H & S Advisor

**Main Purpose of role**:
The James Hutton Institute HSQE department have an excellent opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Health and Safety professional to join our team. The Health, Safety, Quality & Environment (HSQE) team is responsible for coordinating the operations of the Institute's Management Systems and providing effective support, advice and guidance to management and staff.

The post will be based at our Invergowrie site near Dundee, however the remit of this post covers all sites and work locations therefore the postholder will be expected to travel to different Institute sites on a regular basis.

Salary on first appointment is normally at the bottom of the scale, although _in exceptional circumstances _an appointment further up the scale may be considered.

**Main Duties of Postholder**
- Regularly inspect Institute buildings and laboratories, plant, equipment, and work vehicles to ensure adequate standards are maintained in order to minimise health, safety and environmental risk and implement remedial action as required
- Advise on the H&S management of contractors
- Perform and participate in workplace audits to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Institute H&S procedures and implement remedial action as required
- Work collaboratively with laboratory research, estate maintenance and Farm Field staff on a day-to-day basis to ensure safe working practices and conditions
- Develop, implement, and improve processes, procedures, and safe systems of work
- Support the operation and maintenance of the institutes Management systems in line with requirements, best practice and strive for continual improvement
- Contribute to the ongoing review and revision of Institute H&S policy and procedures
- Develop and deliver H&S training to employees
- investigate accidents, injuries, dangerous occurrences, near misses and work-related ill health
- Ensure appropriate emergency preparedness arrangements are in place
- Support staff in the control, safe use, and storage of a wide range of chemicals and gases
- Co-ordinate arrangements for disposal of chemical and biological waste on the Invergowrie site and farms
- Assist in the Development and communication of appropriate guidance for all staff and site visitors
- Exercise authority to stop a process or activity which is assessed as likely to cause serious harm
- Monitor H&S performance both reactively and proactively
- Work collaboratively with team members to achieve team objectives
- Deputise for other team members as and required

**Education/Experience/Skills**

**Essential**
- Minimum of NEBOSH national general certificate in Health and Safety or equivalent professional qualification
- Experience implementing compliance with Health and Safety legislation, associated guidance and Approved Codes of Practice particularly the:

- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
- Control of Asbestos Regulations
- Control of Vibration at Work Regulations
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations
- Working at Height Regulations
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

**Essential Skills**
- Experience developing and delivering H&S training
- Working knowledge of ISO management systems
- Effective written communication skills
- IT skills: proficient in use of Microsoft Office software e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint

**Interpersonal skills**:

- Ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of people
- Ability to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change
- An approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation, and energy
- Driven to achieve continual improvement in H&S performance

**Verbal communication**:

- Confident public speaker
- Ability to deliver presentations and training in a variety of styles to get the appropriate message across

**Planning and organisation**:

- Ability to manage own time effectively
- Ability to think and plan ahead in order to achieve objectives considering all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines and resources

**Resilience**:

- Ability to sustain personal effectiveness and performance in the face of pressure, changing/ conflicting priorities and difficult situations/ people
- Ability to drive change in the face of resistance or set back’s

**Flexibility**:

- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and issues
- Ability to drive and adapt to changes in your own job requirements
- Ability to understand and appreciate different perspectives on an issue and to adopt a flexible approach to situations, individuals, or groups

**Desirable Qualifications/ Skills/ Experience**
- NEBOSH Environmental or Fire certificates
- Experience with fire risk assessment and regulatory requirements
- Knowledge and experience of environmental management systems and requirements
- Health and safety/Environmental/Quality Auditor qua