Health & Safety Advisor

London | £45,000 - £53,000 | Hybrid | 35 hours per week

Principal People are delighted to be supporting a high-profile London-based higher education organisation in recruiting a Health & Safety Advisor to join its Estates-focused Health & Safety function.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Health & Safety professional with experience across construction, refurbishment, property, Hard FM or building services who wants to move into a genuinely varied client-side role.

The organisation operates a substantial and diverse London estate supporting close to 19,000 students. Rather than working on one construction site or project, you will advise across teaching spaces, workshops, laboratories, theatres, accommodation and wider Estates operations.

The position combines project and construction safety with broader Estates and Hard FM responsibilities. During periods of concentrated refurbishment activity, particularly over the summer, you will support project teams on construction and refurbishment works. Throughout the remainder of the year, your remit will include planned maintenance, contractor management, accommodation and general Estates safety.

Why could this be the role for you?

• £45,000 - £53,000 salary
• 35-hour working week, offering a significantly different work-life balance from many traditional construction roles
• Hybrid working, typically allowing one to two days per week working remotely, subject to operational requirements
• Excellent pension provision (15% Employee Contribution)
• Generous annual leave entitlement (39 days)
• Work across one of London''s most interesting and varied education estates
• Exposure to refurbishment, building services, Hard FM and construction projects without being restricted to a single site
• Strong professional-development opportunities
• Wider wellbeing and employee benefits

In this role you will:

• Provide practical H&S advice to Estates teams and management
• Support construction, refurbishment and maintenance projects
• Advise stakeholders on CDM responsibilities and project health and safety arrangements
• Review contractor RAMS, safe systems of work and construction phase plans
• Undertake inspections, audits and incident investigations
• Support Hard FM risks including contractor control, asbestos, Legionella and permit-to-work arrangements
• Deliver engaging toolbox talks, inductions and H&S training
• Attend project meetings and work closely with contractors, Estates professionals and accommodation teams
• Help managers turn H&S requirements into practical operational solutions

We would like to speak with candidates who have:

• A NEBOSH General or Construction Certificate, or relevant equivalent
• Practical exposure to CDM and construction/refurbishment/Hard FM/ Building Services projects
• Exposure to construction, refurbishment, Hard FM, property, building services or another relevant technical environment
• The ability to communicate confidently with everyone from contractors and maintenance teams through to senior stakeholders
• A collaborative and pragmatic approach to H&S
• Experience within higher education would be useful but is not essential. Client-side property, property management, Hard FM and comparable complex environments could all provide highly relevant experience.

The role will principally support the Estates function from Central London, with travel to sites across London.

If you are currently working in a construction or FM environment and want to retain the technical variety while gaining better flexibility, broader exposure and a 35-hour working week, this could be an excellent next move.

Apply today for a confidential discussion.