Director of Systems Safety and Health

Interview dates:

• 1st stage: 6 and 9 October
• 2nd stage: 25 October

The Director of System Safety and Health (SSH) has responsibility for the effective delivery of RSSB’s core services of risk, safety and health.  Working as part of the Chief Operating Group (COG) the role is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction in the development of RSSB’s risk-based health and safety management capability. The Director of SSH is a key champion for the development and delivery of such capability across the wider rail industry, supporting the cross-industry health and safety strategy ‘Leading Health and Safety on Britain’s Railways’.

This expertise also includes the development of industry policy and principles, cross industry tools, data insights, frameworks and IT systems, development of capability, and ultimately the continuous improvement of health and safety behaviours and culture.

• Lead the SSH&W Directorate, ensuring an appropriate structure, providing clear purpose and direction, instigating a developed and dynamic capability to meet a changing environment and robust and responsive management of all staff within the directorate.
• Advise the COO and ExCo of key health and safety performance issues that impact the industry and RSSB, including working with Futures Lab to horizon scan for future threats to health and safety performance.
• Working to direction from ExCo set the vision for RSSB’s work on System Safety Health and Wellbeing. Proactively work with fellow COG directors to help lead the company and deliver the solutions within Healthier and Safer Rail as part of the overall RSSB business plan.
• Lead on the directorate’s contribution to the generation of margin as part of RSSB’s wider income generation plan.
• Support the broader industry in the monitoring of railway wide health and safety risk, ensuring all forms of health and safety information are gathered and analysed, and that parties inside RSSB and beyond are aware of the contributors to risk.
• Provide and apply appropriate risk modelling tools and techniques to enable risk-based decision-making and ensure that they are applied within RSSB’s outputs.
• Ensure effective risk, safety and human factors contribution and sign off of railway group standards.
• Working with other directorates, support the effective working of RSSB’s key assurance schemes (RISQS, RISAS etc) and in particular robust undertaking of scheme management and assurance activity, consistent with principles of good governance, and good practice health and safety management.
• Represent the company in Director level external groups / meetings at both national and international fora.
• Maintain beneficial contact with risk and safety professionals in other industries and countries to ensure that RSSB adopts best practice in these disciplines.

• A leader with demonstrable ability to successfully influence outcomes through effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build credibility to a senior level.
• Substantial experience in a general or operational management role that had responsibility for business strategy, planning and processes.
• Highly developed people management experience, encompassing an inclusive style and coaching and motivational capabilities.
• Politically astute with the confidence to influence at the highest level (e.g. Industry Bodies, Government, Transport Groups etc.).
• An ability to communicate clearly, succinctly and constructively with a wide range of
• Confident in the use of data and technology and an appreciation of digital transformation.
• Experience of managing budgets, large revenue schemes and income generation.
• Demonstrate alignment to RSSB’s values and vision for 'a Safer Smarter Railway’.
• Experience and commitment of working in harmony with RSSB’s strategic objectives: Customer Experience, Organisational Health, Growth, Financial Sustainability, Digitally enabled.

We are committed to investing in our staff and offer formal and informal learning opportunities for development.

We value diversity and equal opportunities in employment and are committed to creating a workplace which is inclusive to everyone. As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we encourage candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria, to apply for our jobs. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme, please let us know in advance by emailing vacancies@RSSB.CO.UK

If you require any reasonable adjustments with respect to our selection process including information in an alternative format, please contact us at vacancies@rssb.co.uk

We understand the importance of work-life balance and we offer our staff the flexibility to work within our core hours and the option to vary their location between both the office and home. If you are looking for further flexibility, speak to us at interview stage so that we can consider your request.

We value our staff and we offer a competitive benefits package to ensure our staff can achieve their best throughout their journey with us. This includes 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays); a holiday buy and sell scheme; private medical and dental cover; a season ticket loan and travel subsidy; access to a cycle to work scheme; volunteer leave; a performance related bonus and pension.