Health and Safety Manager - International

DLA Piper; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

DLA Piper seeks an experienced senior H&S leader to embed consistent Health & Safety standards and governance across its international offices. You will drive the H&S Management System, lead ISO45001 certification cycles, and coordinate incident investigations, audits and training to safeguard employee wellbeing and risk resilience.

The role requires strategic leadership across HR, P&W, Risk and Internal Audit, with a strong focus on policy governance and continuous improvement in a complex

Qualifications

• The candidate should demonstrate experience in Health & Safety management systems across a matrix organisation.
• Experience with ISO45001 and ISO45003 is desirable.
• Ability to lead training, policy development and governance across international offices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and integration of the firm’s Health & Safety Management System across international offices.
• Manage ISO45001 certification cycles and maintain readiness for audits.
• Oversee H&S incident investigations, risk assessments and DSE/permits-to-work processes.
• Roll out H&S training globally and embed MS requirements into learning curricula.
• Own drafting and governance of international H&S policies and budgets.
• Establish KPIs and dashboards for H&S performance and risk governance.

Skills

H&S management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Training design

Audits & incident management

Governance

Continuous improvement

Education

IOSH Certificate status or IOSH Diploma

Tools

Cardinus

Job description

The purpose of this role is to strengthen DLA Piper’s operational risk and resilience by embedding consistent Health & Safety (H&S) standards, processes and controls across its international offices. It provides strategic leadership for the development and governance of the H&S Management System, ensures compliance with international standards such as ISO 45001 and ISO 45003, and driving initiatives that safeguard employee well‑being.

This role will lead on H&S incident management, audits, training, and policy development, the role ensures a proactive approach to risk mitigation through appropriate controls. It also contributes to sustainability reporting and integrates H&S into broader business and risk frameworks, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to a safe, resilient, and responsible workplace.

Main duties and responsibilities

Stakeholder Management

• International stakeholder engagement working collaboratively with key stakeholders across the international firm, for example HR, P&W, Risk and Internal audit teams.
• Be the main contact across the international firm for all things Health & Safety.
• Manage key Health & Safety Suppliers.

Management System

• Provide strategic leadership for the design, development, and integration of the firm’s overarching Management System (MS), ensuring seamless alignment across Health & Safety, Environmental, and Energy standards.
• Lead the planning and execution of annual and triennial certification cycles for ISO45001, setting clear performance targets and long-term objectives to maintain compliance and readiness for internal and external audits.
• Ensure the MS reflects a forward‑looking 3–5 year roadmap, positioning the firm for sustained certification success and enhanced risk governance whilst facilitating decision‑making and ensuring consistency across departments, and continual improvement.
• Prepare for and lead the quarterly management review meetings for Health & Safety to ensure key stakeholders are updated on improvements, challenges and resolutions.
• Maintain and update information in management systems including key H&S contacts, organisational flowcharts, training and other pertinent records.
• Compiling information for internal and external reporting eg Dashboards.

H&S Assessment Review

• Lead and manage the end-to-end process of all H&S assessments, including Display Screen Equipment (DSE), Stress Risk, Permits‑to‑work, and Physical assessments. Ensure robust governance by defining clear roles and responsibilities, embedding accountability, and delivering appropriately targeted training and awareness programs.

H&S Investigations

• Management of all Health & Safety Incident Investigations, ensuring timely tracking, thorough analysis, and accurate reporting. Maintain clear escalation protocols to inform executive leadership and the Board on significant incidents, trends, and corrective actions, driving transparency and continuous improvement across the firm.

Training and Learning Integration

• Lead the global rollout of Health & Safety training programs, ensuring content is engaging, compliant, and aligned with best practice.
• Embed the Management System (MS) requirements into all training initiatives as appropriate and integrate H&S modules into the mandatory Learning & Development curriculum to drive awareness and accountability.

International Certification ISO 45001 Rollout

• Develop and execute a phased implementation plan for ISO 45001 certification across international offices, ensuring readiness, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with local regulatory requirements.

Policy Governance

• Own the drafting, review, and approval process for international Health & Safety policies, ensuring clarity, compliance, and timely publication across all jurisdictions.

Budget and Resource Management

• Define and manage Health & Safety budget requirements, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to support strategic priorities, targets, and operational needs.

KPIs and Metrics

• Establish and maintain clear KPIs and performance metrics for Health & Safety, ensuring accurate reporting and actionable insights for leadership and governance bodies.

Continuous Improvement

• Tooling: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of current assessment tools and service providers (e.g., Cardinus), identifying opportunities to enhance functionality, compliance, and user experience. Lead the exploration and implementation of alternative solutions where improvements can be achieved.

About You

• Able to handle multiple priorities, working to sometimes conflicting timescales in a fast-paced and challenging environment.
• Able to build trust and rapport to develop effective relationships, internally and externally.
• Have significant experience of managing complex management systems in a complex matrix organisation.
• Have exceptional verbal, written and presentation skills.
• Be qualified in or working towards IOSH Certificate status or IOSH Diploma.
• Have good understanding of UK Legislation and its implications for the firm in the UK and internationally.
• Have the ability to turn applicable legislation into Best Practice to apply internationally.
• Have practical experience in implementing Health & Safety systems and processes whilst maintaining certifiable management systems and compliance programmes.
• Ability to maintain discretion, diplomacy and confidentiality at all times.

About Us

We're a global law firm helping our clients achieve their goals wherever they do business. Our pursuit of innovation has transformed our delivery of legal services. With offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, we deliver exceptional outcomes on cross-border projects, critical transactions and high‑stakes disputes.

At DLA Piper, we understand that inclusion is not a one‑size‑fits‑all concept. We embrace and celebrate the range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that each individual brings to our firm. By fostering a culture that welcomes and appreciates all aspects of our individuality, we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Our commitment to inclusion and positive social impact enables us to provide exceptional service to our clients and communities, while nurturing a unique and inclusive culture for all our people. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

We are committed to being accessible and accommodating any reasonable adjustments needed throughout the recruitment process to ensure an inclusive experience for all. If you need any support or adjustments, please let us know.

Where local legislation permits, we will conduct relevant pre‑engagement screening checks prior to your first day.