Health, safety & wellbeing

Health, safety, and wellbeing is at the core of what we do, and our zero-harm approach, means our sites are some of the safest in the sector.  In our SHE team, you and your career will thrive.  

Career Opportunities in Health, Safety, and Wellbeing

THE BEST PLACE TO DEVELOP YOUR CAREER

Join our award-winning team…

We’re successful, profitable, and have one of the most impressive safety records in the industry. When it comes to health, safety, and wellbeing, we’re proud to ‘walk the talk’.

There are a huge range of opportunities within our SHE team, from SHE advisors, to SHE Manager, Head of Health and Wellbeing and Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing. Whatever level you come in at, there are no limits to how far you can go. Provided you think of your development and grab the opportunities, you’ll get all the support you need to succeed. If you have a particular interest, we’ll help you make it happen.

As part of the SHE team, you’ll have access to every other function across the business. It will give you real exposure to most other roles and excellent networking opportunities. It’s one of the areas that has the most transferrable skills and because the business is so diverse, there are opportunities to expand into other areas. Whatever your ambitions, you’ll find many paths to achieve them.

PEOPLE THRIVE AT WATES

About you…

Whether you have sector experience, fancy a career change, or are returning to work after a break, we’d love to hear from you.

Ideally, from a technical perspective, you’ll be a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner or working towards that goal. We have also taken on safety trainees in some parts of the business. Above all, it’s about having the right qualities – determination to learn, an understanding of risk, enthusiasm, and an inquisitive mind. Someone who asks, ‘can we do this a better way?’

People skills are a must, alongside the ability to simplify complex problems, an open mindset, and someone who can work independently. You should also have excellent influencing skills at all levels and be comfortable modelling the right behaviours. These roles are not about enforcing legislation. Instead, we want people who understand the issue and can work collaboratively to address it.

We’re keen to broaden our talent pool and are open to people from outside construction.

TESTIMONIALS

Hear from our people

Kelly Osborne

Head of Health and Wellbeing

"I joined Wates in 2003, with no experience in the industry. During this time, I have been fortunate enough to work with some great supportive colleagues and managers, all of whom have helped me reach my potential, supported me during my studies and presented me with challenges and opportunities to grow and develop. I have been able to work in several of the businesses and at a group level during my career and have taken on various roles and projects that have allowed me to be myself, use my skills and led to invaluable connections both internally and externally. When I look back, I realise how varied and dynamic my career has been with opportunities for growth, change and promotion. If I was to go back and start all over again, I would choose Wates, without a doubt.”

CAREERS IN HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING

Want to be a part of our team?

Head of Sustainability

Location: Finsbury Park

Job Type: SHEQ

Application Deadline: 21-07-2025

🌍 Head of Sustainability – WPS 📍 Location: National ¦ 🕒 Full-timeAre you ready to lead the charge toward a greener, more sustainable future? WPS is looking for a visionary Head of Sustainability to drive our environmental strategy and embed sustainability at the heart of everything we do. 🌱🔎 About the RoleAs Head of Sustainability, you’ll shape and deliver an industry-leading strategy that positions WPS as the most environmentally sustainable business in our sector. Reporting directly to the WPS Board Member accountable for sustainability, you’ll influence decisions at the highest level, collaborate across the business and supply chain, and lead a passionate team to deliver real, measurable impact.🌟 Key Responsibilities Refine and lead the delivery of WPS’s environmental strategy in line with our Environmental Sustainability Plan. Embed environmental performance into customer offerings and financial decision-making. Collaborate with Group leaders, clients, and suppliers to drive systemic change and deliver net zero, nature-positive outcomes. Analyse and forecast environmental impact to prioritise high-impact initiatives. Build and lead a high-performing sustainability team and foster a culture of innovation and accountability. Represent WPS on the Wates Group sustainability leadership team and contribute to group-wide progress.📈 What You’ll Be Doing Win work by aligning sustainability with client ambitions and strategic goals. Ensure compliance with environmental legislation and drive continuous improvement. Engage and influence senior leaders to embed sustainability into culture, performance, and decision-making. Set and track ambitious environmental targets, reporting progress to the board and wider business.🎓 What We’re Looking For Graduate calibre with 5+ years’ experience in sustainability, ideally in the built environment. Proven technical expertise in environmental management and low-carbon strategy. Strong commercial acumen and analytical skills. Excellent communicator and relationship builder, able to influence at all levels. Passionate, self-motivated, and committed to making a difference.💼 Why Join WPS?This is your opportunity to lead transformational change in a business that’s serious about sustainability. You’ll have the platform, support, and autonomy to shape the future of WPS—and the built environment. 🌟Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting One of the Recruitment Team will be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of the next step.

