QHSE Manager

Shou'alah; Dubai; On-site; AED 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Shou'alah is seeking a QHSE Manager in Dubai, responsible for implementing and improving QHSE policies and management systems. This role ensures compliance with UAE laws, oversees health and safety programs, and maintains environmental responsibility within plant operations.

The ideal candidate has a degree in Engineering, at least 10 years of QHSE experience in high-risk industries, and a strong understanding of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of progressive QHSE experience in high-risk industries.
• Proven experience in ISO management systems implementation.
• Strong knowledge of UAE health, safety and environmental legislation.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain QHSE policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with UAE laws and environmental requirements.
• Develop health and safety programs to reduce occupational risks.

Skills

Compliance with regulations

Risk management

Leadership

Incident investigation

Education

Bachelors Degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline

IOSH, NEBOSH or equivalent health and safety qualification

Tools

ISO management systems

Job description

Job Scope Summary

The Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) Manager is responsible for establishing, implementing and continually improving the companys QHSE policies, procedures and management systems. The role supports safe, compliant and reliable plant operations in line with corporate QHSE standards and procedures, applicable UAE federal and local regulations, environmental permits and licence conditions, and contractual obligations and performance requirements. The QHSE Manager provides assurance to the Plant Manager and Management Board that risks to people, the environment, assets and reputation are identified, controlled and continually reduced.

Job Responsibilities

The Quality, Health & Safety, and Environmental Manager manage the Plants QHSE programs and development and managing policies and procedures to prevent, eliminate, control, and reduce work related hazards and maintain environmental responsibility. Performs the tasks concerning compliance with legal requirements and improvement measures of the Integrated Management System (ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001) in conformance with the relevant norms, rules and regulations.

These tasks include in particular:

Integrated Management System (IMS)

• Establish, implement and maintain the Integrated Management System in line with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 5001.
• Define and maintain QHSE policies, procedures, work instructions, operational controls and forms for the site.
• Provide regular updates to the Plant Manager and IMS Manager on IMS performance, non-conformities, risks and improvement actions through management reviews.
• Plan, conduct and follow up regular management review meetings, ensuring that QHSE performance, audit results, objectives and improvement plans are documented and tracked.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure that the safety and environmental organisation complies with applicable UAE laws, emirate-level regulations and company standards.
• Establish, maintain and periodically review a legal register covering all relevant national and international requirements.
• Act as the primary point of contact for external authorities, certification bodies and specialist advisors on QHSE and environmental matters.
• Lead the preparation and submission of required permits, licences, consents and regulatory reports, and monitor ongoing compliance.

Health & Safety Management

• Develop, plan, implement and coordinate health and safety programmes to eliminate or reduce occupational injuries, illnesses, incidents and related financial losses.
• Lead and promote behavioural and cultural safety programmes, ensuring visible leadership and active participation from supervisors and managers.
• Establish and maintain the site permit to work system, including risk assessments, method statements and control of work for high-risk activities.
• Support, review and approve risk assessments and safety evaluations for routine and non-routine tasks.
• Conduct and lead investigations into accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and violations of HSE requirements, identify root causes and agree corrective and preventive actions with accountable managers.
• Track and analyse HSE statistics and leading indicators, identify trends and implement targeted improvement measures.
• Ensure all employees, contractors and visitors receive appropriate HSE inductions, training and information, including mandatory certifications and refresher training.
• Maintain effective emergency preparedness and response arrangements, including drills and coordination with external parties.

Environmental & Energy Management

• Ensure that plant operations comply with environmental permits, IFC Performance Standards and other applicable environmental requirements.
• Monitor and oversee Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) and other environmental monitoring equipment, ensuring reliability, proper maintenance and accurate reporting.
• Collect, analyse and report environmental and energy performance data, including emissions, waste streams, water, chemicals and fuel/energy usage.
• Lead or support energy efficiency initiatives, including identification, evaluation and implementation of improvement projects.
• Promote pollution prevention, waste minimisation, proper waste handling and environmentally responsible operations.

Audits, Inspections and Assurance

• Plan and carry out internal QHSE and IMS audits, inspections and compliance checks, issue reports and track closure of findings.
• Coordinate external audits by certification bodies, owners, clients, insurers and regulatory authorities.
• Standardise and ensure the availability and control of all QHSE related documents, certificates and permits.

