Head of Rail Safety in London

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The Opportunity: The EIMEA Head of Rail Safety (HoRS) will lead a team of Rail Safety Specialists across the region. This Grade 6 role is responsible for partnering with the local leadership to deliver HSEQ and Rail Safety activities that enhance project delivery associated with the Rail Business, our objectives and policy outcomes. The Head of Rail Safety role comprises 2–3 days/week, with the candidate also directly supporting projects for the remaining time, principally on HSEQ activities.

The UKIMEA Head of Rail Safety will provide effective leadership and management of the team, support mentorship and professional development, while ensuring the Rail Business Management System (RBMS) and wider HSEQ Management System are regularly reviewed, updated, and implemented. They will support the Rail Business by maintaining required industry accreditations and memberships and be instrumental in supporting the business ability to win and deliver safe and successful projects.

• Establish and energise a regional network of part‑time rail safety professionals which ensures communication and coordination for Arup across all Geographies and Groups in the region.
• Provide clear direction and support to motivate team members to deliver an excellent service to the rail business and associated projects.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment that encourages open dialogue and diverse perspectives.
• Identify individuals’ training needs and opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Mentor and coach team members to enhance their skills and career progression.
• Establish communication and coordination groups (executives, etc.) to encourage and ensure the contribution of all Geographies and Groups in the region.

• Develop, communicate and gain commitment to the rail safety strategy, objectives and plans for the business in the UKIMEA region.
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of both the strategic direction of clients and the industry, and how HSEQ and rail safety strategy can enhance their plans.
• Develop and maintain an in‑depth understanding of operational risk profile/context of their region against growth ambitions.
• Monitor the portfolio of services provided to identify material changes in the HSEQ and rail safety risk profile and the validity of accreditations, certifications and regulated competencies.
• Support the Regional Rail Business Leader in fulfilling the obligations associated with rail safety.
• Work collaboratively with HSEQ and regional leadership to develop and implement aligned rail safety and HSEQ strategies.

• Develop and maintain external relationships associated with rail safety and proactively seek to project Arup’s capability and brand through liaison with key stakeholders such as the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), key client and other stakeholder organisations.
• Collaborate with a professional network within and outside of Arup, investing time to learn how other organisations and professions approach HSEQ and rail safety.
• Strong recognition within industry of profile/position and how Arup, plus their own brand, influence industry outcomes.
• Establish top 10 client list and relationships across the region to drive deeper relationships with towards influencing beyond contractual value.

• Ensure that industry accreditations and memberships, e.g., RISQS, CIRAS, Sentinel, are maintained.
• Ensure that processes and procedures are developed and implemented to demonstrate compliance with client, industry and legal requirements, e.g. drug & alcohol testing programmes and fatigue management procedures.
• Ensure that relevant bidding portals such as RISQS are kept up to date and that all Arup applicable skills and services are qualified.

• Manage the work of the team in partnering with local PDs, PMs and rail business leaders to deliver HSEQ and rail safety activities, coaching and challenging project teams, to drive their projects forward, encouraging best practice and consistency.

• Promote the importance of data integrity, reliability, accuracy to the team, driving forwards ways to use data to improve our service to the business.

• Commission, lead and review reports for your area of the business. Present insights to leadership and lead discussion on mitigating solutions.

• Advocate continual improvement and enable team to generate solutions to solve and improve processes.

• Ensure commercial teams have the in‑depth technical and operational advice for bids, pre‑qualification questionnaires and certification schemes, raising any major pursuits queries to HSEQ’s identified team.

• Promote high standards of work by the team. Ensure team have structured, consistent and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard with consideration for the context and stakeholders involved.

• Ensure our statutory obligations are adhered to and that the region is compliant with client, industry requirements. Lead compliance reviews and elevate areas of significant non‑compliance.

• Manage local rail safety training provision, enabling team to deliver engaging and informative training across the region. Manage validity of the competency, addressing any expiration and validity issues.

• Ensure the delivery of bi‑monthly Rail Safety briefings to the rail business, driving communication, learning and sharing best practice.

• Ensure the programme of rail safety / rail business management system internal audits, checking and inspections are completed to plan across geography/region, lead where necessary on large, complex or high‑risk audits.
• Consolidate rail safety / rail business management system audit (internal & external) findings across geography/region to present consistent approach. Ensure actions are effectively tracked and managed to completion. Present insights to leadership and lead discussion on mitigating solutions.

• Promote a culture of care where safety is everyone’s responsibility and integrated within everything we do, advise and coach leadership on role‑modeling.
• Ensure that your team provides consistent professional rail safety advice for bids, projects and site visits to their local business.
• Ensure risk assessments, safety plans and methods statements are reviewed consistently and effectively by the team. Facilitate suitable risk mitigations and control measures.
• Champion design safety, partnering with project teams to integrate the design safety framework and key concepts within their designs.
• Manage escalated issues from contractor safety management, their H&S policies and risk assessments.
• Ensure an effective process for the management of rail industry specific protective clothing and equipment across their geography/region.
• Work with wider HSEQ Leadership network to manage escalated investigations, ensuring appropriate and timely reporting of incidents, and establishing effective corrective action. Collaborate with the major incident response team when required.
• Consolidate and share local incident prevention and safety activities across geography/region.

• Professionally qualified in Health and Safety.
• Personal Track Safety (current or previously held).
• Controller of Site Safety and/or Safe System of Work Planner (current or previously held).
• Developing knowledge of all disciplines of HSEQ.
• A passion for driving HSEQ forwards.

What We Offer You: At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. In addition to competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide private medical insurance, life assurance, accident insurance and income protection cover. You’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross‑cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference.

Discover more about life at Arup at are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.