About the job

Job summary

RBG Kew is a world leader in plant science and has over 2 million visitors each year. As a health and safety advisor, you will be playing a vital role in supporting our staff in fulfilling their health and safety responsibilities, enabling Kew to achieve its mission to protect plants and fungi for the future of all life on Earth. You will have a particular role in enhancing the health and safety framework and developing policies and procedures. In addition, it is a very varied role - you will be supporting exciting visitor programmes such as Kew the Music and Christmas at Kew and construction type activities in the complexities of historic sites. Part of your remit will be to undertake inspections and investigations across a range of topics such as site safety, health in the workplace, horticulture, science and education. You will be part of a dynamic team and work on new and exciting developments at RBG Kew. No two days are ever the same and you have the bonus of working in two beautiful sites, one of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Job description

Our ideal candidate will hold a NEBOSH diploma or equivalent qualification in Health and Safety. You will be a team player who can manage conflicting priorities and work on your own initiative to find solutions.

Person specification

You will have a particular role in supporting the health and safety manager in developing policies and procedures and will need excellent communications skills, both written and oral. You will also need a good understanding of health and safety law and related principles, and the ability to apply this in the provision of expert and helpful support to colleagues.

This role is based at Kew with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements. 

Benefits

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application via the Kew Gardens website. 

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.