Health & Safety Advisor

Greys Specialist Recruitment is supporting an established multidisciplinary construction consultancy in the appointment of a Construction Health & Safety Advisor.

The consultancy provides construction health and safety, CDM, Principal Designer, surveying, quality-control and wider technical advisory services to developers and contractors across the UK.

This is a client-facing consultancy position rather than an internal, single-site H&S role. The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of construction projects across Greater Manchester and the Midlands, acting as a trusted adviser to clients and project teams.

There are currently approximately nine live projects around Greater Manchester, alongside further assignments across the wider Midlands. The portfolio includes infrastructure supporting major developments, recladding projects and fire-safety remediation work.

The position is home-based, with regular travel to client sites. The diary will typically involve no more than two site visits per day, with reports and wider project administration completed from home. Overnight stays are expected approximately once or twice per month.

The principal requirement is strong, practical construction health and safety experience. Candidates must understand the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, although previous employment as a dedicated CDM Advisor or Principal Designer is desirable rather than essential for this regional appointment.

Key responsibilities

* Represent the consultancy as the principal H&S contact for assigned clients and projects, planning, managing, monitoring and coordinating construction health and safety services across the portfolio within the agreed scope, programme and budget.

* Attend construction sites to undertake SHE, compliance and general H&S inspections, identifying unsafe conditions, practices and arrangements and providing clear, proportionate recommendations.

* Raise high-risk matters with the client and line manager before leaving the site, seeking to agree an appropriate resolution wherever possible, and issue accurate inspection reports within 24 hours of each visit.

* Advise clients, developers, project managers, designers and contractors on relevant construction health and safety legislation, including CDM 2015 and the respective duties of clients, designers, Principal Designers and Principal Contractors.

* Review Construction Phase Plans, RAMS and other contractor documentation, issue formal written reports where required, and review, prepare, coordinate and distribute relevant H&S information to design and project-team members.

* Support clients in developing and maintaining suitable H&S management systems aligned with ISO 45001, including policies, procedures, risk assessments, templates, checklists and other H&S documentation.

* Carry out audits, gather and analyse H&S information, record findings and monitor agreed actions through to completion, while maintaining comprehensive electronic project records, correspondence, inspection reports and meeting minutes to provide a clear and current audit trail.

* Attend and, where required, chair client and project meetings; deliver construction H&S, CDM and client-system training; and attend weekly team meetings covering workload, project allocation, deadlines and invoicing.

* Take responsibility for timely invoicing and work towards an individual monthly delivery target currently in the region of £14,000–£16,000. This will include liaising with accounts regarding outstanding payments, preparing fee proposals, identifying out-of-scope work, notifying clients of additional charges and ensuring the necessary purchase orders and authorities are in place before further work is delivered.

* Support and mentor less-experienced colleagues, identify opportunities to provide additional services to existing clients, contribute to regional growth and internal service improvements, and maintain current knowledge of legislation, industry guidance, construction methods and emerging risks through regular CPD.

Essential experience and qualifications

Applicants should be able to demonstrate:

* Previous experience as a Construction Health & Safety Advisor, Construction Safety Consultant or in a closely related role, supported by strong and recent construction experience and a practical understanding of how projects are planned and delivered.

* Experience conducting independent H&S inspections on active construction sites and a thorough working knowledge of UK legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

* A recognised H&S qualification, ideally the NEBOSH Construction Certificate, NEBOSH General Certificate supported by substantial construction experience, or an equivalent qualification, alongside current IOSH membership, ideally at TechIOSH level or above.

* The ability to assess Construction Phase Plans, RAMS and other contractor documentation critically, supported by a sound understanding of construction processes, sequencing, site risks and design or construction drawings.

* Strong written communication and report-writing skills, with the ability to produce detailed and accurate reports within tight timescales, alongside the confidence to advise clients, contractors, designers and site teams and handle difficult conversations calmly and diplomatically.

* Strong organisation and time-management skills, the ability to coordinate multiple sites and appointments, and a commercially aware approach to operating within a fee-earning consultancy environment.

* Confidence using Microsoft Office, electronic reporting systems and mobile technology, together with a full, clean UK driving licence, the right to live and work in the UK, and the willingness to travel regularly throughout Greater Manchester and the Midlands, undertake occasional UK-wide travel and stay away approximately once or twice per month.

Desirable experience

* Previous employment within a construction, property, CDM or multidisciplinary consultancy, particularly experience acting for developers or clients rather than solely for a Principal Contractor.

* Experience involving major residential or mixed-use developments; infrastructure, groundworks, highways or utilities supporting major developments; and recladding, façade, high-rise residential or fire-safety remediation projects.

* Previous experience as a CDM Advisor or supporting Principal Designer duties, ISO 45001 management systems, developing and delivering H&S or CDM training, and preparing fee proposals or managing project invoicing within a consultancy.

* A NEBOSH Diploma, Level 6 H&S qualification or active progression towards one; CertIOSH, CMIOSH or progression towards Chartered status; a degree or professional qualification in construction, engineering or another built-environment discipline; membership of APS, CIOB, CABE, RICS, ICE or another relevant professional body; and a NEBOSH Fire Safety qualification or equivalent fire-safety knowledge.

The person

This position would suit someone who is:

* Practical, proportionate and comfortable on active construction sites, able to build credibility without adopting an unnecessarily confrontational or enforcement-led style, and confident challenging serious risks while remaining commercially and operationally aware.

* Comfortable working independently from home, managing their own diary and developing lasting client relationships that allow them to become a dependable extension of project teams.

* Highly organised, responsive and able to balance site visits, reports, meetings and administration; calm under pressure and professional with different personalities; attentive to detail without losing sight of the required practical outcome; and ambitious to develop broader consultancy and CDM expertise.

Working arrangements

* The position is home-based, principally covering Greater Manchester and the Midlands. There are currently approximately nine active projects around Greater Manchester, the diary will involve no more than two site visits per day, overnight stays will be required approximately once or twice per month, and occasional head-office attendance will be needed for induction, meetings or training.

* Contracted hours are a minimum of 40 hours per week, with reasonable flexibility around start and finish times where client and business requirements are met. Additional hours may occasionally be required to meet project or reporting deadlines.

Package and benefits

* Salary of £40,000–£45,000 depending on experience, an annual car allowance of £4,800 and business mileage paid separately at the statutory rate.

* 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with an additional birthday day off potentially available following successful completion of probation; a non-contractual holiday buy-back scheme; and a 4% employer pension contribution following three months’ service.

* Private medical insurance following successful completion of probation, with options to extend cover to family members or add dental cover through personal contribution; a six-month probationary period; and ongoing professional development within a supportive and collaborative consultancy team.

Please contact Max Painter at Greys Specialist Recruitment
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed