Head of Health, Safety and Environmental in Blackburn

The Head of Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) is a senior leadership role responsible for setting, leading and continuously improving the company’s Health, Safety and Environmental strategy.

Blackburn, Lancashire

Full Time

Key Purpose of the Role

Reporting directly to the Executive Directors, this role provides strategic assurance and operational leadership to ensure the business operates safely, compliantly and sustainably across all activities. The postholder will work in close partnership with the Executive Directors to ensure a consistent, aligned and robust HSE approach across the organisation. The role will champion best practice, ensure compliance with ISO 45001, ISO 14001, NERS requirements and Electrical Safety Rules and Procedures, and drive a strong safety culture throughout the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Governance
  • Lead the development, implementation and continual improvement of the company’s Health, Safety, Environmental and Occupational Health strategy.
  • Act as the principal HSE advisor to the Executive Directors, providing clear, concise and professional guidance and challenge.
  • Ensure HSE considerations are embedded into strategic decision-making, bids, tenders, growth plans and business change initiatives.
  • Embed a positive, proactive safety culture across all levels of the organisation, ensuring HSE is a core business value.
  • Provide regular HSE performance reports, analysis and recommendations to the Executive Directors and Board.
• Standards, Accreditation & Compliance
  • Maintain and continually improve the company’s management systems in line with ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management).
  • Act as the HSE lead for CDM compliance and NERS compliance, ensuring all activities meet National Electricity Registration Scheme requirements.
  • Work closely with the Company’s Authorising Officer to ensure alignment with Electrical Safety Rules and Procedures.
  • Lead internal and external audits, inspections and certification assessments.
  • Oversee the maintenance of accreditations including SafeContractor, Constructionline, SSIP and Achilles.
  • Oversee the development, review and approval of Construction Phase Plans (CPPs), Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS).
  • Ensure risk management processes are practical, proportionate and consistently applied across all projects and operations.
  • Provide professional HSE input into operational planning, project delivery and business change.
  • Lead the identification, assessment and management of occupational health risks, including (but not limited to) HAVS, noise, dust, fatigue, stress and mental health.
  • Oversee health surveillance programmes and ensure appropriate monitoring and follow-up actions are in place.
  • Promote mental health and wellbeing initiatives in line with best practice and modern safety culture expectations.
  • Act as the interface with occupational health providers and external specialists.
• Contractor & Supply Chain HSE Management
  • Establish and maintain robust contractor and supply chain HSE governance arrangements.
  • Oversee contractor pre-qualification, onboarding, monitoring and performance review processes.
  • Ensure subcontractors and suppliers comply with company HSE standards, client requirements and statutory obligations.
  • Provide assurance on supply chain HSE performance, particularly within utilities, electrical and infrastructure environments.
• Incident Management, Emergency Planning & Business Continuity
  • Lead investigations into accidents, incidents and near misses, ensuring effective root cause analysis and corrective actions.
  • Ensure compliance with RIDDOR reporting requirements and act as a key point of contact with enforcing authorities where required.
  • Oversee emergency preparedness and response arrangements, including testing, reviewing and exercising emergency plans.
  • Support business continuity and crisis management planning from an HSE perspective.
• Performance Measurement & Continuous Improvement
  • Develop, implement and monitor leading and lagging HSE performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Use data-driven analysis to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.
  • Benchmark HSE performance against industry standards and best practice.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, health and environmental performance.
• Environmental Sustainability & ESG
  • Lead environmental performance monitoring, including carbon, waste, energy and other relevant environmental metrics.
  • Drive environmental improvement initiatives beyond compliance.
  • Support ESG and sustainability reporting requirements where applicable.
  • Liaise with clients and stakeholders on environmental and sustainability expectations.
• Policy, Procedures & Legal Compliance
  • Maintain ownership of all Health, Safety, Environmental and Occupational Health policies, procedures and guidance documents.
  • Ensure ongoing compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and industry standards.
  • Monitor regulatory changes and advise the Executive Directors on implications and required actions.
• Training, Engagement & Cultural Leadership
  • Plan, deliver and oversee Health, Safety, Environmental and Occupational Health training programmes for staff and contractors.
  • Deliver safety briefings, toolbox talks and engagement sessions to reinforce safe behaviours and expectations.
  • Support, coach and challenge managers and operational teams on HSE matters.
• Stakeholder & Client Engagement
  • Act as the primary point of contact for HSE matters with clients, regulators, auditors and external stakeholders.
  • Support client assurance meetings, performance reviews, pre qualification and tender submissions from an HSE perspective.
  • Work collaboratively with operational, commercial and leadership teams to ensure consistent HSE standards are applied.

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven senior-level experience in a Health, Safety and Environmental leadership role.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 45001, ISO 14001, CDM Requirements, NERS requirements, and Electrical Safety Rules and Procedures.
• Demonstrable experience leading HSE strategy and advising senior stakeholders.
• Strong experience in risk management, RAMS, audits and incident investigation.
• Experience delivering HSE training and safety briefings.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational involvement.
• Demonstratable experience introducing and implementing policies and procedures that will be imbedded into the Company’s Management System.
• NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) in Occupational Health & Safety.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. IOSH).
• ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 Internal Auditor qualification.
• IEMA Practitioner or Chartered status.
• Experience supporting ESG or sustainability frameworks.
• Experience in organisational change management or safety culture transformation.
• Background in utilities, electrical or infrastructure environments.

Skills

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at Board level.
• Confident and engaging communicator.
• High level of professionalism, integrity and attention to detail.
• Practical, proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work under pressure within a quickly evolving company.