Principle Safety and Assurance Business Partner

Together, we move what matters

We are at the start of something powerful. Heavy Haul Rail was created with a simple but transformative belief: the UK deserves a smarter, cleaner, more resilient freight future. And we have the opportunity to build it.

Every role in this business carries purpose. Whether you work in operational delivery, driving trains, engineering, or business support, the work you do contributes directly to reducing emissions, easing road congestion, strengthening supply chains and powering British industry. This is meaningful work, with real impact.

Who we are

Previously operating as Freightliner’s Heavy Haul business, we are now an independent company following CMA CGM Group’s acquisition of Freightliner UK’s Intermodal Logistics business in January 2026.

Heavy Haul Rail is the UK’s next-generation rail freight partner built for a sector ready to evolve. We believe it’s time to move differently. Congested roads, rising emissions, fragile supply chains. These aren’t just logistical challenges; they’re environmental and economic wake-up calls. We’re here to lead the modal shift, helping businesses transition from road to rail with confidence, clarity, and measurable impact.

We move 17 million tonnes of freight a year for customers in the industrial, energy and construction markets.  The company operates 95 locomotives and over 1000 wagons.  Heavy Haul Rail’s team of 950 supports customer deliveries to over 100 locations across the UK, running 250 trains per week.

Heavy Haul Rail also supports the renewal and maintenance of the rail infrastructure and supports passenger train operators and rolling stock companies, including the provision of drivers and route conducting services.

But none of this happens without us, its people.

Role Profile

Job Title: Principle Safety and Assurance Business Partner

Who we are

Heavy Haul Rail (HHR) is the UK’s next-generation rail freight partner built for a sector ready to evolve. We believe it’s time to move differently. Congested roads, rising emissions, fragile supply chains. These aren’t just logistical challenges; they’re environmental and economic wake-up calls. We’re here to lead the modal shift, helping businesses transition from road to rail with confidence, clarity, and measurable impact.

We move 17 million tonnes of freight a year for customers in the industrial, energy and construction markets.  The company operates 95 locomotives and over 1000 wagons.  HHR’s team of 950 supports customer deliveries to over 100 locations across the UK, running 250 trains per week.

HHR also supports the renewal and maintenance of the rail infrastructure and supports passenger train operators and rolling stock companies, including the provision of drivers and route conducting services.

The Purpose of Your Role

You will lead the development of a robust evidence led and industry leading safety strategy that will underpin and enable growth and expansion of our business.  You will also develop, lead and champion a programme that will place proportionate and effective safety at the heart of everything we do.  You will oversee effective delivery through suppliers, service partners and internal functions, gathering and utilising high quality management information to drive ongoing continual improvement.

You will champion effective and proportionate management of safety, act as an expert adviser and critical friend to the leadership team, management and staff, and engage in leading and developing the health and safety capability within to increase reach across the business.  You will also represent the company with external stakeholders including industry groups, regulators, and government. In achieving this you will do so by aligning with HHR’s vision: to become the UK’s most progressive and powerful rail freight partner.

- This role is pivotal in delivering smarter, cleaner, and more connected freight solutions, embodying our values:

- Make every mile matter
- Build boldly
- Move as one
- Deliver with certainty
- Fuel the future.

What You’ll Do

1.     Drive accountability for effective and legally compliant Health, Safety and Environmental management systems.

2.     Lead in the development and delivery of a risk-based assurance plan to provide the business awareness of regulatory and heath and safety compliance.

3.     Champion the competence and assurance agenda, and provide advice, support and guidance to internal stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of improvement plans and projects throughout the business.

4.     Provide advice guidance and direction to ensure effective remedial action following accidents, operational incidents and precursor incidents.

5.     Lead and develop the business capability for training, competence and assurance to provide high quality, professional, business focussed support in every part of our organisation.

6.     Collaborate with the Leadership Team to develop a business focussed safety strategy for the organisation, together with a high level, output focussed delivery plan.

7.     Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop comprehensive and high-quality management information to support effective targeting and decision making, together with comprehensive metrics to measure effectiveness, performance and benefits realisation.

8.     Facilitate development of ambitious delivery/improvement plans in each area of the business, to include upskilling internal stakeholders to obtain effective engagement.

