Head of HSE Operations Support

Paragon GE; Dubai; On-site; AED 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

Paragon GE is seeking a Head of HSE Operations Support in Dubai to lead the Dubai-based HSEQ team and provide corporate-level HSE guidance across operations. The role requires 15+ years in Oil & Gas with offshore exposure, and progression into corporate or regional responsibilities.

Responsibilities include driving IMS implementation, developing HSE standards, and ensuring regulatory compliance, incident investigations, and KPI monitoring. Travel to sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required for this role.
• Minimum 15 years of Oil & Gas experience, upstream including offshore.
• Senior HSE leadership with corporate or regional exposure is essential.
• Profiles focused on drilling/contractor EPC roles are less suitable for this position.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Dubai-based HSEQ Operations Support team to provide corporate-level guidance.
• Drive the Integrated Management System (IMS) implementation across Level-1 and Level-2 action plans.
• Develop, update, and train on HSE Standards and Guidelines to ensure compliance.
• Maintain and improve the HSE risk registers, incident reporting, and investigations per company methodology.
• Coordinate with HR for HSE competency requirements and annual training plans.

Skills

HSE Management

Regulatory Compliance

Auditing

Incident Investigation

Risk Assessment

Training & Competency

Crisis Management

Contractor Management

Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Job description

Paragon is supporting an international upstream Oil & Gas operator in the search for a Head of HSE Operations Support to join its corporate team in Dubai, UAE.

This is a senior Operations HSE leadership position with responsibility for providing corporate-level HSE support, assurance and guidance across the company’s operations. The successful candidate will combine strong operational and technical HSE credentials with the ability to operate effectively at corporate/group level, while maintaining close engagement with producing assets and field teams.

Candidates must have significant experience directly with an upstream Oil & Gas operator/E&P company, including HSE support to producing operations and offshore exposure. Previous field or asset-level experience is highly valued; however, candidates must also demonstrate progression into broader corporate, regional or group-level responsibilities. The position requires a relevant university degree and a minimum of 15 years' Oil & Gas experience.

Please note that profiles predominantly focused on Drilling HSE, Construction/Project HSE or Shutdown/Turnaround HSE, or candidates whose experience has been exclusively with EPC contractors or service companies, will not be suitable for this particular position.

This is a permanent staff position based in Dubai, offered on family status with a comprehensive benefits package.

Position Title: Head of HSE Opperations Support

Location: Dubai, UAE

Job Purpose

• Lead HSEQ Operations Support: Lead the Dubai-based team to deliver direct HSEQ operational support to company operations and HQ.
• Drive IMS Implementation: Ensure the Company Integrated Management System is properly implemented by rolling out and timely completing all activities in Level-1 and Level-2 IMS Annual Action Plans.
• Develop & Implement HSE Standards: Support the organization to develop, update, and effectively implement HSE Standards and Guidelines through timely support, guidance, and training.

