Westminster Abbey welcomes millions of visitors each year and supports a vibrant community of worship, heritage, education, and events. We are looking for a Senior Independent Health & Safety Advisor to provide expert, independent guidance that strengthens our leadership, culture, and assurance across a uniquely complex, public‑facing environment.
Your focus
- Strategic support: join quarterly H&S Management Group meetings; advise on risk priorities, objectives, and improvement plans.
- Independent assurance: provide constructive challenge as a trusted critical friend; support proportionate, practical decision‑making.
- Compliance and best practice: keep leaders briefed on relevant legislative, regulatory, and sector developments.
- Culture and leadership: help us embed visible, values‑aligned safety leadership across the organisation.
What we’re looking for
- Senior‑level H&S expertise with Board/committee experience (executive or non‑executive). Heritage or public‑facing sector experience is desirable.
- A track record of shaping strategy and overseeing management systems in complex settings.
- The confidence and credibility to advise senior leaders with clear, pragmatic, context‑specific guidance.
- Excellent relationship‑building skills and the judgement to balance ambition with proportionality.
Time Commitment
- This is a voluntary role and we expect the time commitment to be up to 0.5 days per month, including quarterly on‑site meetings plus occasional calls or virtual meetings.
Safeguarding
Westminster Abbey is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk. To prevent them from harm, we undertake appropriate checks (including the relevant level of criminal record check) on staff and volunteers and require them to complete relevant safeguarding training. This post requires a basic, level criminal record check.