Group Director – Project Health & Safety

Drydocks World; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Group Director for Project Health & Safety to lead health and safety initiatives across construction sites. This pivotal role focuses on implementing safety measures, ensuring compliance with regulations, and fostering a culture of safety within the organization. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in health and safety management, particularly in large-scale infrastructure projects, and will drive the 'Zero Harm' philosophy to eliminate serious incidents. Join a dynamic team dedicated to safety excellence and continuous improvement in health and safety practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years in health and safety roles within construction.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety laws and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee health and safety activities across construction projects.
• Conduct audits and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Skills

Occupational Health & Safety

Risk Assessment

Safety Audits

Incident Investigation

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Education

Degree in Occupational Health & Safety

Certifications (NEBOSH, OSHA, ISO 45001)

Job description

The Group Director – Project Health & Safety (H&S) will be responsible for ensuring all health and safety measures are effectively implemented and maintained on construction project sites within the Group Planning & Project Management Department (GPPMD) at DP World. This role serves as the primary liaison between the Project Management team and the Group Health, Safety, and Environment (GHSE) Department. The Group Director – Project H&S will focus on risk reduction, lead DP World’s "Zero Harm" philosophy, and prioritize the elimination of Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) incidents. The role also ensures compliance of contractor safety programmes and fosters continual improvement in safety practices.

Key Accountabilities

Health & Safety Oversight:

• Support the GPPMD project managers with H&S due diligence assessments to ensure all potential H&S deficiencies and risks have been addressed in the Pre-Project stage and included in the GPPMD reports to the end users.
• Oversee and monitor health and safety activities across all capital construction projects managed by GPPMD, ensuring adherence to DP World’s health & safety policies, industry regulations, and local legislation.
• Focus on risk reduction to ensure the safety of all workers.
• Support the GPPMD project managers with budgeting activities related to H&S, including forecasting, allocation, and monitoring of H&S expenses.
• Identify cost-efficient solutions to enhance H&S performance in project sites without compromising on quality or compliance.
• Champion DP World’s "Zero Harm" philosophy, promoting a safety-first culture with the goal of eliminating Serious Injuries and Fatality (SIF) incidents.
• Ensure all practices and measures align with this focus on safeguarding people.
• Act as the focal point between GPPMD and GHSE, ensuring seamless communication and coordination of H&S initiatives across project sites.
• Where applicable, lead the global rollout of relevant H&S programmes and initiatives to GPPMD project sites.

Contractor Safety Compliance:

• Review contractor safety management programs to ensure they are compliant with DP World’s health and safety standards.
• Conduct regular audits and inspections to verify contractor adherence to safety requirements on project sites.
• Collaborate with project managers and HSE professionals to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, identifying and mitigating potential threats at various stages of construction projects and capitalizing on potential opportunities.
• Develop, organise, and deliver training programmes to ensure that all project teams are aware of health and safety requirements, fostering a proactive safety culture across all construction sites.
• Lead the investigation of any incidents, accidents, or near misses on construction sites, focusing on Serious Incidents.
• Develop and analyze reports to identify trends and propose solutions. Share best practices and lessons learned across the project teams to prevent future occurrences.

Compliance Monitoring & Project Audits:

• Plan, execute, and report on regular H&S project audits to ensure ongoing compliance with both internal and external health and safety regulations.
• Recommend corrective actions and monitor their implementation to ensure a continuous improvement culture toward H&S matters.
• Develop reports for GPPMD management on findings and recommended actions to be taken to resolve hazards and risks.
• Lead and represent GPPMD in any H&S internal or external audits ensuring timely resolution of audit findings and nonconformances.

Health & Safety Documentation:

• Maintain comprehensive and accurate records of all health and safety activities on a department level as well as on a project level, including training records, incident reports, audits, and risk assessments.
• Develop reports on H&S metrics as per the department and project communication plans.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting:

• Regularly report on the performance of H&S activities to GPPMD project teams, highlighting key findings, challenges, and areas for improvement.
• Develop and analyse reports on serious incidents to identify trends and inform continuous improvement efforts.

H&S Lessons Learned & Continuous Improvement:

• Drive continuous improvement in health and safety practices by reviewing H&S lessons learned and incorporating them into future projects.
• Share best practices with the project teams and develop strategies to prevent future incidents.

Governance:

• Ensure that all H&S activities for projects and the department are aligned with the GPPMD Strategy & PMO governance framework and that all activities and documentation (including but not limited to project audit reports, lessons learned, risks, improvement plans, etc.) adhere to the relevant PMO standards and templates and performed in the relevant PMO systems.
• Collaborate with the GPPMD Strategy & PMO team to continually improve H&S practices in processes, procedures, and templates as part of the department and project governance frameworks.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Formal degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field is required.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., NEBOSH, OSHA, ISO 45001) are preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a health and safety role within construction, ideally with experience in capital construction or large-scale infrastructure projects. Experience working in a liaison role between departments is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety laws, regulations, and best practices in the construction industry. Familiarity with risk assessment methodologies, safety audits, accident investigation procedures, and contractor safety management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple teams and departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly assess situations, develop solutions, and drive improvements.
• Ability to lead health and safety initiatives, mentor site personnel, and drive a culture of safety across all levels of the organisation.
• Excellent verbal, written communication, good computer & software skills, report writing and administrative skills

Disclaimer: Naukrigulf.com is only a platform to bring jobseekers & employers together. Applicants are advised to research the bonafides of the prospective employer independently. We do NOT endorse any requests for money payments and strictly advice against sharing personal or bank related information. We also recommend you visit Security Advice for more information. If you suspect any fraud or malpractice, email us at [e-mail]

Drydocks World

DRYDOCKS WORLD - DUBAI is a modern ship repair and new building yard with very large dry docks and extensive ship building facilities. The company commenced operations in 1983 and employs nearly 10,000 multi-national employees from 52 countries.

Jumeirah, Dubai- UAE Jumeirah Beach Rd, Jumeirah 1 Next to Port Rashid, PO Box- 8988, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)