Job Description:

Health and Safety Manager - Major projects

Job Summary

The Health and Safety Manager is responsible for leading and managing all health, safety and wellbeing activities across the project, ensuring the protection of personnel, contractors, stakeholders, and members of the public. The role provides strategic leadership, expert advice, and operational oversight to ensure compliance with statutory legislation, client requirements, company standards, and industry best practice.

The successful candidate will have extensive construction health and safety experience, ideally within marine and major infrastructure projects, and will demonstrate the ability to influence project teams, contractors, and stakeholders to drive a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Project Health, Safety and Wellbeing Management System (HSWMS).
• Provide professional leadership and guidance to the project team, ensuring the safe and compliant delivery of the contract.
• Develop, review, and approve project-specific health, safety and wellbeing procedures, arrangements, and management plans.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable health and safety legislation, contractual requirements, client standards, and industry best practices.
• Lead the development and review of risk assessments, method statements, and safe systems of work, ensuring suitable controls are implemented and maintained.
• Promote and champion a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture through visible leadership and behavioural safety initiatives.
• Manage project inspection, audit, and monitoring programmes, analysing performance data to identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of project health and safety performance indicators, maintaining the HSW Dashboard and delivering monthly KPI reports to senior management and corporate functions.
• Develop and deliver health and safety training, inductions, workshops, and awareness campaigns across the project.
• Lead investigations into accidents, incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions, identifying root causes and ensuring effective corrective and preventive actions are implemented.
• Ensure all incidents, inspections, audits, observations, and compliance records are accurately maintained within company management systems.
• Provide regular reports and updates to project leadership teams and the Head of Health and Safety regarding project performance, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development and delivery of the annual Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy and contribute to wider business improvement initiatives.
• Act as the primary health and safety point of contact for clients, contractors, regulators, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead the capture and dissemination of lessons learned through toolbox talks, safety alerts, briefings, and best practice forums.
• Conduct regular site and office visits to monitor standards, engage with the workforce, and provide visible leadership.
• Mentor and develop project personnel, supervisors, and operational managers in health and safety responsibilities and best practices.
• Demonstrate exemplary health, safety and wellbeing behaviours and actively promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Qualifications, Certifications & Experience

• Significant experience in construction health and safety management, preferably within marine, civil engineering, infrastructure, or major projects environments.
• Strong knowledge of marine construction activities and associated health and safety risks.
• Experience working within or adjacent to Tier 2 COMAH environments and a thorough understanding of associated regulatory requirements.
• NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent Level 6 qualification) preferred; minimum NEBOSH Construction Certificate with substantial management-level experience.
• Membership of a recognised professional body such as IOSH, with Chartered Membership (CMIOSH) desirable.
• Comprehensive understanding of UK health and safety legislation and its practical application within construction and design-and-build projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading health and safety management systems, audits, investigations, and improvement programmes.
• Strong understanding of behavioural safety, organisational culture, and workforce engagement principles.
• Knowledge of occupational health and wellbeing management.
• Proven ability to influence and engage senior leaders, project teams, contractors, and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, presentation, coaching, and leadership skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with experience interpreting performance data and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Advanced IT skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Power BI, and electronic document management systems.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.