Health, Safety, Security and Wellbeing Manager (HSSW)

Location: Havant Thicket Reservoir Project - Site Based / Hybrid

Salary: £500 - £600 per day Ltd (Contract) - Permanent also considered

About the Role:

We are currently looking for an experienced HSSW Manager to join the Havant Thicket Reservoir Project, a major nationally significant infrastructure programme for our client. Reporting directly to the Project Delivery Director, you will take a senior leadership role in driving exemplary standards of health, safety, security and workforce wellbeing across the programme. This is a high-profile opportunity for an experienced HSSW professional to shape and lead the project's HSSW framework, working closely with principal contractors, supply chain partners, project leadership and key external stakeholders. The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing a high-performance safety culture, providing independent assurance and holding delivery partners to account for the safe, secure and responsible execution of the works.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide visible, values-led HSSW leadership across the project and establish health, safety, security and wellbeing as core delivery priorities.
• Develop and implement the project HSSW strategy, policies, procedures and management systems.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System in line with HSG65 and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Establish and maintain a robust contractor assurance regime across principal contractors and the wider supply chain.
• Hold contractors to account through clear performance metrics, regular reviews and formal governance forums.
• Lead audits, inspections, assurance activities and contractor performance reviews.
• Develop and monitor leading and lagging HSSW indicators to identify trends and drive early intervention.
• Ensure under-performance is proactively addressed through structured improvement plans and escalation where required.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including CDM Regulations, and promote industry best practice.
• Embed robust risk management processes, including risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work.
• Oversee the investigation of incidents and high-potential events, ensuring root causes are identified and lessons are embedded across the programme.
• Provide independent HSSW assurance to the Project Delivery Director and project governance forums.
• Lead corrective and preventative actions to drive continual improvement.
• Champion workforce wellbeing, including mental health, occupational health and fatigue management.
• Ensure appropriate occupational health provision, screening, surveillance and specialist support are in place.
• Maintain a strong site presence, engaging with frontline teams, supervisors and contractor leadership.
• Lead and support safety tours, briefings, inductions and HSSW campaigns.
• Develop clear and insightful HSSW reporting for senior leadership and governance forums.
• Analyse HSSW trends, risks and opportunities to support effective project decision-making.
• Engage effectively with regulators, emergency services, local authorities, industry bodies and other key stakeholders.
• Develop proportionate security strategies to protect people, assets and Category 3 Critical National Infrastructure.
• Coordinate security standards and incident response arrangements across contractors and stakeholders.
• Promote a culture of learning, openness, accountability and continuous improvement across the programme.

About You:

• Extensive experience in a senior HSSW, HSEQ, health and safety or equivalent leadership position.
• Proven experience delivering HSSW leadership on major infrastructure, construction, utilities or complex capital programmes.
• Strong experience of contractor assurance, performance management, auditing and governance.
• Thorough knowledge of UK health and safety legislation, including CDM Regulations and HSG65.
• Experience developing and implementing occupational health and safety management systems.
• Strong understanding of risk management, incident investigation, assurance and continuous improvement.
• Experience working with principal contractors and complex supply chains.
• Strong understanding of workforce wellbeing, occupational health and fatigue management.
• Experience of security and resilience management within a major project or critical infrastructure environment would be advantageous.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and contractor organisations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use HSSW data, leading and lagging indicators to identify trends and drive improvement.
• Confident operating at both strategic and operational levels, with a willingness to maintain a strong site presence.
• Strong commitment to creating a positive, collaborative and accountable safety culture.
• Able to demonstrate strong values around Excellence, Integrity and Future Focus.

The successful candidate will need to be comfortable working within a major project environment and engaging directly with site-based teams and contractors.

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.