Established in 1967 as a Port Authority and now with eight strategically located ports across Scotland and England, Forth Ports handles an impressive 31 million tonnes of cargo each year. It is home to both London’s and Scotland’s largest ports - key gateways for international trade and domestic supply chains. Beyond the sheer scale of operations, Forth Ports contributes a remarkable £950 million in economic value annually, supporting businesses, communities, and the broader UK economy.
Port of Tilbury stands as the closest port to London, making it a critical gateway for trade into the capital and beyond. Each year, Tilbury handles around 16 million tonnes of cargo, accounting for an impressive 36% of the total volume moved along the River Thames. The port alone generates over half of the Forth Ports Group’s total turnover and supports around 700 direct employees, contributing £394 million annually to the UK economy. Having already undergone a £1billion investment programme, the port has ambitious plans to double its cargo throughput to 32 million tonnes per year and triple direct port-related employment from 4,000 to over 12,000 jobs over the next 10 to 15 years.
The Group Head of Health & Safety will lead and embed a progressive, group-wide safety strategy. Reporting to the COO, this high-impact role will provide visible leadership across a complex, multi-site operation, ensuring best-in-class standards in safety, risk and compliance.
You will act as the organisation’s senior safety voice, advising the Executive and Board, engaging with regulators and industry bodies, and driving a consistent, high-performing safety culture across all locations. With significant investment, expansion and operational evolution underway, this is a unique opportunity to shape long-term strategy, champion innovation, and ensure safety remains at the heart of sustainable growth.
Candidates should bring senior H&S leadership experience from ports, infrastructure, logistics, construction, or heavy industry, with a proven track record of delivering strategy across multi-site environments. With deep knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks, you will be a credible adviser to senior stakeholders and an influential leader of teams. You will combine technical expertise with strong communication, strategic thinking, and a passion for driving a zero-harm culture.
If you would like to be part of a visionary leadership team driving safety across a genuinely complex, high-hazard, multi-site environment, we would love to hear from you. Please apply or contact our retained advisor, Sophie Randles, at sophierandles@livingstonjames.com for a confidential discussion.
Any direct applications or third-party introductions to Forth Ports will be forwarded to Livingston James for consideration.
Forth Ports is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.