Key Responsibilities

Leading and Maintaining HSE Operations Support Activities

• Develop, review and perform gap analysis for effective improvement of key company HSE Standards, with emphasis on Control of Work, to ensure that set requirements are well understood and fully compliant with relevant regulations and aligned with Industry Best Practices.
• Provide on demand Operations and Tactical advice in addition to pro-actively engaging key stakeholders and staff with assigned Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities in respective RACI charts.
• Ensure fitness for purpose of IMS supporting documentation is maintained compliant with applicable regulatory requirements and aligned with industry best practices.
• Monitor and support ensuring strict compliance with company Incident Reporting and Investigation Standard and making sure lessons learned are captured and leveraged.
• Lead the HSE Performance Monitoring and Reporting process and propose as required, the adjustments needed to help ensure Corporate HSE KPI’s are met.
• Provide necessary support to designated Incident Investigation Teams to ensure that right team in involved and that investigation is carried as per the company methodology and the actions are to prevent reoccurrence of similar events.
• Actively coordinate with the HSE Technical/Process Safety team, for required input related to Management of Technical Change during operations or during Projects’ execution until pre-start up, startup and commissioning of the facility.
• Act as a Focal point for the Business Impact Assessment (BIA) and Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and to review and update the documents based on the requirements and Emergency exercises and lesson learned in consultation with relevant team members.
• Lead/participate in Site Operations Risk Assessments, as required.
• Ensure department level Operational HSE Risk Registers are updated and reviewed periodically. Participate in the HSE Risk Register meetings with all departments to ensure that the Risk Register is updated and maintained in order with appropriate follow-up of the action items.
• Monitor implementation of Contractors HSE Management Standard covering all stages from pre-qualification to post contract performance evaluation.
• Support reviewing Project HSEQ related documents such as HSE Plans, Contractors Bridging documents, Method Statements, Risk Assessments, EIA/EPP, etc.
• Participate in the selection process of Contractors Project HSE Manager and other key HSE positions together with the site HSE Team to ensure adequate resources are available to manage the project successfully.
• Plan, review, consult, communicate and guide, in coordination with HR, to ensure adequate implementation of the company HSE competency requirements, including mandatory HSE training requirements and ensure effective compliance.
• To participate in the TNA and advise training team on the HSE competency and training requirements and to ensure that all mandatory trainings are identified and planned in the annual training plan.
• Develop review, improve, consult and communicate adequate key performance indicators (KPI) in line with company objectives, international standards/guidelines and best practices to assure continuous improvement. Follow up to implementation and assessment of KPIs at year end.
• Act as focal point on Regulatory Compliance, maintaining an unwavering standard of excellence through an integrated HSE Audit program. This involves translating complex local and international legal requirements (e.g., ISO, maritime laws, local regulations, codes) into actionable operational standards.
• Monitor latest development and best practices and legal issues on all the above and advise HSEQ Manager on the best direction for implementation to assure continuous improvement.
• Support Corporate HSEQ Department Manager and the Crisis Management Team as required in the event of an emergency.
• Ensure that planned Major Emergency Response Exercises are carried out as per the plan and to ensure that the lesson learned are captured and shared with concerned.
• Lead the Environmental function and the team within Corporate HSEQ department and to provide the required support to the function.
• Develop annual Environmental initiatives and monitor the Environmental performance data sheet with regards to air emissions, hydrocarbon flaring, water reduction, waste management, reduction of hazardous waste disposal & reduction of electricity consumption.
• Ensure the Crisis Management and Emergency Response command center at Corporate HQ office is maintained in order with all required equipment and are functional.
• Ensure trained Duty Officer is appointed in HQ for Emergency communication.
• Champion the development of a positive safety culture by establishing adequate HSE Training and Competence Assurance programs to ensure every individual capability of performing safety-critical tasks safely and effectively.
• Lead the team to adopt a risk-based approach to assist site operations provide assurance that preventive and mitigating barriers required by key HSE Standards (e.g. Permit to Work, Risk Assessment, Emergency Response etc.…) are confirmed in place.
• Be a focal point in managing Business risks related to HSE identified in the Corporate Business Risk Register.
• Assist in coaching and mentoring direct reports
• Propose continual improvement suggestions to Corporate HSEQ Department Manager.

Field Visibility, training, advising, coaching, audits

• Work closely with Field HSE to identify areas for improvement in HSE standards, training, compliance, competency, etc.
• Plan, verify, monitor, measure and guide contractor’s capabilities and performance before, during and after the execution of work, provide feedback/action required to stakeholders.
• Plan, organize, and participate in themed and spot Site HSE Audits, under direction of Corporate HSEQ Department Manager and in coordination with site HSE and Internal Audit team.
• Devise, review, communicate and implement training and awareness of all of the above to all concerned onsite personnel and contractors and assure their competency.
• Actively engage and closely work with Field HSE to implement the HSE Culture transformation recommendations.
• Coordinate and manage annual Contractors HSE Management workshop and annual HSE Day together with site HSE Team.
• Participate in accident/incident investigation as required providing adequate advice to help identify root causes, issue SMART recommendations and follow-up actions to close out.
• Plan and conduct adhoc site tours, intervene and elevate, as appropriate, when HSE standards are not met.

• Expected to travel to site spending at least 25% of time.

Job Factors

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

The minimum years of experience required

Minimum 15 years of experience with minimum 5 years in similar position in the oil and gas industry (upstream/ including offshore)

Skills

• HSE Management & Compliance
• Strong focus on Enviromental compliance, monitoring and inititavies
• Risk Assessment & Incident Investigation
• Regulatory Compliance & Auditing
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
• Problem-Solving & Analytical Thinking
• Training & Competency Development
• Emergency Response & Crisis Management
• Contractor Management
• Continuous Improvement & HSE Culture transformation
• Leadership and team development