The Health and Safety Manager will support the Resort’s Health and Safety Director in the design and implementation of all necessary health and safety programmes, ensuring compliance with legislative obligations and fostering a proactive safety culture across all resort operations and activities.

This role will assist with the necessary health and safety strategic planning, operational departmental support, risk assessment and countermeasure determination, and stakeholder engagement, with responsibility for helping to oversee effective health and safety risk management, developing and delivering associated training and communication programmes, monitoring performance / compliance, investigating incidents, and supporting emergency response procedures.

The Health and Safety Manager will support the Health and Safety Director to ensure that all health and safety standards and activities at the Resort meet or exceed the standards expected by Merlin and local/national regulations. In doing so, the Health and Safety Manager will provide assistance to the Health and Safety Director in the management of colleagues in the Resort’s Health and Safety department.

This role will help foster a positive, proactive and collaborative safety culture across the Resort which puts ‘Safety First’ and ensures successful risk management, self-monitoring and incremental improvement.

As well as supporting the implementation of effective Health and Safety programmes across the Resort, the post-holder will support business development plans and associated project activities to help ensure their safe design, mobilisation and launch. Where such projects are principally led by Merlin Magic Making (MMM) the post-holder will provide on-site support to the relevant MMM teams, as required.

Health & Safety Risk Management

• Help drive Health and Safety leadership through line management accountability, teamwork and individual responsibility across the Resort.
• Help embed Health and Safety as a core value to deliver robust Health and Safety standards, performance and a proactive safety culture.
• Support the development and implementation effective Health and Safety strategies and programmes across the Resort, in collaboration with the Health and Safety Director and line management, ensuring alignment with broader Resort objectives.
• Help drive management ownership and accountability for Health and Safety standards and performance, embedding a proactive and positive safety culture throughout all departments at the Resort.
• Help recognise, evaluate and control risks to health, safety, and Resort reputation, ensuring compliance to applicable external laws, regulations and standards and internal policies, standards and guidelines.
• Remain resolutely focussed on the effective and sustained management and control of critical safety risks, particularly in Technical Services and Resort Operations.
• Help prepare and track Health & Safety action plans and annual work programmes, ensuring alignment with Resort objectives.
• Help develop and/or review departmental Risk Assessments, Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Codes of Safe Working Practice (CoSWP), ensuring all necessary safety measures are effectively documented, communicated, trained out and implemented.
• Help oversee the Resort’s contactor management programme, ensuring site safety rules and protocols are developed and reviewed, understood by all necessary parties and complied with.  
• Develop, prepare and roll-out new health and safety programmes for the Resort that help continuously improve standards and performance, commensurate to key risk areas and incident trends.
• Help oversee the effective implementation of required control measures and safety procedures to ensure the safe maintenance and operations of assets for guests, employees and contractors.
• Enable and equip colleagues with the necessary skills, competencies and tools / processes so that their work activities can be performed safely and correctly.
• Monitor, audit and uphold exacting standards in Health and Safety across the Resort. Undertake performance and trend analysis to identify areas for continuous improvement.
• Help support the management, investigation and timely response to any general liability and workers compensation claims, ensuring the best outcome for the Resort, a fair determination / settlement and the application of any lessons learnt.
• Deputise for the Resort Health and Safety Director in their absence, ensuring continuity of leadership and Health and Safety programme delivery

• Collaboration and Support

  • Collaborate with and support Resort departments to ensure the effective implementation of Health and Safety requirements, providing guidance and addressing any issues or concerns where necessary.
  • Provide direction, guidance, coaching and development to management teams to enable the Resort and departments within to own and drive their Health and Safety programmes / improvements.
  • Help develop new strategies and ideas alongside the Resort’s management team to reduce incident levels and improve safety performance.
  Provide assistance and guidance to Resort management teams on all Health and Safety matters.
• • Act as the ‘Safety Duty’ resource on designated trading days, providing on-the-ground expertise and support to staff and guests, as required.
  • Work with the assigned Project Manager to support capital project works so that effective safety risk management measures, processes and controls are adopted on-site. Help ensure suitable and sufficient Health and Safety considerations throughout a project lifecycle.
  • Establish organisational systems and risk control methods at the Resort relating to hardware and human performance by advising Resort management on matters such as legal and technical standards.
  • Act as the local reference point for the utilisation of the chosen Health and Safety IT systems.
  • Attend relevant H&S Committee meetings and employee forums where necessary, Chairing such meetings where appropriate.
  • Where appropriate, liaise with enforcement bodies in their follow-up to any events or issues as they relate to incidents, near-misses, compliance or complaints.

