Job title: Senior Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager (Fire)
Hours: 37
Contract: Full Time
Location: Belle Isle Centre and various locations across Leeds
Do you want to make a real difference and drive culture change in a large organisation?
As our new Senior Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager (Fire) you’ll drive forward change and help build an outstanding Fire Prevention service within our Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Fire Team (HSWFT).
You’ll thrive on the strategic leadership required to achieve excellence in managing fire risks across the Leeds City Council estate (including schools and shared buildings), and delivering tangible, effective results.
Leeds City Council’s HSWT is a fast paced, dynamic team who strive to ensure we meet our duties and responsibilities as the council’s “Competent People” every day and seek to continually improve.
We don’t believe it’s about a one size fits all approach or always black or white. It’s about being a critical thinker who can interpret legislation and guidance, understand the needs of our varied customers, and apply suitable solutions. It’s not just about ensuing compliance – it’s about ensuring that colleagues, managers, service users and members of the public are kept safe and understand the roles they have to play in this.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As our next Senior Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager (Fire) you will bring to the role:
* Extensive knowledge and experience of developing and managing fire prevention systems and processes in a large organisation.
* Experience in managing a team, taking responsibility for their coordination, development and appraisal. Monitoring and supporting performance improvement and using a coaching approach to develop team members and maximise their potential.
* Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, policies and the ability to translate these into internal strategies, policies and processes.
* Experience of managing complex and transformative change in the workplace.
* Experience of identifying and delivering on relevant organisational training ensuring it is appropriate, effective and high quality.
* A can-do approach and the confidence to check and challenge and make decisions on strategic and operational matters.
* Experience of effectively using your own judgement skills to ensure positive outcomes whilst maintaining good working relationships with colleagues, managers, and other stakeholders.
* Excellent communication skills and an ability to influence others in a pro-active and collaborative way.
About the role
As our next Senior Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager (Fire) you’ll be key to the successful management of fire risks across Leeds City Council, ensuring that fire safety is given the importance it requires. You’ll be part of something bigger and join us in achieving the Best City Ambition, working together as a Team for Leeds. We have a new and ambitious Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Fire vision that you will play a key role in delivering and realising across Leeds.
You’ll ensure specialist fire safety management processes, challenge, advice and support is available and embedded across LCC, act as one of the lead liaison points with the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and contribute to cross-council projects and initiatives.
The role is integral to our HSWF Team, that is part of the Human Resources Team. We support over 24,000 staff (based in 5 Directorates and over 100 Leeds City Council schools) and have a traded service to over 150 other organisations. Our remit also covers protecting the people of Leeds who use over 500 different Leeds City Council services.
We are a caring and supportive Team, who want the best for and from our colleagues, and we are committed to developing each other to achieve the full potential of the Team and individuals within it.
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
* a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
* membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
* flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
* a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
* a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Lisa Colver email lisa.colver@leeds.gov.uk
Please be advised that previous applicants need not reapply.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
Job Description
Job purpose
You will be a specialised professional responsible for overseeing and implementing fire safety management within the LCC estate (excluding housing).
You will support the Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing to deliver programmes of strategic significance to the Council in order to deliver our vision to be the Best Place to Work and our Best Council priorities.
You will be responsible for the development and delivery of key strands of HSW (including fire) work set out to achieve the Council’s People Strategy 2020 – 2025.
Your primary role will involve coordinating a corporate fire management strategy and managing the corporate fire prevention team in conducting thorough fire risk assessments, audits, providing advice both strategically and operationally, training, and liaising with relevant stakeholders both internally and externally.
You will provide corporate assurance as well as develop and support services to implement robust fire safety protocols and emergency plans.
You will provide wider function leadership via the Corporate HSWF leadership team on the direction, growth and service delivery to drive continuous improvement and embed HSWF standards across the council.