Stakeholder Liaison and Emergency Interfaces

• Maintain liaison with external organisations such as civil defence, fire service, mutual aid partners and emergency response teams to ensure effective information exchange and support.
• Inform the Management Board and other stakeholders promptly of serious incidents, dangerous situations or emerging risks that require immediate decision and action.

Leadership, Coaching and Culture

• Provide clear QHSE leadership, coaching and support to line managers, supervisors and the wider workforce.
• Coordinate and supervise the work of direct reports (for example HSE Officers, Nurse, Security personnel) and ensure they are competent and effective in their roles.
• Promote a proactive reporting culture where hazards, near misses and improvement ideas are raised and addressed without blame.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders across the organisation to share lessons learned, best practice and experience between sites.
• Exercise the authority to stop work where serious health, safety or environmental risks are identified.

EfW Specific Responsibilities

• Ownership of process safety management for high-risk plant areas (waste bunker and cranes, combustion system and boiler, turbine hall, ACC, flue gas treatment, ash and residue handling).
• Ensure robust hazard identification and risk controls for typical EfW high-risk activities, for example confined space entry, work at height, crane and lifting operations, hot work, refractory work, boiler entry, chemical handling and high-pressure systems.
• Oversight of combustible dust, explosion and fire risk management (for example ATEX / equivalent, hot surfaces, ignition control, housekeeping, ash and residue systems).
• Lead QHSE preparation and control of major outages, overhauls and large contractor activities, including shutdown safety plans, contractor induction and coordination.
• Oversight of waste acceptance, sampling and non-conforming waste procedures, in coordination with Operations.
• Ensure continuous compliance with emission limit values (ELVs), stack monitoring requirements and any EfW-specific permit conditions.
• Lead investigation and reporting of any exceedances, plant upsets or environmental non-compliances related to combustion or flue gas treatment performance.
• Own the contractor HSE management process (pre-qualification, onboarding, permit to work, supervision, performance feedback).
• Ensure safe management of visitors, auditors and third parties in high-risk plant areas.
• Define and track QHSE KPIs relevant to EfW operations, for example TRIFR, LTIFR, high potential incidents, environmental non-compliances, unsafe condition reports, training completion, contractor performance, outage incident rates.
• Provide regular QHSE performance reports to the Plant Manager and owners, with clear analysis of trends and recommended actions.

The above job duties and responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature of the work and are not intended to be an inclusive list of all responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities may change or vary depending on the specific needs of the business.

1.3 Educational/Professional Qualifications/Training Certifications

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Certified Internal Auditor for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 management systems.
• IOSH, NEBOSH or equivalent recognised health and safety qualification.
• Formal training in incident investigation and risk assessment techniques is an advantage.

1.4 Job Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive QHSE experience in the power generation, energy-from-waste, heavy process or similar high-risk industry.
• Proven experience in implementing, maintaining and auditing integrated management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001).
• Demonstrable experience in leading accident and incident investigations and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Good working knowledge of applicable UAE health, safety and environmental legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with IFC Performance Standards and lender requirements is an advantage.
• Previous experience in an EfW, waste-to-energy, waste treatment or related process environment is strongly preferred.

1.5 Strategic Core Competencies

• Safety Management: Leads by example on health and safety, sets clear expectations and ensures that all staff and contractors comply with workplace safety regulations, standards and procedures.
• Technical Expertise: Strong practical understanding of QHSE standards, processes and plant operations, and the ability to translate them into clear requirements and guidance for the team.
• Organization & Administrative Skills: Plans and prioritises effectively, manages multiple tasks and deadlines, and maintains accurate records, registers and reports.

Accountability: Takes ownership for own actions, decisions and deliverables, follows through on commitments and ensures agreed actions are completed.

• Adaptability: Remains calm and effective under pressure, manages conflict constructively and responds positively to technical, organisational, social and cultural change.
• Problem Solving: Identifies root causes rather than symptoms, evaluates options with their risks and benefits, and proposes pragmatic solutions that support safe and reliable plant operation.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Works closely with operations, maintenance and other functions, builds trust and team spirit, and supports others to achieve common goals.
• Communication & Language: Communicates clearly in spoken and written English, able to explain complex or technical issues in a straightforward way to different audiences.