Health and Safety Manager

The hiring organization is a leading provider of residential student housing facilities, known for its commitment to safety, quality, and exceptional living experiences. Specializing in student accommodation, this company manages a range of properties designed to create secure, comfortable, and supportive environments for residents. With operations primarily based in the United States, including its head office in Houston, TX, the organization upholds rigorous safety and operational standards to ensure the well-being of both its residents and staff. The company is recognized for its forward-thinking approach to risk management, continuous improvement in health and safety practices, and fostering a culture of safety across all its locations. The employment type for this role is full-time with an emphasis on leadership within health and safety management, potentially offering competitive remuneration aligned with industry standards.

The role of Health & Safety Manager is pivotal within the organization, focusing on overseeing safety risks across its residential student housing facilities. The position involves managing life safety systems, contractor compliance, and emergency preparedness. The manager will play a key leadership role in identifying, assessing, and reporting potential risks that could affect the organization financially, operationally, and reputationally. This includes safeguarding staff, residents, and business partners through the development and implementation of comprehensive safety procedures and recovery plans. The Health & Safety Manager is responsible for the ongoing development and maintenance of risk registers, conducting functional and qualitative audits, and fostering opportunities for process improvements across the company and village levels.

Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Operations and Leasing - US and matrix reporting to the President and Chief Operating Officer - US as well as the Group Risk and Compliance Executive, this role holds significant strategic importance. The position does not include direct reports but requires collaboration with various teams, including the Regional Executive Team, Group Risk and Safety Team, Village General Managers, AVPs of Operations, site-level Facilities Managers, and external regulators. Located in Houston, TX, the role also demands occasional domestic travel.

Key responsibilities include ensuring that all US facilities and offices remain safe working environments by enforcing safety policies, procedures, training, and communications that support a strong safety culture. The manager will establish periodic management reviews and health and safety audits to verify compliance and maintain high standards of accommodation safety. Regular reviews of health and safety procedures will ensure risks are managed effectively and that regulatory requirements—such as OSHA, EPA, State Fire Codes, ADA, and environmental regulations—are met. The position requires collaboration with legal and business subject matter experts to maintain these compliance obligations within the company’s Protecht framework.

In terms of incident management, the Health & Safety Manager will lead investigations, implement corrective actions, and coordinate with HR, Risk, Legal, and insurance teams to manage incident reporting effectively. The role requires ensuring staff are proficient with incident reporting systems and that all incidents are escalated appropriately. Additionally, the role oversees facilities management aspects such as contractor compliance, statutory inspections, life safety testing, and preventive maintenance programs.

Core competencies critical to success include accountability, adaptability, communication, cultural effectiveness, customer focus, ethics, problem solving, teamwork, technical capabilities, and project management. Candidates must have a minimum of three years' corporate health and safety management experience and possess relevant health and safety qualifications. Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and incident reporting systems, along with strong decision-making and communication skills, are essential. This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity for safety professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact within the student housing sector.