Location
Stevenage (relocating to London late 2027)

Hours
Full Time - Permanent

Salary
Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits.

About the Role
The Safety and Compliance Manager is responsible for ensuring LifeArc's scientific activities comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and are regularly updated. This role actively promotes a positive safety culture throughout the organisation and monitors and maintains high standards of safety and regulatory compliance. Initially based at the research centre in Stevenage, the role will transition to LifeArc's new London headquarters around 2027. This is an exciting opportunity to be actively involved in the planning and transitional process for the move to London and to continue in the role at the new office.

Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with regulations from the Health and Safety Executive and other bodies such as the Human Tissue Authority, Home Office, and HMRC. The role involves maintaining compliance calendars for license renewals, document updates, reviews, and regulatory submissions. The manager will provide strategic and technical health and safety advice across LifeArc and represent the organisation in interactions with regulators and inspectors. They will proactively influence and promote a positive health and safety culture across all LifeArc sites and serve as the appointed Biological Safety Officer (BSO).

Additional duties include developing, implementing, and maintaining a robust health and safety framework, sharing findings including incident metrics, training programmes, and safety documentation (policies, SOPs, risk assessments, guidance). The role requires conducting safety audits, inspections, and incident investigations, generating metrics to assess risk profile and safety culture, maintaining legal and risk registers to support risk appetite discussions and inform senior leadership, and providing all materials and evidence required for internal or external audits.

LifeArc is a not-for-profit life science organisation focused on rare diseases and global health initiatives. The organisation fosters an inclusive and supportive environment prioritising health and wellbeing, with a culture of innovation and collaboration aimed at putting patients at the centre of everything it does.

LifeArc is committed to inclusive recruitment practices and is a Disability Confident Employer, guaranteeing interviews to candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions who meet essential criteria. Flexible benefits include employer pension contributions up to 12%, private health insurance, and 31 days annual leave plus bank holidays.

Experience
Proven and demonstrable experience in health and safety compliance within a scientific or industrial setting, preferably pharma or biotech. Experience with Biological Safety Officer (BSO) responsibilities, Human Tissue Authority, Home Office licensing, and safety/ethics committees. Ability to review and advise on technical GMO risk assessments. Confident in conducting audits, inspections, and delivering engaging training.

About you
Operates with high autonomy and finds creative solutions in health and safety and compliance. Takes ownership of the quality and delivery of own work. Understands the long-term impact of decisions on site operations, compliance status, and organisational reputation. Collaborates effectively with internal stakeholders including scientists, operations teams, landlords, and leadership. Excellent organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications
Essential: NEBOSH Diploma and Grad/Tech IOSH (or equivalent), Recent Biological Safety Officer (BSO) qualification.
Desirable: A-level education with further qualifications in science is preferred.