Head of HS&E

Head of HS&E - Asset Management

Location: Flexible UK Location (with regular UK-wide travel)
Business Unit: Asset Management, Environment Division

About Us

Galliford Try is one of the UK's leading construction and infrastructure businesses, delivering projects and services that create lasting value for our clients, communities and the environment.

Within our Environment Division, the Asset Management Business Unit provides specialist engineering, manufacturing, maintenance and asset support services across the UK. Comprising Lintott, Ham Baker Engineering, GT Fabrications, AVRS and GT Capital Maintenance , we offer a comprehensive asset lifecycle solution, from design and manufacture through to installation, maintenance, refurbishment and operational support.

Our Asset Management businesses play a critical role in helping clients maintain, improve and extend the life of essential infrastructure assets across regulated and industrial sectors.

Purpose of the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Head of HS&E to join our Asset Management senior leadership team.

This is a significant strategic leadership opportunity, responsible for setting the direction for Health, Safety and Environmental performance across a diverse portfolio of specialist engineering, manufacturing, fabrication, maintenance and installation businesses.

Reporting to the HS&E Director (Environment), you will develop, implement and assure the Asset Management HS&E strategy, ensuring all businesses consistently achieve exemplary standards of health, safety and environmental performance whilst supporting sustainable business growth.

Operating across multiple businesses, locations and operational environments, you will balance governance, assurance and compliance requirements with the need for agility, operational effectiveness and commercial performance. You will be equally comfortable providing Board-level strategic leadership and hands-on support to operational teams.

Working closely with the Asset Management Managing Director, Managing Directors across the individual operating businesses, and senior leadership teams, you will help shape culture, improve performance and create a consistency of standards while recognising the unique requirements of each business.

What You'll Be Doing

As Head of HS&E, you will:

- Develop and implement the Asset Management HS&E Strategy, ensuring alignment with divisional and Group objectives.
- Lead the continual development of a positive, inclusive and high-performing HS&E culture across all Asset Management businesses.
- Provide strategic HS&E leadership across engineering, manufacturing, fabrication, workshop, maintenance, installation and field-service operations.
- Act as the principal HS&E advisor to senior leaders across the Asset Management portfolio.
- Balance governance and assurance requirements with operational and commercial realities.
- Drive behavioural safety programmes and initiatives that improve culture, engagement and performance.
- Lead the development of robust governance, assurance and performance management frameworks.
- Ensure compliance with Galliford Try standards, legal requirements and client expectations.
- Build strong relationships with clients, regulators, industry bodies and key stakeholders.
- Lead significant investigations and ensure lessons learned are embedded across the business.
- Drive environmental sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives.
- Support acquisition activity, business integration programmes and organisational change initiatives.
- Lead and develop the Asset Management HS&E team, creating a culture of learning, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Act as the senior HS&E representative for Asset Management within the wider Environment Division and Galliford Try community.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

- Develop and maintain an effective HS&E governance framework across a diverse portfolio of specialist businesses.
- Provide assurance over performance, risk management, legal compliance and management systems.
- Ensure consistent standards and expectations whilst recognising differing operational models, customer requirements and risk profiles.
- Challenge and influence where Group, business and client requirements differ, ensuring practical and sustainable solutions.
- Lead implementation of Galliford Try HS&E initiatives across the Asset Management portfolio.
- Maintain and continuously improve management systems, certifications and accreditations.

Culture, Assurance & Performance

- Drive the alignment of HS&E culture, leadership behaviours and risk management practices.
- Develop assurance programmes that provide meaningful insight into performance and risk.
- Lead performance monitoring and reporting activities across the portfolio.
- Use data, digital tools and business intelligence to drive proactive risk management and continual improvement.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, productivity and business performance through effective HS&E leadership.
- Monitor trends and implement targeted interventions where required.

Business Growth & Continuous Improvement

- Support due diligence activities associated with acquisitions, mergers and business growth.
- Lead HS&E integration programmes for newly acquired businesses.
- Drive innovation and best practice adoption across the Asset Management portfolio.
- Ensure environmental sustainability goals are embedded within operational and strategic planning.
- Promote the sharing of knowledge and good practice across businesses and the wider Environment Division.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

- Lead, develop and mentor HS&E professionals across the Asset Management business.
- Build trusted relationships with senior leaders, operational teams and external stakeholders.
- Influence strategic decision-making through expert advice and commercial understanding.
- Represent the business with regulators, clients and industry bodies where required.

