Group Director Health & Safety

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Establishes policies and procedures across the group to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards, as well as to promote a culture of safety within the whole organization.
• Conducts regular inspections and risk assessments of the workplace to identify potential hazards and risks to health and safety. Develops a safety audit program, using teams of external and internal auditors.
• Responsible in preparation and delivery of appropriate senior management H&S training.
• Responsible for providing training and educational programs to employees to raise awareness about health and safety issues and ensure that everyone understands their responsibilities.
• Investigates accidents, incidents, and near misses to determine their causes and implement measures to prevent recurrence. Ensures that all incidents are properly reported and documented as required by law. Assesses key trends in accident and incident data and advises the organization as appropriate, make sure that these trends are imbedded in the policies and guidelines.
• Stays up-to-date with relevant health and safety legislation and regulations and ensures that the organization complies with all legal requirements.
• Acts as the main point of contact between the organization and regulatory agencies, responding to inquiries, conducting audits, and ensuring that any regulatory requirements are met.
• Develops and implements emergency response plans to deal with situations such as fires, natural disasters, or chemical spills, and ensure that employees are trained and prepared to respond effectively.
• Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of health and safety programs and initiatives and implement improvements as necessary to continually enhance safety performance. Promotes knowledge sharing and building professional capability of the H&S teams.
• Liaises with the ESG Specialist on Environment and HR management on Health initiatives. Including office environment, absenteeism, work-life balance, diversity and inclusion.
• Further develops and rolls-out the Compass program.
• Ensure continuous improvement, knowledge sharing and building professional capability of the H&S teams.

Key Functional Competencies

• Understanding of local, national, and international health and safety regulations and standards applicable to the industry. Ability to interpret and ensure compliance with these regulations.
• Proficiency in conducting risk assessments, hazard identification, and implementing risk control measures to minimize workplace hazards and prevent accidents or injuries.
• Skill in developing, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive health and safety policies, procedures, and programs tailored to the organization’s needs and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to design and deliver effective health and safety training programs to employees at all levels, ensuring they are aware of hazards, safe work practices, and emergency procedures.
• Expertise in conducting thorough incident investigations to identify root causes, contributing factors, and corrective actions needed to prevent recurrence. Proficient in incident reporting and documentation.
• Knowledge of emergency response planning, including developing contingency plans, conducting drills, and ensuring resources and personnel are prepared to respond effectively to emergencies such as fires, natural disasters, or chemical spills.
• Strong communication skills to effectively communicate health and safety policies, procedures, and expectations to employees, (senior) management, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders. Ability to build relationships and collaborate with internal and external partners.
• Analytical skills to monitor and analyze health and safety performance metrics, identify trends, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety culture and reduce risk.
• Leadership qualities to inspire and motivate management and employees to prioritize safety, foster a culture of safety, and actively engage in health and safety initiatives. Ability to (functional) manage a team of health and safety professionals effectively.
• Understanding of relevant technical concepts related to workplace safety, such as ergonomics, industrial hygiene, hazardous materials management, and environmental health.
• Experience in conducting health and safety audits and inspections to assess compliance with regulations and standards, identify deficiencies, and recommend corrective actions.

• Business professional with 8 – 10 years’ experience working with multiple stakeholders in a complex matrix environment, preferably with background in PE and Health and Safety.
• At least Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Occupational Health and Safety.
• Proven track record as a successful leader and senior safety manager.
• Great change management skills.
• Proven track record with professionalizing decentralized companies.
• Able to drive change through a companywide campaign, excellent stakeholder management, stay abreast and bring people along: persistence, high achiever and down to earth.
• Can demonstrate strong strategic thinking, well developed decision making abilities, and the ability to take responsibility and take effective decisions.
• A stable career track with clear career progression within a limited number of employers.
• Experience with working in an international and matrix environment.
• Eager and ambitious with the ability to go at least one level up.
• Fluent in English and in German, ideally Dutch or French as well; at equal qualification diversity criteria will apply in the final selection process.
• Willingness to travel up to 40%.

• Excellent salary

• Excellent secondary employment conditions

• Variable bonus up to 20%

• Hybrid position up to 40%

• Excellent opportunities for further development

• A dynamic and international environment