Head of Health and Safety

At Vico Homes…

Keeping people safe is at the heart of everything we do. Our team plays a vital role in enabling the organisation to deliver safe, high-quality homes and services to our customers and communities. Bringing together expertise across services, the team supports colleagues across the business to do their best work safely and confidently, particularly as we continue to grow and evolve.

As our Head of Health and Safety, you’ll be a key strategic leader within this team, shaping how we protect and support the wellbeing of our colleagues, customers and partners in a fast moving and ambitious organisation. This is a role with real influence, working closely with senior leaders, the Board and external stakeholders to build a positive, proactive safety culture that can scale with our growth.

You’ll lead a dedicated Health and Safety Team and provide independent assurance on property compliance, ensuring we meet our landlord responsibilities and maintain safe homes. You’ll work with colleagues across the business to give confidence in our regulatory performance, while helping to build a culture where everyone understands their role in safety and feels empowered to act.

What you’ll do:

This is a role where you’ll shape how safety is led and lived across Vico Homes.

You’ll set the direction for health and safety, ensuring we’re not only meeting requirements but creating a culture where people feel genuinely responsible for their own safety and for others. Working closely with leaders across the organisation, you’ll translate strategy into practical, day to day delivery, balancing strong governance with the agility needed in a growing organisation.

You’ll lead and support a skilled and committed team, creating an environment where they can thrive, adapt and deliver their best work. You’ll also provide clear advice and constructive challenge to colleagues at every level, including senior leaders and the Board, helping the organisation make confident decisions at pace.

Providing assurance will be a core part of your role. You’ll make sure our systems, controls and approach to compliance are robust, scalable and fit for the future. Using data, insight and audit activity, you’ll help us understand our risks, prioritise effectively and stay ahead as we grow.

When things don’t go to plan, you’ll lead with calm professionalism, managing incidents, supporting teams and ensuring we learn, adapt and continuously improve.

You’ll also build strong, trusted relationships with regulators, partners and stakeholders, representing Vico Homes with credibility and confidence. Above all, you’ll keep looking for better, smarter ways to strengthen how we keep people safe while supporting the organisation to move forward with energy and ambition.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who combines expertise with impact. A leader who knows their subject inside out and can bring people with them in a fast paced, evolving environment.

You’ll have significant experience in health and safety leadership, with a strong understanding of legislation, compliance and best practice. Just as importantly, you’ll have a track record of building positive safety cultures where safety is part of how people think and work every day, even through periods of change and growth.

You’ll be comfortable operating at a strategic level, using data, insight and sound judgement to make informed decisions and provide assurance. You’ll also be confident working with senior leaders, the Board and regulators, able to influence, support and challenge in a way that builds trust and enables progress.

You’ll be collaborative and approachable, with a natural ability to build strong relationships, support others to succeed and communicate clearly, even when dealing with complex or sensitive issues.

You’ll bring resilience, adaptability and a focus on delivery, able to lead through pressure, manage competing priorities and help others stay focused and confident when it matters most.

Alongside this, you’ll hold relevant professional qualifications and have a strong understanding of the social housing sector, including the expectations and challenges around safety and compliance in a changing and ambitious organisation.

Above all, you’ll share our commitment to keeping people safe and well, with the drive, pace and ambition to make a real and lasting difference.

For more details on what we’re looking for in this role, please see the Job Description below. 

For more information or an informal chat about the role or working for Vico Homes please contact Paddy Needham, Director of Strategic Services on 07825 552 149 or at [email protected]. 

Please note: Interviews will take place in the week starting 22 June 2026.

Vico Homes is accredited by Investors in People, which means we recognise that our colleagues are our most valuable asset. As an employer we can offer you a great set of benefits which includes:

• 26 days holiday (rising to 31 after 5 years' service) and statutory bank holidays;
• an extra day off on your birthday;
• generous employer pension contribution;
• happy to talk flexible working, including options for reduced hours, compressed hours or other flexible working patterns;
• a wide range of personal development opportunities;
• a fantastic health and wellbeing package;
• access to Vico Homes Rewards for a fantastic range of lifestyle savings and salary sacrifice schemes including cycle to work, home electronics and our car benefit scheme;
• one day to take part in our Volunteering Scheme; and
• "cycle to work" scheme and discounted shopping platform.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all.

How to apply

• Read the job description, person specification and guidance notes below.
• Complete the supporting information form below with details of how you meet the person specification.
• We also encourage you to provide your CV if you have one but please remove any information that identifies you (e.g. your name and address). 
• Email your supporting information form, and CV if you have one, to [email protected] before the closing date. Applications close at midnight on the date specified at the top of this page.

What happens next? 

• You'll receive an automatic reply to let you know we've received your application.
• We'll then score all the applications against the person specification and contact you to let you know if we're inviting you to interview. 

If you have any questions, please contact our Recruitment Team on the email address above.