9.     Champion the safety agenda, and provide advice, support and guidance to internal stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of improvement plans and projects throughout the business.

10.  Lead and develop the health and safety team to provide high quality, professional, business focussed support in every part of our organisation

11.  Develop monthly reports including KPIs to illustrate key trends and inform strategy and planning within the business

12.  Lead on interaction with Regulatory Bodies, industry groups and external stakeholders

13.  Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation and best practice relating to health and safety, and engage actively in CPD as prescribed by professional body

14.  Other tasks as required by the business

What We’re Looking For

1.     Level 6 or 7 qualification in a relevant subject or equivalent vocational experience

2.     Membership of a relevant professional body

3.     Experience of leading safety, competence management, training or assurance, ideally within the rail, transport or similar high hazard sector.

4.     Excellent written and oral communication skills.

5.     The ability to produce clear and concise written documentation and to present technical detail in a concise, engaging and business focussed manner

6.     Excellent influencing skills and the ability to engage others in a shared objective

7.     Ability to prioritise workload and use experience and initiative to engage internal and external stakeholders

8.     Willingness and ability to work flexibly and travel throughout the UK with occasional overnight stays

9.     Be competent in the use of computers including Microsoft 365 suite and relevant specialist software, as well as intranet, social media and other sharing applications

Your Behaviours

1.     Attacks tasks and objectives with drive, energy and enthusiasm;

2.     Rolls their sleeves up and gets involved in a wide variety of tasks and activities;

3.     Demonstrates a “can do” attitude and is seen as an ambassador for the Company;

4.     Proactive approach to work and uses own initiative to implement process improvements;

5.     Embraces new challenges and gets things done;

6.     Sets high standards of work for self and consistently achieves these;

7.     Seen as friendly and approachable, always willing to assist and get involved;

8.     Good team player;

Why Join Us?

Here, you’re not one small part of a big machine. You’re a key contributor with national significance and real-world impact. We want our colleagues to feel proud of the work they do, connected to our mission and empowered to shape the future of this business. As part of Heavy Haul Rail, you can expect:

- Purpose that matters. Your work contributes to a cleaner, more efficient freight industry.

- Opportunity to shape what’s next. We’re new, agile and ready to do things differently, your ideas help build our future.

- A team that moves forward together. Collaboration, respect and shared ambition define how we work.

- A commitment to excellence. We deliver with pride, precision and professionalism.

- Room to grow. Your development fuels our momentum.

Our perks and benefits

Our people are our most important asset. We strive to empower our employees, ensuring they are trained and competent, fit for work, always informed, and completely engaged in our culture that places safety and wellbeing firmly at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for the most committed and reliable individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and experience needed for their roles. In return we can offer considerable career progression, and a rewarding career in an award-winning team alongside:

- Competitive pay

- Fantastic final-salary pension scheme after an initial qualifying period

- Enhanced maternity & paternity pay

- Opportunities for ongoing training and development.

- Access to the company's life assurance scheme

- A range of benefits to make your own so you can get the most of your work and home life which will also help save you money and hassle. From reimbursement on health treatments, to savings on new cars.

Apply now

We know where we’re heading. We know why it matters. Now, it’s time to move, to make it real, together.

For queries contact [email protected]

Shaping tomorrow. Starting today

The future we want to build won’t happen on its own, we have to move it forward, together. Heavy Haul Rail has the purpose, the ambition and the opportunity to reshape how Britain moves. Whatever our roles, we are collaborators, creators and custodians of a better future. This journey starts with what we choose to do today, tomorrow and every day after that.

Our values are:

- Make Every Mile Matter : We act with intention and responsibility, knowing our work shapes a cleaner, stronger future for the UK.

- Build Boldly : We use our entrepreneurial spirit to challenge legacy thinking and design better ways forward, for our customers, our industry and each other.

- We move as one: We collaborate with trust, respect and shared momentum, because progress is a team sport.

- Deliver with certainty : We stand behind our work. We’re reliable, precise and accountable in everything we do.

- Fuelling The Future: We invest in our people and our potential, championing learning, curiosity and continuous improvement. with confidence, clarity, and measurable impact.