Senior HSES Specialist - Project Safety

Mc Dermott; Dubai; On-site; AED 245,520 - 357,120; Full time

Job summary

Mc Dermott is seeking a Senior HSES Specialist - Project Safety in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This role requires an experienced professional to support the HSES Management System and ensure regulatory compliance across energy project operations.

The ideal candidate will possess a degree in a related field, with at least 6 years of experience in the energy industry including roles focused on safety management and audits.

Key responsibilities include conducting HSES audits, developing safety procedures, and promoting an effective risk-based safety culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience in the energy industry, preferably in oil and gas.
• Trained and experienced ISO lead auditor for standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or ISO 45001.
• Strong written reporting skills with the ability to prepare clear HSES documentation and performance summaries.

Responsibilities

• Implement the company HSES Management System across project activities.
• Promote a consistent risk-based HSES culture across field teams.
• Conduct internal and external HSES audits and prepare corrective action plans.

Skills

HSES management systems

Occupational health and safety

Project HSES planning

Risk assessment

HSES audits

ISO 9001

ISO 14001

ISO 45001

Incident investigation

Emergency response planning

Education

Degree or diploma in HSES-related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Access

Microsoft Project

Job description

Job Snapshot

• Role: Senior HSES Specialist - Project Safety
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Industry: Oil and Energy
• Function: Occupational Health and Safety
• Experience: 6 years
• Job Type: Full-time
• Salary: 22,000-32,000 (per month)

Job Overview

Senior HSES Specialist - Project Safety in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is an Oil and Energy opportunity for an experienced HSES professional with strong knowledge of safety management systems, risk assessment, audits, incident investigation, regulatory compliance, and project HSES performance improvement. This role is suited for a practical field‑focused specialist who can balance site engagement, administrative responsibilities, contractor coordination, and leadership support across energy project operations.

Role Context

The Senior HSES Specialist - Project Safety will support the implementation of McDermott's HSES Management System while aligning project activities with client expectations, company standards, and applicable legislative requirements. The role focuses on building a consistent risk‑based safety culture, improving HSES performance, managing audits and inspections, supporting subcontractor compliance, and ensuring that project teams have clear procedures, measurable KPIs, and effective controls in place. This position contributes directly to safer energy project delivery by identifying trends, closing actions, supporting emergency preparedness, and strengthening field‑level HSES discipline.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement the company HSES Management System across project activities while considering client requirements, regulatory obligations, and operational conditions.
• Promote a consistent risk‑based HSES culture across field teams, project management, subcontractors, and vendor groups.
• Develop, maintain, and implement HSES plans, procedures, instructions, and project‑specific safety controls in line with contract and corporate requirements.
• Facilitate and participate in risk assessments, ensuring risk registers remain current, practical, and aligned with actual project hazards.
• Prepare and maintain the HSES activity plan covering inspections, audits, emergency response drills, training, meetings, and key safety deliverables.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the Project HSES Management Plan and assist teams with practical implementation.
• Schedule, prepare, and conduct internal and external HSES audits with clear findings, corrective actions, and follow‑up tracking.
• Support subcontractor and vendor HSES pre‑qualification, bid evaluation, performance monitoring, and compliance review.
• Work closely with project management teams and subcontractors to develop suitable hazard control measures for field activities.
• Review client HSES policies, procedures, and documentation, and complete gap analysis against project procedures when needed.
• Establish measurable HSES KPIs relevant to the assigned area and monitor performance against agreed targets.
• Review HSES statistics, identify trends, report concerns promptly, and prepare action plans for continual improvement.
• Participate actively in safety programs, campaigns, awareness activities, and project initiatives that improve workforce engagement.
• Plan, lead, and contribute to HSES meetings, ensuring actions are documented, assigned, tracked, and closed effectively.
• Confirm that HSES resources are properly assigned to support project needs, field activities, audits, and emergency response requirements.
• Lead and assist with incident investigations, prepare investigation reports, identify root causes, and support corrective action close‑out.
• Engage with client representatives on HSES matters when required and support a professional project safety interface.
• Ensure injuries, near misses, property damage, and environmental incidents are reported promptly and managed through proper channels.
• Contribute to HSES training, education, awareness material, toolbox content, and project communication campaigns.
• Assist with the development, review, and maintenance of emergency procedures and response arrangements.
• Maintain high standards of safe working practice, quality, productivity, ethical conduct, and compliance with business requirements.
• Coordinate project HSES activities across teams to ensure inspections, reporting, audits, meetings, and follow‑up actions are completed on schedule.
• Guide less experienced colleagues by sharing practical HSES knowledge, field experience, and discipline‑specific guidance.

Ideal Profile

• Degree, diploma, or equivalent combination of education and experience in an HSES‑related field.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in the energy industry, preferably within oil and gas, offshore, fabrication, construction, EPC, or project‑based environments.
• Advanced understanding of local and international HSES laws, regulations, codes, and industry standards.
• Trained and experienced ISO lead auditor for standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or ISO 45001.
• Strong ability to work independently while also supporting team leadership, field coordination, and project safety delivery.
• Practical knowledge of HSES management systems, risk assessments, audit programs, incident investigation, emergency response, and subcontractor safety management.
• Ability to analyze HSES statistics, identify performance trends, and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
• Confident communication and presentation skills for meetings, training sessions, audit discussions, and client interface.
• Strong written reporting skills with the ability to prepare clear HSES documentation, investigation reports, action plans, and performance summaries.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel, and Project.
• Ability to balance field‑based responsibilities with administrative reporting, planning, and performance monitoring.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic project environment with changing priorities, multiple stakeholders, and practical safety challenges.

Skills Set

• HSES management systems
• Occupational health and safety
• Project HSES planning
• Risk assessment
• Risk registers
• HSES audits
• ISO 9001
• ISO 14001
• ISO 45001
• Lead auditing
• Incident investigation
• Root cause analysis
• Emergency procedures
• Emergency response planning
• Subcontractor HSES management
• Vendor HSES evaluation
• HSES KPI monitoring
• Safety statistics
• Trend analysis
• Gap analysis
• Safety inspections
• HSES reporting
• Corrective action tracking
• Safety awareness material
• Toolbox communication
• Client HSES interface
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Project
• Energy industry safety compliance