Safety Policy and Assurance Manager
Safety Policy and Assurance Manager
About us
Join the RNLI as a member of our safety team. Be a leading force in helping to keep our people safe, wherever they are in the UK, Ireland or further afield and whatever they are doing. From saving lives at sea to manufacturing lifeboats or training in our sea survival centre, to retail activity and fundraising or lifeguarding the beaches around our coasts – break away from the norm and be part of something special!
This is a unique opportunity to be part of a dedicated, values-driven team making a real difference to the lives of others. By joining the RNLI ‘one crew’, you’ll be part of an organisation that plays a crucial role in saving lives at sea, where your safety leadership will have a direct impact on the well-being of our volunteers, staff and the communities we serve.
If you’re a proactive, experienced safety professional with a passion for continuous improvement and doing things the right way and you want to listen, understand and influence in an organisation that truly values safety and well-being, we’d love to hear from you.
About you
Are you passionate about safety, risk management and driving continuous improvement in a volunteer led organisation? Do you have the expertise to lead safety initiatives that will shape the future of one of the UK and Ireland’s most iconic charities? Can you relate to our unique operating challenges and be credible across a complex organisation? The RNLI is seeking an exceptional Health & Safety professional to lead the implementation and continual improvement of our Safety Management System (SMS) and help safeguard the lives of our volunteers, staff and those we protect on and by the coast.
As the RNLI’s Safety Policy and Assurance Manager you will make a noticeable difference in our approach to keeping people safe through our safety management system and associated activities. As a key member of the safety team you’ll understand the importance of listening to frontline practitioners, developing good practice and guidance, while taking the lead in providing critical enablers to driving up the RNLI’s organisational and safety performance by:
- Championing our SMS across the RNLI and leading its documentation and review, ensuring it aligns with globally recognised safety standards such as HSG65 and ISO 45001.
- Shaping Health & Safety policy and overseeing the creation and maintenance of clear, easily accessible safety policies and guidance to ensure compliance and enhance organisational performance.
- Engaging stakeholders and collaborating with teams across the organisation, fostering a ‘safety takes courage’ approach where every process owner understands their role in ‘safe place, safe people, safe plant, safe practice’ and embraces continuous improvement.
- Embedding our Health & Safety principles into a comprehensive Health & Safety Policy manual, that is accessible to all, to ensure our volunteers and staff are always aligned with the latest legislation and best practices.
- Driving safety risk & compliance activity with our risk and compliance specialists to track and report on safety risks and issues, supporting the development of action plans that lead to improvement.
- Leading safety assurance activity such as safety advisory visits, training, and audits, listening to our volunteers and staff to understand ‘work as done’ and ensuring that we collaborate to close gaps in our safety systems and continuously improve our practices against key performance indicators.
- Lead the way in managing our safety risk mapping process, ensuring that all risks are recorded, understood, tracked, and actively mitigated in line with best practices.
- Safety Leadership – step up and lead additional safety initiatives providing guidance and expertise wherever it’s needed to support our overarching safety objectives.
What you bring:
- Proven experience in safety management, risk control and assurance.
- Strong understanding of Health & Safety standards, including ISO 45001, ISO 31000 and HSG65.
- Excellent communication and listening skills, with the ability to engage and inspire stakeholders at all levels.
- A natural curiosity, the confidence to speak up, share and listen.
- An organisational thinker and spirited leader with a collaborative and hands-on approach to implementing safety processes and driving continuous improvement.
Some of the benefits
- Competitive Salary £49,492 - £58,226 (dependent on experience)
- Opportunity for flexible working
- 26 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
- Outstanding pension scheme (contributions of up to 16% of basic salary)
- Life assurance
- Health and dental cash plan
This role is suitable for home working but requires periodic travel to Poole and occasional travel to other locations, including RNLI Regional Bases.
Ready to save lives with us? Apply now and join a team that’s leading the way. As ‘one crew’ we can keep our people safe and make a life-saving difference.
Safeguarding
The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).
Diversity at the RNLI
Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.
