Asbestos Manager

Closing date: 24 May 2026

Salary: £37,280 - £41,771 per annum.

Role summary

You will be managing Somerset Council’s Asbestos team, an operational site team that carries out asbestos surveys. You’ll be helping this team to proactively mitigate asbestos risks, preventing incidents and protecting the health and wellbeing of the workforce and all building users. You will also help deliver income-generating external services, working for external clients such as schools, academies and the Avon Fire and Rescue Services.

What you’ll do - key responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day management and technical support to the Council’s asbestos team, including planning, directing and monitoring performance.
• Allocates work to staff and makes decisions on operational aspects of work.
• Oversees delivery of the asbestos survey plan, ensuring the schedule of surveys is maintained to ensure compliance with SC policy and legislation.
• Respond to emergency incidents involving asbestos and provide testing and guidance on the outcomes and actions to be taken.
• Produces reports relating to incidents / accidents involving asbestos for inclusion in the H&S incident report.
• Responsible for the maintenance and updating of the Somerset Council records in the Asbestos Register database.
• Undertake asbestos surveys and site investigations to support the team as and when required.

What we’re looking for – knowledge, experience & skills

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) requirements, technical guidance, and codes of practice relating to working in an asbestos consultancy.
• Strong understanding of UK asbestos legislation and HSE guidance documents to provide professional advice and guidance.
• Knowledge of property compliance systems and asset management software particularly relating to the storage and management of asbestos data.eg Asbestos TEAMS.
• Demonstrate a range of management skills, including resource and staff deployment.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the requirements of managing health and safety in accordance with current legislation.
• A minimum of 5 years proven experience in asbestos management and consultancy services across a diverse property portfolio.
• Experience of managing statutory duties relating to asbestos management.
• Experience managing a team, contractors and delivering compliance programmes.
• Experience in income-generating service delivery.
• Evidence of relevant continuing development of professional skills e.g., through training, qualification and/or experience.
• Relevant industry recognised certification qualification: British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) M504 – Asbestos and other fibres or the equivalent individual P modules combined (P401, P402, P403, P404 and P405).
• Numerate and analytical with the ability to interpret and translate complex performance and financial reports.
• Able to deploy resources and staff and manage flexibly.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage using objectives, targets, performance management, problem-solving, and project management.
• The ability to communicate both orally and in writing, particularly in relation to report writing, presentations, meetings, and negotiations.
• The ability to make robust decisions and prioritise competing demands at an individual and team level.
• Strategic thinking capacity and proactive in developing continuous improvement.
• Ability to assess situations, identify problems, and develop effective solutions.

Desirable

• Relevant local government experience and understanding of the sector's current challenges.
• Knowledge of project and/or change management.
• Experience of designing and implementing service transformation processes.
• Hold the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) Certificate of Competency in Asbestos (CoC Asbestos).

Additional Information  

• This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week.

• Based in Somerset Scientific Services, Westpark, with some homeworking as well as regular site visits.
• Site visits / audits will need to be completed in some dangerous environments, in all weather conditions, with PPE required and other hazards, such as unsafe roofs and confined spaces, identified prior to works.
• Some working at height may be required.
• Occasional out of hours work may be required for emergency response or site access.

• 30 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays)

• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship

A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.