At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead health and safety strategy across a dynamic, multi-business group.
- Company: Join a rapidly growing private equity-owned group with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £120,000 and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and influence at the executive level.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming health and safety frameworks in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent and senior H&S leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 108000 - 120000 £ per year.
Location: Flexible (weekly London visit; hybrid site travel)
Salary: Up to £120,000
Sector: Private Equity / Multi-Business Group
Irwin and Colton are partnering with a rapidly growing, private equity-owned group to appoint a Group Head of Health & Safety. Reporting to the CEO, this is the most senior H&S role across the group, responsible for setting the vision, governance, and performance framework for health and safety while enabling subsidiary leadership teams to own and deliver outcomes within their operations. Given the group's acquisitive growth strategy, the role is highly transformational.
The successful candidate will design, embed, and continuously evolve a scalable, best-in-class H&S operating model, including the onboarding and integration of newly acquired businesses. The role balances strategic oversight with pragmatic delivery, protecting people while supporting commercial growth and investor expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Group Strategy, Leadership & Transformation
- Build a scalable strategic and operating framework suitable for a decentralised, multi-risk portfolio
- Define the target-state model, governance, roles, and Group-subsidiary interfaces
- Act as senior H&S advisor to the Executive, Board, and Investors
- Governance, Risk & Private Equity Oversight
- Set group-wide policies, standards, minimum requirements, and risk appetite
- Establish assurance mechanisms, escalation thresholds, and governance forums
- Ensure compliance across jurisdictions and readiness for diligence, refinancing, or exit
- Lead Board and investor reporting on performance, risk, and emerging issues
- Data, Insight & Performance
- Own group H&S performance management, KPIs, leading indicators, and systems
- Implement data-led insight, trend analysis, and predictive risk management
- Drive consistency and quality of reporting while enabling local ownership
- Subsidiary Engagement & Integration
- Partner with subsidiary leaders to embed strong safety cultures and accountability
- Lead onboarding and uplift of newly acquired businesses
- Provide expert support and challenge without removing operational ownership
- Risk, Assurance & Culture
- Oversee risk identification, audits, incident investigation, and corrective action
- Build and lead a small, high-impact central H&S capability
- Define competence standards and develop H&S capability at all levels
Candidate Profile
- NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent); CertIOSH minimum
- Senior H&S leadership experience in complex, multi-site or multi-business environments
- Group-level experience, ideally within private equity or decentralised organisations
- Proven track record of building or transforming H&S frameworks
- Strategic, commercially astute leader with strong Board-level influence
For more information on this opportunity or to discuss your next career move, contact Matthew Cathcart on +44(0) 1923 937 128 or apply here.
Group Head of Health and Safety in London employer: Irwin and Colton
Irwin and Colton is an exceptional employer that prioritises safety, sustainability, and diversity within its dynamic work culture. As a leader in health and safety recruitment, the company offers robust employee growth opportunities and a supportive environment where your expertise can significantly impact organisational safety performance across the UK. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to fostering a proactive safety culture and driving strategic initiatives at an executive level.