About You

This role requires an experienced and influential HS&E leader who can operate effectively in complex, fast-paced and commercially focused environments.

Essential Skills & Competencies

- Strong strategic leadership capability with the ability to influence at Board and executive level.
- Demonstrable experience balancing HS&E excellence with commercial objectives.
- Exceptional communication, engagement and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven ability to lead organisational and cultural transformation.
- Strong leadership experience developing and managing high-performing teams.
- Experience influencing across multiple businesses and geographically dispersed operations.
- Ability to work effectively within complex organisational structures.
- Strong governance, assurance and management systems expertise.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and risk-based decision-making abilities.
- Proven capability in developing and implementing HS&E strategies.
- Strong understanding of sustainability, environmental management and operational risk management.
- Experience using performance data and business intelligence to drive improvement.
- Strong Microsoft Office proficiency.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

- Significant senior HS&E leadership experience within engineering, manufacturing, construction, utilities, infrastructure, maintenance or similarly regulated sectors.
- Proven experience operating at Head of Function, Senior Management or equivalent leadership level.
- NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent Level 6 Occupational Health & Safety qualification.
- Comprehensive knowledge of UK health, safety and environmental legislation.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel extensively throughout the UK.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

- Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH).
- Environmental qualification such as IEMA Practitioner, PIEMA, AIEMA or equivalent.
- Lead Auditor qualification.
- Experience working within multi-company, portfolio-based or group organisational structures.
- Experience leading HS&E due diligence and integration activities associated with acquisitions and business growth.
- Extensive experience managing HS&E risks within manufacturing, fabrication, workshop, maintenance and installation environments.

Why Join Us?

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of HS&E across a diverse portfolio of specialist businesses that are central to Galliford Try's long-term growth ambitions.

You will have the opportunity to influence culture, governance, strategy and performance at a senior level, whilst leading a talented team and working alongside senior leaders across the Asset Management and Environment businesses.

If you are a strategic thinker, an influential leader and passionate about creating high-performing organisations through exceptional HS&E standards, we'd love to hear from you.

What We Can Offer in Return

With an impressive order book and long-term growth strategy, Galliford Try offers the opportunity to work on some of the UK's most important infrastructure programmes while developing a rewarding and successful career.

We are committed to maintaining the physical and mental wellbeing of our people through our Be Well programme, offering support, advice and wellbeing initiatives across the business.

We invest significantly in professional and leadership development through tailored career pathways, training programmes and qualifications to help our people achieve their full potential.

Our Agile Working programme provides flexibility in how, when and where you work, where operational requirements allow.

Our Benefits

We put our people first and our benefits package reflects that by offering a comprehensive range of attractive options to support your career alongside a competitive salary.

- 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service, with the option to purchase additional leave
- A wide range of corporate discounts
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Comprehensive pension scheme
- Save As You Earn share purchase scheme
- Private medical scheme options
- Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support
- Paid membership to one recognised professional institution relevant to your role

About Us

Our purpose is to improve people's lives through building the facilities and infrastructure that communities need, providing opportunities for our people to learn, grow and progress, working with our supply chain to promote best practice and caring for the environment in which we work.

We do this by holding true to our values of Excellence, Passion, Integrity and Collaboration (EPIC) , delivering excellence for our clients and communities while creating lasting value for all stakeholders.

For more information on this role or to enquire about other opportunities within our business, please contact [email protected] .

Additional Information

Galliford Try welcomes applications from candidates who would like to work full-time, reduced hours or flexibly and this will be discussed in more detail during the recruitment process.

We encourage candidates to let us know of any reasonable adjustments that would support them throughout the application and interview process.

Don't meet every requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification. At Galliford Try, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to offering an interview to candidates with a long-term health condition or disability who meet the essential criteria for the role. Please contact the Resourcing Partner listed within the advert if you believe this applies to you.

A full job description is available upon request.

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