Health and Safety Manager in Grain

At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. National Grid supplies us with the environment to make it happen. As we generate momentum in the energy transition for all, we don’t plan on leaving any of our customers in the dark. We are currently recruiting for a Health & Safety Operational Manager to join National Grid Ventures working at our Britned Interconnector based onsite at the Isle of Grain.

The Health & Safety Operational Manager leads risk-based health, safety and environmental (SHE) improvements and provides assurance that Safety Management Systems (SMS) are effective across the Incorporated Joint Ventures (IJVs) for the Nemolink and Britned interconnectors. The purpose of the role is to ensure the interconnectors operate safely, compliantly and efficiently on a 24/7/365 basis. The postholder will sit on the IJV management team and work closely with the NGV Interconnectors Safety team to mature safety arrangements, verify that risks are controlled, and confirm alignment with regulatory expectations, company standards and industry best practice.

Please note the role is based on site at Britned Interconnector based in Isle of Grain, Rochester, with regular travel to partner offices in Europe and Warwick. You must be able to drive with a full UK licence and be able to travel to site.

What you'll do

• Responsible for the continual improvement and governance of IJV Safety Management Systems, ensuring alignment with corporate SHES frameworks, applicable European and UK legislation, and recognised industry standards.
• Evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of IJV SMS arrangements, including governance, leadership, competence, risk management, and performance monitoring.
• Support the consistent application of safety expectations, understanding that the interconnectors have differing regulatory regimes and cultural considerations.
• Develop and deliver a proportionate, risk-based operational assurance plan across the interconnectors, focusing on high-risk activities and critical controls.
• Lead and undertake targeted assurance activities, including audits, inspections, and deep-dive reviews, to test the effectiveness of risk controls in practice.
• Provide clear, evidence-based assurance findings, identifying systemic weaknesses, emerging risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Track, challenge, and verify the close-out of corrective and preventative actions arising from assurance activities, incidents, and regulatory findings.
• Act as the primary SHES assurance interface with joint venture partners, leadership teams and contractors.
• Build strong, professional relationships that enable constructive challenge while maintaining independence and objectivity.
• Support operational teams in understanding regulatory expectations and translating them into practical, site-level controls.
• Engage with regulators, certification bodies, and external stakeholders as required, supporting inspections, audits, and formal reviews.
• Provide oversight of serious incident investigations, ensuring root causes are identified and learning is shared effectively across both projects.
• Analyse and report trends in leading and lagging safety indicators to identify emerging risk themes and areas requiring intervention.
• Ensure Electricity Safety Management systems are effectively managed and implemented with robust authorisation processes.
• Produce clear, concise assurance reports and dashboards for senior leadership, highlighting risk exposure, assurance outcomes, and residual concerns.
• Escalate material health and safety risks where controls are ineffective or where progress is insufficient.
• Support governance forums by providing expert advice, assurance insights, and professional judgement.

What you'll need

• Strong understanding of health and safety legislation and regulatory frameworks relevant to large infrastructure and construction projects within Europe.
• Demonstrable experience of providing independent health and safety assurance within complex environments.
• Knowledge and experience in managing high voltage assets and in the application of electrical safety rules and commissioning processes.
• Experience of working across the asset lifecycle, including development, construction, commissioning and handover to embed safety by design.
• Proven ability to apply risk-based thinking to assurance planning and delivery, focusing effort on material risks and critical controls.
• Experience of engaging with regulators and external assurance bodies.
• Highly effective communicator, able to influence, challenge, and advise senior leaders, partners, and contractors.
• Able to balance collaborative working with independence and professional challenge.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement and learning.
• NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) – essential.
• HND or better in Engineering.
• Experience of working on High Voltage asset systems.
• Chartered status or working towards membership of a recognised professional body (e.g. IOSH) – desirable.
• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience in health and safety roles within major projects, energy, utilities, or infrastructure environments.
• Strong understanding of safety management systems, assurance models, and audit techniques.
• Full driving licence and willingness to travel extensively across the South East European region.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the commercial drivers of major projects and joint ventures.
• Able to influence safety outcomes without direct budgetary or line management control, using assurance, evidence, and professional credibility.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £60,000.00 - £74,000.00 per annum – dependent on capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance of up to 30% and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

This role closes on 1st June 2026 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates – we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process. Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.