Job Description

Position Details

Human Resources


Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK


Full time starting salary is normally in the range 57,422 to 66,537 with potential progression once in post to 86,760


Grade: 9


Full Time, Permanent


Closing date: 26th May 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.


The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.


We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.


We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.


Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.


The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.


Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Role Summary

The post holder will lead the service provision of the Occupational Health Service and has responsibility for the external OH Physician and Employee Assistance Programme contracts. The post holder reports to the Director of Employee Equality, Inclusion and Wellbeing. The post holder is a member of the management team for the EDI and Wellbeing Team.


The post holder provides leadership to and management of the Occupational Health Service and works closely with the wider EDI team on cross functional projects across wellbeing. The post holder is responsible for developing and co-ordinating the services to ensure a broad spectrum of support for staff that meets their particular needs, supports managers and the institution and links to other service providers.


The post holder is responsible with the EDI and Wellbeing Director for developing and where appropriate implementing University strategy and policy. This post is the senior adviser to the University in this area and provides specialist advice and represents Wellbeing in policy review and formulation from other parts of HR and the University.

Main Duties

Responsibility for developing and co-ordinating the services to ensure a broad and inclusive spectrum of support for staff that meets their particular needs, supports managers and the institution and links to other service providers. To take responsibility for the line management of the OH team including, guiding, coaching and advising where necessary. Dealing with any performance issues and supporting the team to ensure objectives are met. To deputise for the EDI & Wellbeing Director, as agreed and where appropriate. The post holder is the lead clinician in the Occupational Health Service. Designing, delivering and advising on training as pertinent to Occupational Health and Wellbeing. Be responsible for professional standards in the service including confidentiality; ensuring that protocols and procedures relating to clinical work are developed and maintained, and that robust administrative processes are in place to ensure that the service fully complies with published standards of good professional practice, Data Protection legislation, Health and Safety legislation, etc. This role includes a clinical caseload in addition to Occupational Health Practitioner activities, in particular includes assessing and advising on the more complex cases such as long-term or recurrent short-term sickness absence, or disability and other health-related issues taking the lead role in case conferences. Provide comprehensive, specialist advice on the safe and effective management of occupational health issues to human resources, line managers and staff. Acting as the main professional point of reference for colleagues throughout the University. Developing with others the Wellbeing Strategy and approach at the University and policy relevant to Wellbeing Services. Reporting to UHSEG, HRSLT, UEB and College Boards as required. Active participation in HE-wide projects representing the University and other as appropriate. Acting as Secretary to the Occupational Health Advisory Group and a member of Hazardous Substances Advisory Group and Biological Hazards Advisory Group, sub-committees of Environment, University Health and Safety Executive Group (UHSEG). Co-ordinating the team's contributions to University-wide policy by providing specialist occupational health advice on aspects of First Aid, all aspects of pre-enrolment /placement health screening and immunisation policy. To contribute to the leadership and ongoing development of Occupational Health & Wellbeing in the context of HR by active participation and collaboration with senior colleagues in the EDI and Wellbeing team and more broadly in HR. This will include discussion and development of strategy, policy and plans. Representing the teams and Director on University committees and other meetings. Responding to higher education initiatives, drafting codes of practice, proactively responding to changes in legislation and guidance or initiative.

Person Specification

Essential:

Must have a recognised clinical professional qualification. Qualified to Diploma or Degree standard in Occupational Health.
Desirable:

Postgraduate qualification in relevant area. Registered as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse - Occupational Health (SCPHN - OH).

Experience

Essential:

Ability to prioritise, and to work under pressure to meet a range of diverse deadlines. Must have extensive experience in occupational health practice, to include health surveillance and immunisation. Good understanding of staff support.
Desirable:

Experience of working in higher education or in the Public Sector. Experience of managing an occupational health service. Experience in counselling or other support services.

OH and DBS required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and DBS clearance prior to appointment.



Informal enquiries to Monique Myers, email: m.myers@bham.ac.uk


View our staff values and behaviours here

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy

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You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone

on our website

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