Director of Health & Safety

First Bus is a leading provider of transport services, committed to delivering excellent service to our passengers across the UK. We help our passengers achieve over a million journeys every day, with a fleet of 5000+ buses and 14,000+ colleagues. We pride ourselves on our dedication to safety, innovation, sustainability and inclusion.

The Director of Health & Safety (DoH&S) will drive the implementation of a forward-thinking health and safety (H&S) strategy that aligns with First Bus' culture, growth ambitions, and corporate commitments. Reporting directly to the Chief Sustainability & Compliance Officer and the First Bus executive team, the DoH&S plays a pivotal leadership role as the company’s most senior authority on Health and Safety matters. The successful candidate will be tasked with shaping and evolving a strategic vision while strengthening an established, resilient safety framework. The role demands delivering a modern, adaptable safety culture that mirrors the ongoing transformation of the company.

Responsibilities include:

• Spearheading the development and delivery of a dynamic, fit-for-purpose H&S strategy that enhances the safety and wellbeing of our customers, employees, and third-party partners.
• Provide strong, visible, and inspirational leadership, acting as a role model while offering expert technical knowledge and guidance across First Bus, including to the executive team and business unit statutory directors.
• Developing and evolving the First Bus H&S strategy in collaboration with the executive team, Managing Directors, and key stakeholders.
• Providing expert advice and guidance to business leaders on H&S compliance, emerging best practices, and the necessity for change.
• Embedding best-in-class H&S standards across the business, ensuring alignment with both culture and operations.
• Overseeing robust H&S governance, reporting structures, and an assurance framework across First Bus.
• Leading strategic investigations into health and safety challenges, coaching teams to implement corrective actions that drive performance improvements.
• Inspiring and leading the health and safety team, identifying opportunities to enhance their impact and effectiveness.
• Provide clear direction, inspiring leadership, and hands-on coaching to elevate performance across the H&S team, while building strong competency and capability within First Bus leadership and front-line teams.
• Drive business growth by shaping technical solutions for work-winning opportunities, while leveraging your experience and network to introduce innovative health, safety, and wellbeing best practices from diverse sectors.
• Lead collaborative engagement with Managing Directors, operational leaders, local authorities, industry bodies, trade unions, customers, and partners to foster a safety-first culture across the business.

Skills, Experience and Leadership behaviours required:

• You will be a Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH).
• A strategic thinker, capable of using insights to shape H&S strategy, drive business planning, and effectively implement change across all levels.
• Demonstrated success in managing C-suite stakeholders and driving engagement across the broader business.
• A strong leader with a proven track record of collaborating effectively with senior leaders both within the organisation and externally.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary & Associated Bonus PMI.
• Discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays.
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares.
• Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you, including cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advice.
• 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support through our EAP provision.
• A range of health-promotion initiatives and 24/7 access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.

We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all. Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.