Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing

Charlton Recruitment; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent recruitment firm in the UK seeks a visionary Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing to shape HS2's strategic health agenda. You will lead health improvements for over 34,000 workers while managing a complex supply chain. Candidates should have a degree in a relevant health discipline and significant experience in high-risk industries. The role offers a competitive salary of £100,000 - £110,400 with a 12% employer pension and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

12% employer pension contribution

Hybrid working options

Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of occupational health standards and ethical frameworks.
• Experience developing health strategies in high-risk industries.
• A track record of achieving tangible health improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead HS2's Occupational Health & Wellbeing function.
• Develop occupational health policies and strategies.
• Oversee health assurance programmes for compliance and performance.
• Build partnerships with NHS and community groups.
• Champion diversity and inclusion in occupational health.

Skills

Leadership

Influencing skills

Occupational Health legislation knowledge

Communication skills

Data analysis

Education

Degree-level education in health discipline

Job description

Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing

Project High Speed Two (HS2)

Location: Snowhill (Hybrid 3 days per week on site)

Salary: £100,000 £110,400 + 12% employer pension

Lead the Future of Occupational Health on One of Europe s Largest Infrastructure Programmes

High Speed Two (HS2) is delivering the most ambitious transport infrastructure project in the UK for a generation. I am seeking a visionary Head of Occupational Health & Wellbeing to shape, elevate and deliver HS2 s strategic health agenda across the entire HS2 programme including a vast, multi-tier supply chain supporting a total workforce of approximately 34,000 people.

This is a rare and influential leadership opportunity within the HS2 client organisation. Your work will directly impact the health, wellbeing and performance of thousands of people and set new industry benchmarks for major project occupational health.

Open to Occupational Health leaders from any high-risk industry including construction, manufacturing, transportation, mining, power, nuclear & chemical sectors. What matters most is your ability to use data (incident reporting, health analytics, exposure data) to drive measurable improvement, and your capability to influence and create meaningful change across a large, complex supply chain.

The Role

You will lead HS2 s Occupational Health & Wellbeing function, driving both organisational health improvements for our internal workforce (2,000+ staff) and health risk reduction across the broader programme.

A core priority will be to lead, shape and formalise HS2 s three-year Occupational Health Strategic Plan. A major consultancy-led Occupational Health Review is already underway, and you will manage this work challenging both HS2 and its extensive supply chain to deliver meaningful, measurable improvements that go beyond industry standards.

This role requires deep expertise, strategic influence and a passion for raising the bar across health management, worker protection and wellbeing innovation. Main occupational risks include noise, dust, vibrations, fatigue & stress & manual handling,

Key Responsibilities

• Develop organisational occupational health policies, strategies and standards across both construction and operational environments.
• Lead health surveillance and monitoring programmes, ensuring robust management of workforce health risks.
• Design and deliver health and wellbeing communication, engagement and behavioural change strategies.
• Oversee HS2 s health assurance programmes, driving compliance, improved performance and continuous improvement.
• Innovate: champion new technology, design solutions and best practice approaches that eliminate or reduce health risks.
• Build collaborative partnerships with external organisations (NHS, local authorities, community groups) to support workforce and community wellbeing.
• Act as the Professional Head of Occupational Health, providing strategic guidance and expert advice to HS2 senior leadership.
• Influence and support contractors and suppliers to deliver consistent best-practice health management across the supply chain.
• Champion Equality, Diversity & Inclusion across all aspects of occupational health and wellbeing.
• Design out Occupational health & wellbeing from both the construction and end state railway (operations and maintenance)

About You

You will bring the credibility, leadership and technical expertise to influence at programme level across a complex, high-risk, multi-contract environment.

You will have:

• Degree-level education in a relevant health discipline (or equivalent).
• Strong working knowledge of occupational health legislation, standards and ethical frameworks.
• Excellent influencing and communication skills, able to drive change across a diverse supply chain.
• Experience developing and delivering health strategies in high-risk or technically complex industries (e.g. construction, rail, engineering, manufacturing, oil & gas, chemicals, nuclear).
• A track record of achieving tangible health improvements or delivering successful health programmes.
• Experience using data, insight and reporting systems to drive improvement and decision-making.
• Proven leadership capability with the ability to shape culture, influence senior stakeholders and inspire multidisciplinary teams.

Why Join HS2?

• Shape industry-defining standards for health and wellbeing.
• Lead occupational health strategy at national programme scale.
• Work with diverse, high-performing partners across the UK.
• Competitive salary and 12% employer pension contribution.
• Hybrid working with a base at HS2 s Snowhill location with flexibility to work at other offices/sites.
• Be part of a project with a lasting legacy for the UK.