Senior Health and Safety Practitioner - Census 2031

​Job summary

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK's largest producer of official statistics and home to over 5,000 colleagues. We create the data that drives decisions, from measuring economic growth and tracking population changes to informing policy on everything from housing to healthcare. Our statistics don't just sit in reports; they directly influence how billions of pounds are allocated, how services are planned, and how communities are supported across the country.   

Census 2031 represents our most ambitious data collection project yet – a once-in-a-decade opportunity to capture a complete picture of everyone living in England and Wales. Building on the digital success of 2021, we're pioneering new ways to reach every household and community, ensuring no one is left uncounted. This vital work will provide the foundation for policy decisions, resource allocation, and community planning for the next decade.   

Your work will support delivery of this transformational project that will shape how we understand and support our nation's future. You’ll be part of a team that ensures everyone is counted—and every voice is heard. We're building a culture that values collaboration, fresh thinking, and respect for diverse expertise.  Whether you're a seasoned professional or bringing new perspectives, you'll be part of a team that welcomes bold ideas, works transparently, and thrives on solving complex challenges together.   

Job description

Are you ready to be part of something that shapes the future of our nation? Do you thrive on variety, enjoy working with lots of teams, and want to make a real difference? If so, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.   

The post holder is responsible for leading and coordinating health and safety provision for the Census 2027 Test nationwide field data collection operation and for external community engagement and other public-facing events, run by Census colleagues.

This role ensures that Health & Safety risks are identified, assessed and controlled, and that the supporting services (including, but not limited to commercial, recruitment, training, logistics and operations) are compliant with relevant H&S legislation and organisational policy.

Embedded within the Census Field Services group, this challenging and pivotal role acts as a key link between the Census Programme, ONS’ corporate Health and Safety team, and other internal and external stakeholders with an interest in the census field operation, including Devolved Administrations Census teams.

Building on and modifying processes already established in ONS’ Social Surveys field teams and those used in the Census 2021 field operation, the role shapes the Health & Safety requirements for the Census 2027 Test field operation and its supporting services); it develops and embeds effective Health and Safety processes into those operations and services; and it oversees the Health and Safety of the field operation and other events such as Census Community Engagement events, throughout the 2027 Census Test period.

In 2027, the field team is planned to be c480 posts, based in 6 Test Areas, dispersed across England and Wales. Field Officers and Managers will be remotely-based, working on a shift-roster basis, 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends, and will be dealing directly with members of the public.

This role will also help to shape the H&S requirements and planning for the 2029 Census Rehearsal and 2031 full Census operation.

While there is an expectation that this role will be of a fixed-term nature, there may be scope for this to be extended, depending on 2029 / 2031 requirements.

Role Responsibilities:

Working in support of Field Service Owners and other senior leaders in the programme, you will use your leadership and H&S technical skills and experience to:

• Lead the development, implementation, assurance and continuous improvement of Health and Safety arrangements for Census 2027 Test field operations and other public-facing events, ensuring compliance with legislation, organisational policy and industry best practice.

• Provide expert health and safety advice to senior leaders, operational managers and teams, supporting effective management of operational, wellbeing and regulatory risks.

• Develop and maintain risk assessments, safe systems of work, guidance, controls and implementation plans, to support the safe delivery of Census 2027 Test field and other activities.

• Ensure effective controls are in place for key operational risks, including (but not restricted to) lone working, personal safety, travel, adverse weather, and out-of-hours working.

• Support statutory compliance and operational readiness by ensuring field colleagues have access to appropriate training, information, equipment, supervision, emergency arrangements and welfare support.

• Oversee health and safety governance, conducting audits and assurance checks to ensure arrangements are suitably applied and managed.

• Implement and oversee incident and near-miss management, providing trend analysis, assurance reporting, compliance monitoring and implementing lessons learned.

• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including trade unions, contractors, partner organisations and corporate health and safety teams, to promote practical and inclusive health and safety arrangements.

• Produce and present risk updates, assurance reports and recommendations to governance forums and senior leaders, maintaining clear records and audit trails to support effective decision-making.

• Advise commercial colleagues on H&S requirements for Census contracts to ensure H&S requirements are included where applicable and that liability is correctly attributed and documented.

The role is embedded in the Census 2031 programme, with a dotted line into the corporate Health and Safety team, ensuring that Census Field H&S processes and procedures are aligned with the corporate ONS policies, tailored for Census as appropriate.

There may be some requirement to attend corporate H&S meetings and events on occasion.

The field team for 2027 is likely to be around 480 field officers, spread across England and Wales, and this role will ensure that all officers have access to adequate health and safety provision.

Other teams who you will support, will be much smaller, and will be operational on a more ad-hoc basis.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Proven experience leading H&S initiatives in a large-scale operational environment, providing clear H&S advice and guidance to colleagues, managers and senior leaders.

• Proven ability to build strong relationships at all levels and to work with colleagues and managers, to ensure that working practices are safe, risk assessed and compliant with corporate and statutory H&S policies and procedures.

• Experience developing, iterating and maintaining H&S risk assessments, near-miss and incident reporting, and ensuring lessons are learned.

• Experience auditing H&S statutory compliance, and producing management reports highlighting recommendations for improvements.

• Experience of working with Trade Union and other staff bodies, providing clear H&S advice and influencing complex operational issues.

• Experience using technology to ensure compliance with H&S management arrangements.

Qualifications

NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety
TechIOSH

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing

• Making Effective Decisions

• Changing and Improving

• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Proven specialist knowledge of current Health & Safety Legislation - listed on our website.

Location

The location for this role is Titchfield (Fareham).

This role requires regular attendance at an ONS office, with a minimum of 2-3 days per week worked on site. The postholder will be expected to work in the office on a regular basis to undertake in‑person activities. This level of attendance will apply for most of the programme, although requirements may vary at different stages, with periods of increased or reduced on-site working in response to census priorities, delivery phases and business need.​

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,985, Office for National Statistics contributes £12,163 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).