Head of Occupational Health & Safety

Head of Occupational Health & Safety

Salary range: £59,248 – £67,023

Location: Flexible and hybrid but occasional office attendance required at our Sheffield office

Full-time permanent contract

Reference: SHEFOHS.08.26

Closing date: 12 September 2026

Why join us? 

Bringing together leading minds and practitioners in the sector, Wessex Archaeology is a trusted archaeology and heritage service provider and educational charity. From our network of international offices, we work in partnership with our clients to deliver sustainable solutions to manage the historic environment - above ground, below ground and underwater. We are committed to our social impact. This means using the knowledge and connections we make through our commercial activities as a catalyst to engage the communities in which we work.

Join us and you’ll be part of a collaborative team committed to shaping a better future for our staff, the sector and the world. As well as having knowledgeable and dedicated colleagues, you’ll have an opportunity to access a variety of fascinating and high-profile projects and develop your skills and knowledge along the way. 
 

The role – what’s involved?  

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced occupational health and safety leader to shape and lead our OHS function. You will develop a strong safety culture, provide expert guidance, maintain effective policies and systems, ensure legal compliance, manage risk, and support safe working across our projects and offices. Full details of the role and responsibilities are set out in the job description.

You will be line managed by our People Director who develops and shapes the directorate objectives and supports the strategic oversight of our Chief People Officer.  

Key aspects of the role

As Head of OHS, you will lead the team across our offices, supporting an inclusive, positive and productive working environment aligned with our values and strategy.

About you

• A visible, accountable and collaborative leader who can influence across teams and functions.
• Confident in providing expert guidance, making decisions and communicating clearly with a range of stakeholders.
• Committed to inclusion, staff development, continuous improvement, safety and wellbeing

Essential Skills

• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent Level 6 qualification in Occupational Health and Safety.
• Chartered Membership of IOSH, or demonstrable progress towards chartered status.
• Significant senior health and safety experience, ideally in a multi-site, fieldwork, project-based or comparable operational environment.
• Strong working knowledge of UK health and safety legislation, risk management, incident investigation and regulatory compliance.
• Experience of developing, maintaining or improving health and safety management systems, including ISO 45001 or equivalent frameworks.
• Proven leadership, line management and stakeholder influencing skills, with the ability to support a positive safety culture.

Key competencies

• Strategic thinking: Ability to link H&S initiatives to business outcomes and long-term goals.
• Collaboration: Strong people skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Decisiveness: Confidence to make sound decisions relating to risk management and compliance.
• Technical acumen: Deep, up-to-date knowledge of UK H&S legislation and best practice.
• Coaching and mentoring: A commitment to developing others and fostering a positive, safety-first culture.
• Communication: Experience communicating with multiple stakeholders, including clients and regulators, using verbal and written formats and Microsoft Office tools, especially Word and Excel.
• Data management: Ability to interpret and analyse information from OHMS systems, build reports, recommend improvements and manage risk.
   

What can you look forward to? 

Our focus is on creating a collaborative culture where people can thrive, develop and where safety and wellbeing come first. From anonymising candidate data in our recruitment process to continuous improvements in our benefits, we’re committed to creating a safe, fair and inclusive working environment. 

We offer:

• 27 days holiday excluding bank holiday.  
• Option to buy up to 5 days holiday per year.  
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme, Wessex Archaeology employer pension contribution 6.5%.
• Life assurance scheme of three times your basic salary.  

Wellbeing and family-friendly benefits 

• Our maternity, adoption and shared parental pay is 100% for 12 weeks, 90% for 21 weeks and 6 weeks statutory, day 1 eligibility.  
• Enhanced paternity leave, up to 4 weeks from day 1. 
• 5 days of carers leave.  
• Paid sick leave from the start of a contract, with the number of days dependent on length of service.  
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements where applicable. 
• Company Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - free and confidential service in the form of counselling and assistance in areas such as health and stress. 
• AIG SmartHealth – round-the-clock support for you and your family. 

Sustainability and other benefits 

• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.  
• Bike2Work scheme.  
• 100% Professional membership costs reimbursed. 
• High-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) provided.  
• Free transport from regional offices to sites.  
• Time in lieu or paid time for drivers.  
• Subsistence allowance.  

Applications 
Applicants are invited to submit a completed application form, CV and covering letter. Your letter should describe why you are applying and the experience you have that you think will help you to deliver this role.

Please respond by e-mail to wa.applications@wessexarch.co.uk on the 12th September 2026

Interviews will take place during September/October. If you have questions, or would like to discuss the role, please contact Angela Batt (People Director) a.batt@wessexarch.co.uk

We welcome applications from people with disabilities and aim to be supportive in our recruitment and employment practices. Please let us know if you need any special arrangements or adjustments in the application or interview process.

Successful candidates must have proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK by the start of their employment.