At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead health and safety strategy for major rail projects, ensuring a positive safety culture.
- Company: Join VolkerRail, a leader in railway infrastructure with a focus on safety and sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, training opportunities, and wellness support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to fairness, inclusion, and respect.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on safety culture in one of the UK's biggest rail projects.
- Qualifications: NEBOSH Diploma and 10 years' experience in health and safety leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Volker Rail Major Projects is an expert in collaborative working through joint ventures and alliance schemes.
Collaborative working agreements are a proven strategy for delivering large, complex railway projects, and through its strong relationships with other major contractors, Volker Rail Major Projects has helped to deliver several of the biggest rail projects over the last decade.
The SID is a fully integrated team that will bring together the strengths, capabilities, and knowledge of the partners and Network Rail.
It will own the renewals work bank, manage it at portfolio level and drive a transition to a production management ethos.
The SID is commercially aligned and jointly incentivised creating a ‘share in success’ environment.
Business partners within the alliance will generate profit through performance against the Final Determination.
The four partners, Volker Fitzpatrick, Octavius, Atkins, and Volker Rail are aligned to the core asset disciplines with the fifth partner, Network Rail Minor Works, being multi- disciplinary for low complexity, low value works.
As the Health & Safety Lead, you will provide strategic leadership, expert guidance and independent assurance across the Southern Renewals Enterprise.
Working closely with operational leaders, project teams, clients and supply chain partners, you will help ensure health, safety and wellbeing remain at the heart of everything we do.
You will champion Volker Rail's
Safety of Our People Principles , helping to create a positive safety culture where people feel empowered to challenge unsafe behaviours, learn from experience and continuously improve.
The role will see you leading a team of Health & Safety Managers, Advisors and Trainee Advisors, ensuring consistent professional support is delivered across multiple projects and workstreams while driving continual improvement in safety performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and delivery of the Health, Safety and Wellbeing strategy across SRE.
- Provide expert advice and support to senior leaders to drive continual improvement in safety culture and performance.
- Use performance data, trends and risk intelligence to support decision-making and improvement initiatives.
- Support the delivery of Volker Rail's core business principles: Safety of Our People, Right First Time and Our Sustainable Future.
- Leadership and Development
- Lead, manage and develop a team of health and safety professionals.
- Promote high standards of leadership, professionalism and accountability.
- Coach, mentor and support the development of future safety leaders.
- Drive consistency in health and safety support across all projects.
- Safety Culture and Operational Support
- Influence operational leaders to build and maintain positive safety cultures.
- Champion visible safety leadership through site visits, engagement activities and workforce interaction.
- Encourage proactive reporting of close calls, unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.
- Recognise positive safety behaviours and challenge unsafe practices where necessary.
- Support managers in managing significant risks and ensuring effective control measures are in place.
- Assurance, Governance and Compliance
- Lead risk-based assurance programmes, audits and inspections.
- Provide independent assurance on health and safety compliance and performance.
- Support internal, client and regulatory audits.
- Monitor compliance with Volker Rail procedures, Network Rail standards and legal requirements.
- Produce performance reports, trend analysis and strategic recommendations for senior leadership.
- Continuous Improvement
- Lead investigations into significant incidents and high-potential events.
- Analyse performance trends to identify emerging risks and improvement opportunities.
- Promote organisational learning through sharing lessons learned and best practice.
- Support the effective application of the Worksafe Procedure and behavioural safety initiatives.
About you
You will be an experienced health and safety professional with a proven track record of delivering strong safety performance within major rail, construction or infrastructure environments.
You will be comfortable influencing senior leaders, providing independent challenge when required and building strong relationships across operational, client and contractor teams.
Essential
- NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health.
- IOSH Certified Member (Cert IOSH).
- Lead ISO Auditor qualification.
- Minimum 10 years' experience in health and safety leadership roles within major infrastructure, rail or construction environments.
- Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation and Network Rail standards.
- Experience leading and developing Health & Safety teams.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
- Sentinel PTS and OLEC 1 competency.
Desirable
- CMIOSH or actively working towards Chartered status.
- ILM Level 5 Leadership & Management (or equivalent).
- Experience working within rail renewals and maintenance frameworks.
- Experience developing graduates, trainees or emerging health and safety professionals.
- Experience managing contractor and supply chain assurance.
Joining Volker Rail means becoming part of a business where safety, quality and sustainability are embedded in everything we do.
Through the Southern Renewals Enterprise, you will have the opportunity to contribute to one of the most significant railway infrastructure programmes in the UK while working alongside experienced professionals committed to delivering a safer and more reliable railway.
This is an opportunity to shape safety culture, influence business strategy and leave a lasting impact across a major rail framework while continuing to develop your career within one of the UK's leading railway infrastructure organisations.
Why work with us?
Volker Rail is under the umbrella of Volker Wessels UK which is a multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water, and environmental infrastructure.
By utilising the specialist skills of each business unit within Volker Wessels UK, Volker Rail is able to ensure our staff provide unrivalled resources and expertise to our clients.
We offer competitive rewards and benefits, recognising the value we place on our employees.
We offer a range of benefits, including
- Competitive salary
- Competitive annual leave and an additional day off on your birthday
- Pension
- Life Assurance
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Shopping and restaurants vouchers, rewards, and discounts
- Training and development opportunities, including comprehensive skills-based training
- Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity benefits
- Employee Assistance programme
- Mental health, physical health, and financial support
- Fairness, inclusion and respect
We believe in pushing boundaries in the pursuit of fairness, inclusion and respect, so our teams can be comfortable that, whatever their background, Volker Wessels UK is a place where they can be themselves and thrive.
- Additional information
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior H&S Manager in Tonbridge employer: Volkerrail Group
VolkerWessels UK is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture in Hoddesdon that fosters collaboration and innovation. Employees benefit from comprehensive training and development opportunities, ensuring personal and professional growth while contributing to impactful HR initiatives. With a commitment to integrity and accuracy, the company provides a supportive environment where your insights directly influence business decisions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior H&S Manager in Tonbridge
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Volkerrail Group, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Senior H&S Manager at Volkerrail Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior H&S Manager in Tonbridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Volkerrail Group
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
