Deputy Director of Estates – Health & Safety and Sustainability

Deputy Director of Estates, Health & Safety and Sustainability
Salary £65,000 to £70,000
Location Luton (with travel to any campus)

The University of Bedfordshire is seeking to recruit to the newly created post of Deputy Director of Estates – Health & Safety and Sustainability. This is a key post within our Estates & Facilities department and plays a central role in ensuring the university can provide a sustainable, safe, healthy and secure environment across all campuses for all its students, staff and visitors.

Reporting to the Director of Estates & Facilities, the Deputy Director will lead the University’s strategic vision and operational delivery of health and safety, ensuring a culture of safety and continuous improvement and will provide strategic leadership across sustainability. The post holder will lead a small high performing team, championing a proactive and preventative approach to risk management, and fostering a culture where safety is integral to the University’s ethos, values and daily operations. Working collaboratively across the estate and with all academic and professional departments, the Deputy Director will ensure that health and safety policies, systems and practices are not only compliant and effective, but continuously improved, while maintaining strong relationships with external regulatory bodies and agencies.

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience in developing and implementing health and safety policies, systems, and governance frameworks that deliver measurable improvements. Your leadership will be critical in embedding health and safety into the daily operations and values of the University, ensuring that staff, students, and visitors are protected and supported.

This is a high-impact role requiring excellent communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence at all levels. You will hold a Level 6 Health & Safety qualification and IOSH membership (or equivalent), and ideally bring additional expertise in sustainability, fire safety, or environmental management.

At the University of Bedfordshire, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and sustainable environment. We welcome applications from candidates who bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences, particularly those from underrepresented groups. If you are ready to lead change and make a lasting impact, we encourage you to apply.

For a briefing discussion please contact our retained advisors Hannah Searle on and/or Sian Gardiner at MRG. Applications should consist of a CV and covering letter.

Closing date for applications is Sunday 16th November 2025