Divisional Head of HSEQ

Department: HSEQ

Location: Chelmsford

Compensation: £80,000 - £95,000 / year

Description

As Divisional Head of HSEQ covering water, energy and gas contracts within the division, you will take a strategic lead in promoting, implementing and sustaining a culture of excellence in HSEQ performance. With responsibility for multiple national contracts, you will ensure the effective application of internal standards and regulatory frameworks whilst aligning systems to external standards.

You will be instrumental in delivering our HSEQ business plan and embedding continuous improvement across all operations. Working closely with operational leaders, you will champion proactive risk management, compliance assurance, and innovation in health, safety, environmental and quality management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of multi contract-specific HSEQ strategies aligned to the Group’s governance framework.
• Provide strategic oversight and assurance to ensure all HSEQ risks are identified, assessed, and managed consistently across all contracts.
• Lead a team of HSEQ Managers and Advisors, ensuring clear responsibilities, capability development and high performance.
• Act as lead investigator for major HSEQ incidents, ensuring thorough root cause analysis and effective corrective action.
• Deliver meaningful management information reports, analysing trends and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Liaise with client stakeholders to ensure expectations are met and exceeded through transparent reporting, collaboration and delivery of best practice.
• Maintain and improve the assurance framework to monitor HSEQ risk controls across contracts.
• Influence and contribute to group-wide initiatives, sharing insights, lessons learned and innovations.
• Provide guidance and support on regulatory developments, ensuring the directorate remains future-ready and compliant.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including enforcing authorities and industry bodies.
  
  

Experience and Qualifications

• Substantial senior management experience in HSEQ, proven experience in managing large teams across multiple locations/contracts.
• Leading in multi sector in a high-risk operational environment.
• Proven record as Lead Incident Investigator
• HSEQ qualifications NEBOSH Diploma or degree equivalent.
• IEMA or equivalent environmental degree.
• Quality Management qualifications.
• Lead Investigator Training
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Highly competent in report writing, data analysis and the use of IT tools including Excel and safety databases.

Desirable

• Experience working within the utility or infrastructure sectors.
• Chartered membership professional bodies

What We Offer

• A key leadership role in a forward-thinking, safety-led organisation
• Opportunities for continued professional development
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Supportive, values-driven company culture
• Influence over the strategic direction of HSEQ performance across a vital national sector

If you are a proactive leader with a passion for safety and quality, and the capability to drive standards across a high-profile portfolio, we’d love to hear from you.

Salary and Benefits

We offer a competitive salary based on experience along with a full benefits package.

Network Plus is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

We are Armed Forces-friendly. We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, armed forces veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

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