Head of Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ)
Location: London
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Working Pattern: Hybrid (2 Days)
We are looking for an experienced Head of HSEQ to lead health, safety, environmental and quality standards across a diverse, multi-site organisation.
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for shaping HSEQ strategy, strengthening compliance and embedding a positive safety and quality culture across construction, housing repairs, property maintenance, facilities management, cleaning and catering services.
The successful candidate will act as the organisation’s senior HSEQ expert, advising executive leaders, supporting operational teams and providing assurance to clients, regulators and external auditors.
The Role
As Head of HSEQ, you will:
- Develop and deliver the organisation’s HSEQ strategy, annual plans and performance objectives.
- Provide expert advice to executive leaders, senior managers and operational teams.
- Lead, manage and develop the HSEQ team.
- Promote a proactive health, safety, environmental and quality culture.
- Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, contractual requirements and recognised industry standards.
- Lead serious incident, accident and near-miss investigations.
- Oversee risk assessments, safe systems of work, method statements and permit-to-work arrangements.
- Provide HSEQ assurance across construction, repairs, maintenance and refurbishment activities.
- Ensure contractors and subcontractors meet organisational HSEQ standards.
- Oversee compliance relating to CDM, COSHH, RIDDOR, asbestos, fire safety and working at height.
- Maintain and continually improve the integrated management system.
- Lead certification and surveillance activities for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
- Develop and deliver internal audit, inspection and management-review programmes.
- Monitor environmental performance, including waste, pollution prevention, resource use and carbon reduction.
- Develop HSEQ performance dashboards, KPIs and senior-management reports.
- Maintain HSEQ risk registers and ensure corrective actions are completed.
- Support tender submissions, contract mobilisation and client-assurance requirements.
- Develop HSEQ training, inductions, toolbox talks and engagement campaigns.
- Build strong relationships with employees, clients, contractors, regulators and external stakeholders.
About You
You will be an experienced HSEQ leader with a strong track record of working within a complex operational environment.
You will ideally bring experience from one or more of the following sectors:
- Construction
- Social housing
- Property maintenance
- Facilities management
- Local government
- Public services
- Building services
You will be confident operating at both strategic and operational level, with the credibility to influence senior leaders while remaining visible and accessible to frontline teams.
Essential Requirements
- NEBOSH Diploma, degree-level health and safety qualification or equivalent.
- Chartered membership of IOSH, ideally CMIOSH, or demonstrable progress towards chartered status.
- Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation.
- Experience managing HSEQ within a complex, multi-service or multi-site organisation.
- Experience maintaining ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards.
- Experience leading audits, investigations and compliance-improvement programmes.
- Strong contractor and supply-chain management experience.
Desirable Experience
- Experience within social housing, property maintenance or facilities management.
- Experience working within local government or the wider public sector.
- Lead Auditor qualification.
- Membership of IEMA or the Chartered Quality Institute.
- Fire safety, asbestos or building safety qualifications.
- Experience supporting tender submissions and contract mobilisation.