  Training and Communication

  • Identify, develop and deliver Health and Safety training for the Resort and ensure training programmes undertaken reflect the needs of each department and the delegates involved, thus helping ensure the competency of personnel across all employee levels.
  • Work with Resort management to ensure adequate role specific training programmes are implemented and reviewed which clearly provide competencies to employees about understanding the hazards associated with their work and how to adequately control the risks, in line with associated procedures.
  • Help develop, deliver, and track the effectiveness of comprehensive Health and Safety training programmes for employees at all levels.
  • Help drive the focus on culture change through the ‘Protecting the Magic’ campaign and initiatives which reinforce the Merlin-wide Health and Safety vision, strategy and culture.
  • Prepare and cascade clear and engaging Health and Safety communications and briefing materials, ensuring staff, contractors and visitors are informed of key safety protocols and procedures.
  • Coordinate or support consultative Health & Safety forums for staff, promoting open communication and encouraging a proactive safety culture.

  Monitoring and Auditing

  • Undertake Health and Safety self-audits, inspections, and spot checks to ensure ongoing compliance and identify areas for improvement.
  • Monitor, audit and uphold exacting standards in Health and Safety across the Resort. Undertake performance and trend analysis to identify areas for continuous improvement.
  • Conduct Operational and Use Risk Assessment workshops, as directed, to assess and mitigate hazards, ensuring staff and guest safety.

  Emergency Planning and Incident Management

  • Help plan and coordinate safety drills, liaising with other relevant Resort departments and external agencies to help ensure emergency procedures are up-to-date and tested regularly.
  • Investigate significant Health and Safety incidents, near-misses, or unsafe conditions, conducting root cause analysis and overseeing the implementation of corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
  • Providing necessary insights and inputs into the Resort's effective management of Security and First-Aid operations, helping to oversee compliance with relevant local laws, Merlin policy/guidance, and associated best practice.
  • Liaise with insurers and claims handlers to resolve matters related to any incidents and accidents.

• Proven experience in a Health and Safety management role, preferably within a high-risk or complex environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and implementing safety policies, initiatives and training programmes.
• Experience in conducting risk assessments, safety audits and inspections.
• Track record in incident investigation and root cause analysis and the implementation of corrective actions.
• Safety qualification(s) required, e.g. OSHA 30 or NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or equivalent.
• Safety qualification(s) preferred, e.g. Degree in Safety Management (or similar), ASP, CSP, SMS, OHST (according to BCSP) etc.
• Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH) or working towards Chartered status (desirable), or similar.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data reporting tools.

• Skills and Competencies

  • Excellent management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive compliance across all management levels.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all management levels.
  • Thorough working knowledge of relevant occupational Health and Safety standards and regulations.
  • “Hands On” safety management experience in a safety-critical organisation. Experience in delivering Heath and Safety training.
  • Experience with Health and Safety management systems and auditing.
  • Analytical and detail-oriented, with the ability to identify trends, implement corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement.
  • Thorough knowledge of record keeping requirements for injury reporting, investigation and analysis.
  • Proactive approach to problem-solving and decision-making, with a focus on mitigating risks and improving safety performance.
  • Commitment to fostering a culture of safety, well-being, and accountability within an organisation.

Benefits of Merlin Entertainments

• Excellent health care options (medical, dental, and vision that encourage preventative care).
• Outstanding Paid Time Off (PTO) that allows for adventure, rest, relaxation, or recuperation.
• Merlin Magic Pass for friends and family to enjoy the parks & attractions
• Recognition Programs and Rewards
• 401(k) program with company match
• Tuition reimbursement programs
• Numerous learning and advancement opportunities