: Health, Safety, Wellbeing & Facilities Lead
Location: Birmingham with travel as required (we offer Hybrid working)
Full Time or Part Time: Full Time
Directorate: Corporate Services (Operations)
Salary: Competitive
Company Overview:
Ardent is the UK’s leading provider of land, consent management and stakeholder engagement services to support major infrastructure and regeneration projects from concept to delivery.
We are Project Managers, Chartered Surveyors, Engagement specialists and Land Referencers, based in London, Birmingham, Warrington, Leeds, Glasgow and Dublin and supporting projects throughout the UK and Ireland.
Established in 1992, we are a high-growth business, that has doubled in size to c. 200 people during the past 3 years, and our client portfolio includes some of the biggest players across our four core sectors of transport, renewables, utilities and regeneration.
We are passionate about delivering life-improving change for communities and future generations and we are proud to play a key role in facilitating and delivering the UK and Ireland’s net zero agenda, improving connectivity, enabling the repurposing of high streets and town centres and delivering new homes for the people who need them most.
We are problem-solvers, can-doers and solution-drivers working collaboratively with our clients to provide proactive and strategic advice to identify and mitigate risks, deliver efficiencies and, ultimately, achieve deliverable consents and build projects that positively impact people’s lives and the world that we live in.
Role Purpose
Lead and elevate Ardent’s approach to health, safety, wellbeing, facilities, and environmental management across all sites in the UK and Ireland. Establish a high-performance, risk-aware culture that enhances the people experience, ensures legal compliance, and supports our sustainability and ESG goals. Drive operational excellence through strong leadership and team development, while positioning the function as a strategic business enabler.
Accountabilities
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
* Champion a proactive health and safety culture across all office locations and work environments.
* Ensure full compliance with UK and Irish H&S legislation.
* Lead incident investigations and risk assessments, driving root cause analysis and preventative measures.
* Develop and deliver a business-wide wellbeing strategy tailored to a professional services environment.
* Identify, assess, and mitigate SHE risks through regular audits, risk assessments, and action plans.
Facilities Management
* Oversee the operation and performance of all workplace facilities across the business.
* Manage external vendors and ensure high standards of maintenance, cleanliness, security, and workplace experience.
* Lead projects to adapt our spaces for hybrid working and future growth needs.
Environmental & Sustainability Leadership
* Own and deliver the environmental strategy including our journey to Net Zero.
* Establish emissions tracking and reporting processes; lead Scope 1–3 carbon reduction initiatives.
* Drive environmental improvements aligned with ISO 14001 and ESG priorities.
* Work cross-functionally to support B Corp certification and ensure continuous improvement against its standards.
People Leadership
* Foster a culture of ownership, learning, and continuous improvement.
* Set clear objectives, conduct regular performance reviews, and build future leadership capability within the team.
Performance Objectives (linked to Group objectives)
* Embed people health, safety and wellbeing into our everyday with a focus on ‘what did you do today to improve the health, safety & wellbeing of your team?’
* Support the implement Group-wide social value plan and preparation of an annual impact report.
* Deliver measurable carbon reduction against a published Net Zero roadmap, including implementation of a Scope 3 data strategy.
* Support delivery of our B Corp certification and continuous improvement, influencing areas such as workers, environment, and governance.
* Deliver improvement in Gallup12 engagement scores in the team, aiming for high satisfaction and a turnover rate below the industry average.
Key Competencies and Skills required
Health & Safety Compliance (UK & Ireland)
* Deep knowledge of UK and Irish H&S legislation and standards (ISO 45001).
* Skilled in risk assessments, incident investigation, and root cause analysis.
Wellbeing Strategy Development
* Designing and implementing wellbeing initiatives tailored to diverse teams.
* Ability to measure impact and embed wellbeing into day-to-day culture.
Facilities & Workplace Operations
* Managing multi-site office environments and hybrid working adaptations.
* Skilled in vendor management, workplace experience, and facilities performance.
Environmental Sustainability & Net Zero
* Leading environmental strategies and emissions reduction (Scope 1–3).
* Understanding of ISO 14001 and Net Zero planning, including data tracking.
B Corp & ESG Implementation
* Familiarity with B Corp certification and ESG frameworks.
* Capable of driving continuous improvement across sustainability and governance criteria.
Leadership & Team Development
* Managing, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
* Setting clear objectives and fostering a culture of learning and accountability.
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
* Strong verbal and written communication skills across all levels.
* Capable of influencing senior leadership and engaging teams.
Cultural Fit & Alignment with Values
The Health, Safety & Wellbeing and Facilities Lead is an ambassador of the Ardent values, promoting a culture of integrity, collaboration, and excellence. Inspiring a commitment to inclusivity, change, and innovation.
* Thirst for Knowledge (We embrace opportunities to learn and improve for personal and professional growth)
* Own It (We do what we say we will. We own our individual actions, are accountable for them and take pride in adding value)
* Be the Difference(Focus energy to make things happen. Be beyond process. Stand up, Stand out)
* Enjoy the Journey (Have fun, be engaged and be proud to be Ardent) -
* Adapt (We drive change and innovation to deliver growth and new opportunities in an ever-changing world)
Ardent is an equal opportunities employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, colour, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability status or other legally protected characteristics.
With people at the core of our business, we offer employees an unrivalled career opportunity rather than simply a job. In a fast growing organisation, we train, develop and support our staff to grow and achieve their career goals. This is supported by a number of initiatives to look after the wellbeing of our employees whilst allowing employees to work flexibility and maintain a positive work life balance.
We offer an attractive benefits package to include :-
* Hybrid working
* Medical health plan
* Career progression
* Coaching
* Cycle to Work
* Electric Car Scheme
* Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
For more information, please see our services page on our website at www.ardent-management.com
Interested? Get in touch!
Should you be interested in hearing more about the position or wish to send your cv in to people@ardent-management.com or contact Stuart Thomas stuartthomas@ardent-management.com