SHE Manager

Location: Finsbury Park

Job Type: SHEQ

Application Deadline: 21-07-2025

🌍 Join WPS as a SHE Manager – National Role 🏗️Are you passionate about creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable workplaces? 💚 WPS is on the lookout for an experienced and inspiring SHE Manager to lead our Safety, Health & Environmental agenda across the UK.🔍 About the RoleAs a SHE Manager, you’ll be a key player in shaping and delivering our SHE strategy nationwide. Reporting to the Head of SHEQ, you’ll provide expert guidance, coaching, and leadership to ensure our policies are not only understood but embedded in everything we do. You’ll work closely with business boards, regional leaders, and supply chain partners to champion a culture of safety and continuous improvement. 🚀✅ What You’ll Be Doing 🧭 Lead the deployment of WPS SHE policies and standards across the business. 🧠 Coach senior leaders on risk identification and mitigation. 🔍 Oversee incident investigations and ensure high-quality reporting and learning. 📊 Drive the use of digital tools like EcoOnline and PowerBI for SHE performance tracking. 🏗️ Support bid and pre-construction activities with a focus on safe design. 🤝 Build strong networks within the supply chain to promote SHE best practices. 📈 Present SHE dashboards and insights at board level, influencing strategic decisions.🌟 What We’re Looking For 🗣️ A confident communicator with strong influencing and coaching skills. 🧑‍💼 Proven leadership in SHE within construction or industrial environments. 📚 Deep understanding of SHE legislation and behavioural safety. 📉 Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable insights. 🌟 A role model for SHE and leadership behaviours.🎓 Qualifications ✅ CMIOSH or equivalent. 🎓 NEBOSH Diploma / NVQ Level 4 or equivalent.💼 Why Join WPS?This is a national role offering full mobility across our business units. You’ll be at the forefront of shaping a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for our people and projects. 🌱 If you’re ready to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you!Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting One of the Recruitment Team will be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of the next step.

Standards Advisor

Location: Finsbury Park

Job Type: SHEQ

Application Deadline: 15-07-2025

We currently have an opportunity for a Standards Advisor to join our Wates team within our Responsive Maintenance division. You will be working out of our Finsbury Park office on one of our social housing contracts. The primary focus of this role will be to provide professional SHEQ support. You will engage with various teams and supply chain peers to ensure that our SHE policy is promoted and effectively deployed, providing support to senior SHE advisors.Key Accountabilities will include: Support with the development of programmes for project visits that ensures the highest level of SHE standards as appropriate to project risks. Actively and effectively challenging noncompliance of SHE policies and standards. Support business leadership in the preparation of bids. Communicate learning and good practices from within and outside the business.We are looking for you to have experience of SHE policies in an industrial or construction environment and ideally have worked on a similar programme of works. To be successful in the role you will be an excellent communicator, with the ability to coach and influence individuals, along with being able to identify hazards.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting

Senior Sustainability and Environmental Advisor

Location: Finsbury Park

Job Type: SHEQ

Application Deadline: 08-07-2025

🌱 Senior Sustainability and Environmental Advisor📍 National Role ¦ WPSAre you ready to help shape a more sustainable future for the social housing sector and wider built environment? WPS Housing Maintenance is seeking a driven and knowledgeable Senior Sustainability and Environmental Advisor to play a pivotal role in advancing our building decarbonisation strategy and supporting business growth across retrofit and decarbonisation.This is a newly created national role, offering the opportunity to work at the heart of our transformation journey to deliver fully integrated retrofit and renewable energy services.🌍 What You’ll Be Doing: Track and analyse funding: Monitor public schemes (e.g. SHF, Warm Homes Fund) and explore private finance models like Energy as a Service and Green Bonds. Deliver market insight: Conduct market mapping, maintain intelligence on consultants and competitors, and provide strategic analysis to inform service development. Lead sustainability reporting: Support business plans, ESG metrics, and internal governance processes. Create impactful content: Develop case studies, impact reports, and social media content to position Wates as a sustainability leader. Drive business development: Contribute to bids, attend client meetings, and represent Wates at industry events. Champion green skills and social value: Promote training programmes and contribute to our Just Transition strategy. Support ESG strategy: Help shape initiatives around circular economy, embodied carbon, and net zero alignment.👤 What We’re Looking For:Essential: Experience in sustainability or environmental strategy Knowledge of the UK retrofit funding landscape Strong research, data analysis, and reporting skills Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement A proactive, collaborative mindsetDesirable: Understanding of social housing retrofit and low-carbon heating Familiarity with ESG reporting tools or life cycle assessment Awareness of private finance models and government procurement🌟 Why Join Wates?At Wates Property Services, we’re leading the way in transforming existing homes and buildings to meet the sustainability and quality standards of the future. This role offers the chance to make a real difference—helping to decarbonise homes, empower communities, and build a greener tomorrow.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting Ready to lead the change? Apply now and be part of something meaningful.One of the Recruitment Team will then be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of next steps.