In the event of a fire incident, you will coordinate emergency responses, minimising damage and risk to life. Your expertise is critical in safeguarding properties and assets, ensuring the well-being of occupants, and adhering to legal fire safety requirements.
You will be required to drive continuous service improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with both internal and external partners and support Directorate leadership teams as appropriate on the people agenda.
Responsibilities:
* Take lead responsibility for fire safety management priorities as set directly by senior officers or Elected Members. Deliver the required outcomes on time by managing resources to overcome setbacks and by balancing against other key responsibilities.
* Take a lead responsibility for areas of service development and act as the project lead for council wide HSWF priorities.
* Work with other directorates, services and partners where appropriate to deliver cross-council and city wide priorities and projects for the benefit of customers, and represent the council at a regional level where required. Collaborate across organisational, geographical and cultural boundaries to work to achieve shared outcomes that benefit all stakeholders.
* Regularly scan internal and external sources such as council plans, political situations, technological developments, news and government guidance to pick up on evolving issues and changes that could affect your service. Initiate discussions about the possible impact of the change and draw up proposals for the way your service should positively respond. Regularly evaluate service provision in the light of customers’ future needs.
* Design and deliver cost effective and innovative workforce solutions and strategies that contribute to effective management of substantial service budgets. Analyse, forecast and prepare information to ensure developing issues are flagged up appropriately.
* Interpret external regulations, statutory requirements, service changes, insight, data and feedback in relation to their implications for the organisation. Promote and manage the delivery of the service to meet the needs of the organisation. Provide appropriate advice and work with others to develop policy and fire safety practices.
* Directly and matrix manage others, taking responsibility for their coordination, development and appraisal. Monitor and support performance improvement and use a coaching approach to develop team members and maximise their contribution. Support staff to achieve their full potential, adapting your approach according to individual needs, whilst complying with the council’s people management principles and policies.
* Lead and coordinate major activities such as rollouts, events, audits or programmes, which may require months to organise and involve stakeholders across and outside of the council. Take full responsibility for their delivery, on which council reputation or budget depend.
* Present and coordinate with Council leadership forums (BCLT, HRLT etc.) in regard to Leeds City Councils fire performance.
Qualifications : Fire Risk Assessor Course or equivalent, Managing Fire Safety Course or equivalent – obtained or evidence of working towards, Health and Safety Qualification Level 5 or above.
Essential requirements: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for selection if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.
* Knowledge and experience of Fire Safety Management and its impact on a large organisation with multiple stakeholders.
* Knowledge and experience of key employment legislation including primary legislation, regulations and relevant case law.
* An understanding of people culture and inclusion strategies and outcomes, and the broad organisational development agenda, particularly as regards to wellbeing, employee experience and diversity and inclusion.
* Knowledge and experience of managing complex and transformative change in the workplace.
* Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of strategic priorities at all levels ensuring people are kept at the forefront (with the ability to understand from a city perspective).
* Significant experience of building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, trade unions, colleagues and partner organisations to understand future challenges and to deliver effective workforce solutions.
* Ability to be innovative and apply exceptional judgment and analytical skills to resolve highly complex problems requiring new and creative long term solutions.
* Ability to exchange wide ranging, contentious or complex information.
* Ability to independently identify where a response/action is required across a very broad range of issues. Consult where necessary and comply with regulatory or procedural requirements but develop/implement your solutions promptly with little need to ask permission.
* Ability to deliver on changing priorities, despite work-related pressure and frequent interruptions.
* Ability to directly and matrix manage others, taking responsibility for their coordination, development and appraisal.
* Ability to work with other directorates and services in cross-council projects for the benefit of customers and represent the council at a regional level where required. Collaborate across organisational, geographical and cultural boundaries to work to achieve shared outcomes that benefit all stakeholders.
* Ability to recognise when to alert senior officers of sensitive issues and safeguard organisational reputation.
* Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
* Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
* Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
* Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
* Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
* Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
* Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
* Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
* Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
* The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
* Experience of working with online auditing systems.
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