The Senior Safety & Resilience Officer plays a critical role in safeguarding the wellbeing of employees, contractors, and the public by leading the implementation of health, safety, and organisational resilience strategies across all council services. This role ensures statutory compliance, promotes a proactive safety culture, and supports emergency planning, business continuity, and risk mitigation efforts in line with local authority requirements. Key Responsibilities: Health & Safety:

• Provide expert advice and support on health & safety matters to all service areas in accordance with current legislation, best practice, and council policies.
• Develop, implement, and monitor health and safety management systems, policies, and procedures.
• Lead on health & safety audits, inspections, accident investigations, and risk assessments.
• Review and update risk registers and ensure timely reporting of incidents and RIDDOR notifications.
• Deliver or coordinate safety-related training, briefings, and awareness programmes.
Resilience & Emergency Planning:
• Contribute to the council's emergency planning arrangements in line with the Civil Contingencies Act.
• Support the development and maintenance of business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
• Participate in emergency planning exercises and ensure service-level continuity plans are robust and up to date.
• Liaise with emergency services, regional resilience forums, and other local authorities during incidents or planning scenarios.
Leadership & Collaboration:
• Act as a subject matter expert, mentoring junior officers and providing technical guidance across departments.
• Support strategic planning by contributing to committee reports, governance reviews, and internal audits.
• Engage with trade unions, internal stakeholders, and external regulators (e.g., HSE) as needed.
  
  o NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent Level 6 H&S qualification).
o Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH or working toward). o Additional emergency planning, business continuity or resilience training (e.g., BCI, JESIP, or similar) desirable.
• Experience:
o Significant experience in a health & safety advisory or management role within a public sector, local authority, or large organisation. o Demonstrated experience of emergency planning and business continuity management. o Proven track record in risk assessment, investigations, audits, and training delivery.
• Knowledge:
o In-depth understanding of UK health & safety legislation (e.g. HSWA 1974, RIDDOR, PUWER). o Familiarity with the Civil Contingencies Act and the UK resilience framework. o Understanding of local authority governance and organisational structures is an advantage.
• Skills:
o Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills across all levels. o High level of organisational and analytical skills with attention to detail. o Ability to remain calm under pressure and respond effectively in emergency situations. Additional Information:
• Occasional out-of-hours availability may be required for emergency response.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle may be required.