Safety First Quality, Assurance and Systems Lead

Advert Close date: 23/10/2026 Purpose of Role: This is a role within The Crown Estate's Safety First agenda, providing strategic leadership across quality, assurance and management systems. You will lead the development, implementation and continual improvement of our Safety First management systems, helping ensure clear expectations, governance and performance standards are embedded across the organisation. You will provide independent assurance that our processes, systems, data and controls are effective, accurate, compliant and audit ready. Working across a complex stakeholder landscape, you will build organisational capability in quality and assurance, influence senior stakeholders and create greater consistency in how standards are understood and applied. Your work will help enable confident decision-making and support The Crown Estate in delivering its purpose responsibly and safely. Context of opportunity / Main accountabilities: This is an opportunity to shape how quality and assurance are embedded across The Crown Estate, translating the Safety First strategy into clear, practical and measurable outcomes. You will:

• Lead the quality and assurance workstream, translating strategy into clear plans, standards and measurable outcomes.
• Own and continually improve the Safety First management system, ensuring alignment with legislation, ISO standards and industry best practice.
• Develop a risk-based assurance approach across projects, assets and operational activity.
• Use assurance data and reporting to identify risks, drive corrective action and support informed decision-making.
• Provide expert guidance and constructive challenge to senior stakeholders, colleagues and external partners.
• Champion the effective use of data, digital tools and AI to improve assurance and continuous improvement. Most important skills based requirements: We are looking for someone who combines deep quality and assurance expertise with the ability to influence, create structure and deliver meaningful change in a complex organisation. You will bring:
• A senior-level quality management qualification, including ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or equivalent.
• A relevant health and safety qualification, such as NEBOSH, IOSH or equivalent.
• Significant experience leading quality, assurance, audit or management systems in a complex environment.
• Strong knowledge of assurance frameworks, governance, audit methodology and continual improvement.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex findings and data into clear insights and recommendations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the confidence to influence and constructively challenge at a senior level.
• A strategic, collaborative and digitally confident approach, with the ability to drive meaningful and sustainable improvement. Our Offering / benefits: As well as a competitive salary, pension and performance related bonus offering, we have a wealth of benefits available ranging from flexible working; market leading family policies and shopping discounts in the West End, to private healthcare; life and critical illness cover and 28 days holiday with the option to buy more. We value work life balance and your wellbeing highly, enabling you to be your best self to work. Can I use AI to help with my application? Yes. AI can be a useful tool for organising your thoughts, improving clarity, checking spelling and grammar, or helping you prepare for an interview. What matters most is that your application is accurate, authentic and reflects your own skills, achievements and motivations. We want to get to know you, not an AI-generated version of you. Disability Disclaimer: We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity. If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us directly, or at careers@thecrownestate.co.uk The Crown Estate is a unique business with a distinct heritage and a portfolio unlike any other. It includes some of central London's best places to work, shop and spend time, retail and leisure destinations across the country, and a substantial rural portfolio. As manager of the seabed and half the foreshore around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we play a role in the UK's world-leading offshore wind sector as well as marine aggregates, cables and pipelines. We are also responsible for the Windsor Estate, including the world-renowned Windsor Great Park.