Health and Safety Business Partner (Scientific) at Durham University

Durham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

04 Aug, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

06 May, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Yes

Skills

Chemical Safety, Ionising Radiation Safety, Laser Safety, Risk Management, Health And Safety Auditing, COSHH, Biological Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Incident Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Technical Communication, Strategic Planning, Policy Development, Training Delivery, Professional Networking, Digital Competence

Industry

Higher Education

Description

The University At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page. The Role and the Department This role sits within the Health and Safety Service, part of the University Secretary’s Office, which provides advice, oversight and assurance to ensure activities across the University are carried out safely. The team supports a wide range of areas from Colleges and academic faculties to professional services and the wider student experience, working collaboratively to enable safe, effective operations across a diverse and complex environment. Within this, the Health & Safety Business Partner (Scientific) brings specialist expertise in chemical, ionising radiation and laser safety, acting as a trusted advisor and leading on these technical areas. The role is primarily focused on supporting higher-hazard activity, particularly within science-based departments, while also engaging with areas across the wider University where similar risks arise, including parts of the social sciences. Day-to-day, you’ll work closely with departments to provide pragmatic advice on risk management, support complex research activities, and help drive continuous improvement through audit, training and incident learning. The team operates in a supportive and flexible way, combining independent working with close collaboration, and there may be occasional expectations to contribute to out-of-hours or on-call support depending on operational needs. Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description. Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: • You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year. • We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). • No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance. • We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. • We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. • Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16. • Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). • We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community. • You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions. • Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. • If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas. Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here. Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered. Your application should cover the following criteria: Essential Criteria Qualifications/Experience 1. Educated to degree level in a relevant laboratory-based science discipline (or equivalent experience). 2. NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (or equivalent qualification). 3. Extensive post-qualification experience in health and safety within a scientific, laboratory or research environment. 4. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence service delivery, demonstrated by being a Chartered health and safety practitioner (e.g. CMIOSH) or working towards Chartered status or willing to achieve chartered status in reasonable period. 5. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance for example undertaking and reviewing complex scientific research risk assessments (including chemical / radiation / biological processes). 6. Experience of working with regulators, enforcement authorities and external advisers, including submitting notifications, annual declarations and licence applications relating to hazardous materials. 7. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior colleagues. 8. Experience of developing, implementing and improving health and safety management systems, including auditing against recognised standards. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 9. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally 10. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps. 11. Up-to-date specialist knowledge of health and safety legislation relating to scientific hazards (e.g. COSHH, biological safety, ionising and non-ionising radiation). 12. Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policies and guidelines. 13. Ability to interpret and assess complex scientific and technical information and apply this to risk management. 14. Ability to apply health and safety principles to novel or non-standard situations, providing practical and proportionate solutions. 15. Ability to analyse incidents and risk data to identify trends and drive improvement. 16. Ability to contribute effectively to planning at both operational and strategic levels. 17. Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to make decisions and plan appropriate, risk-based solutions. 18. Commitment to continuing professional development to maintain professional competence and recognition. Desirable Criteria 1. Experience of working as a Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS), Laser Safety Officer (LSO), or similar. 2. Additional training, qualifications or experience in ionising and/or non-ionising radiation. 3. Experience of delivering engaging training or awareness sessions. 4. Experience of working in a large, complex organisation, ideally within higher education or a research-intensive environment. 5. Willingness to develop expertise across a broader range of scientific safety disciplines. How to apply To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above). While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview. Submitting your application We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. What you need to submit • A CV: and • A supporting statement which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification. Contact details For a chat about the role or any further information please contact alexander.greenaway@durham.ac.uk Typical Role Requirements Service Delivery/Development • Use your professional expertise in scientific health and safety to provide specialist advice, resolve complex problems and support the safe delivery of high-hazard activities. • Provide specialist advice on the interpretation of complex scientific and technical information, including risk assessments and incident data. • Take responsibility for operational health and safety activity across designated Faculties, Departments and services, with a focus on higher-hazard areas. • Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of policies, standards, guidance and safe systems of work relating to scientific hazards. • Initiate and manage reviews of systems, processes and controls to improve effectiveness and ensure proportionate risk management. • Deliver and support training, awareness and professional development activities for stakeholders across the University. • Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values, promoting a positive and enabling safety culture. • Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of University policy, legislative requirements and external developments relating to scientific health and safety (including chemical, biological and radiation hazards). • Ensure that regulatory and University standards are met for scientific activities, including research, teaching and associated operations. • Ensure that sensitive data (including personal, technical and regulatory information) is appropriately managed and maintained. • Lead and support quality assurance and regulatory audit processes, including inspections and compliance reviews. • Investigate incidents and near misses, identifying root causes and implementing improvements to prevent recurrence. • Support the welfare and wellbeing of colleagues and stakeholders by providing professional guidance on health and safety matters. Planning and Organisation · Contribute to operational leadership teams to influence the type and level of services that are provided by your area · Contribute to the development of operational and strategic-level plans relevant to your area. · Scope, plan and implement University-wide initiatives to improve safety performance, compliance and culture. · Lead and oversee projects to deliver agreed objectives, resolving issues and adapting plans as required. · Provide oversight and coordination of short-term or cross-functional project groups where required. · Analyse performance data, audit findings and incident trends, producing reports and recommendations for senior leaders and committees. · Support the effective use of resources, including contributing to planning and prioritisation of workload and activities. Communication/Liaison • Use professional expertise to identify priorities and influence long-term planning for scientific health and safety. • Provide specialist advice and guidance to stakeholders, including senior leaders, on complex or high-risk issues. • Develop clear, engaging and accessible communications to promote health and safety and support compliance. • Influence University policy and standards through participation in committees, working groups and governance forums. • Design and deliver training to support stakeholder competence and understanding of scientific safety risks. • Build and maintain strong internal and external networks, including regulators, professional bodies and peer institutions. • Represent the Health and Safety Service at meetings, inspections, audits and external engagements. • Engage with professional networks and communities of practice to share knowledge and enhance the University’s reputation. Additional Requirements • Undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the role. • May be required to participate in on-call arrangements relevant to the role. • Participate in training and development as required. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Responsibilities

Provide specialist health and safety advice for high-hazard scientific activities, focusing on chemical, radiation, and laser safety. Lead the development of safety policies, conduct audits, and investigate incidents to drive continuous improvement across university departments.