Director of HSQE - Telecoms

Project People; Theale; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Project People is recruiting a Director of HSQE for a major UK infrastructure portfolio based in Theale, Berkshire. The role is hybrid, requiring 3 days in the office, with strategic responsibility for safety, quality and environment across a nationwide estate.

You will lead the HSQE strategy, governance and risk management, acting as the principal adviser to the Board and SLT on legal obligations, risks and mitigation.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in health and safety within a complex, multi-site environment.
• Knowledge of UK Health and Safety legislation including HSE Act 1974, CDM Regulations and RIDDOR.
• Experience with health and safety management systems, audit, assurance and performance reporting; knowledge of ISO 45001.
• Credibility to influence Board-level stakeholders, senior leaders, contractors, customers and regulators.
• Proven track record of leading incident investigations and driving governance improvements.
• Chartered IOSH status or progress towards chartered status; NEBOSH Diploma; degree or Level 6 qualification.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.
• Additional qualifications in environmental management, auditing, construction safety or occupational health are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own the health and safety strategy, management systems and assurance framework across the estate.
• Act as principal adviser to the Board and Senior Leadership Team on legal obligations, risks and mitigation.
• Lead risk management across high‑risk activities: construction, working at height, electrical safety, lifting operations.
• Provide strategic oversight of asset condition and safety risks with robust inspection and remediation.
• Oversee serious incident investigations, regulatory reporting and organisational learning.
• Strengthen contractor and supply‑chain assurance, performance management and accountability.
• Develop the HSQE team and embed a proactive safety culture through leadership and engagement.
• Manage budgets, performance reporting and stakeholder relationships to ensure governance and value.

Skills

Senior leadership

Health & safety governance

Stakeholder influence

Incident investigations

Risk management

Education

NEBOSH Diploma

Chartered IOSH status

Degree or Level 6 qualification

Equivalent Level 6 qualification

Tools

ISO 45001 knowledge

Job description

Director of HSQE | Permanent | Theale, Berkshire | Hybrid – 3 Days in Office

Are you a senior Health & Safety leader ready to shape safety strategy across a large-scale, critical infrastructure estate?

We’re looking for an experienced Director of HSQE to lead health, safety, quality and environmental governance, driving a proactive safety culture and strengthening risk management across a complex, multi-site operation.

This is a senior leadership role with direct exposure to the Board and Senior Leadership Team, providing the opportunity to influence business strategy, improve operational assurance and deliver meaningful, long-term change.

The Role

You’ll take ownership of the health and safety strategy, management systems and risk-based assurance programme, ensuring robust governance and effective controls across a nationwide infrastructure estate.

Key responsibilities include:

• Setting and delivering the health and safety strategy, annual plan and assurance framework, aligned with business priorities and risk appetite.
• Acting as the principal health and safety adviser to the Board and Senior Leadership Team, providing clear advice on legal obligations, material risks and mitigation.
• Leading risk management across high-risk activities, including construction, working at height, electrical safety, lifting operations and contractor-led activities.
• Providing strategic oversight of asset condition and safety risks across a substantial infrastructure estate, ensuring effective inspection, maintenance and remediation.
• Overseeing serious incident investigations, regulatory reporting, corrective actions and organisational learning.
• Strengthening contractor and supply-chain assurance, performance management and accountability.
• Developing the HSQE team and embedding a positive safety culture through visible leadership, employee engagement and continuous improvement.
• Managing budgets, performance reporting and stakeholder relationships to ensure effective governance and value for money.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll bring significant senior leadership experience in health and safety within a complex, multi-site environment, ideally across telecommunications, infrastructure, utilities, construction or another high-risk, contractor-led sector.

You’ll also have:

• In-depth knowledge of UK health and safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, CDM Regulations and RIDDOR.
• Strong experience of health and safety management systems, audit, assurance and performance reporting, with knowledge of ISO 45001.
• The credibility to influence Board-level stakeholders, senior leaders, contractors, customers and regulators.
• A proven track record of leading incident investigations, improving safety governance and driving sustainable cultural change.
• Strong people leadership, commercial awareness and the ability to translate complex risks into clear, practical business decisions.
• Chartered IOSH status, or demonstrable progress towards Chartered status, alongside a NEBOSH Diploma, relevant degree or equivalent Level 6 qualification.
• A commitment to continuing professional development.

Additional qualifications or experience in environmental management, auditing, construction safety or occupational health would be advantageous.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take a strategic leadership position, influence business-wide decision-making and make a tangible difference to safety standards across a significant UK infrastructure estate.

Location: Theale, Berkshire

Working pattern: 3 days per week in the office