Lead Safety Engineer

National Grid plc; Ashford; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Pension match

Flexible benefits

Share incentive plan

EAP access

Job summary

National Grid Interconnectors in Ashford, Kent is seeking a Lead Safety Engineer to champion safety excellence, shape culture, and provide specialist expertise across SHES and System Safety on an onsite basis at IFA in Sellindge.

You’ll drive compliance with Electricity Safety Rules, support safety authorisations, lead investigations, and develop safety training for operational teams, with travel to sites as needed.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Safety, Health and Environmental management including System Safety and Electricity Safety Rules.
• Current or previous authorisation as a Senior Authorised Person (SAP) under National Grid Safety Rules.
• Strong knowledge of safety authorisations and operational safety management within high-voltage electrical environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and promote a positive safety culture across operational sites and ensure compliance with SHES policies and standards.
• Act as SME for Electricity Safety Rules and System Safety; provide guidance across the business.
• Lead investigations into occupational safety and environmental incidents with robust root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Provide expert advice on statutory health and safety requirements including PUWER, LOLER and COSHH.
• Deliver training, coaching and development on safety and system safety topics across teams.
• Conduct authorisation interviews for Electricity Safety Rules roles and competency assessments.
• Produce and present safety performance metrics and reports to support continuous improvement.

Skills

Safety leadership

System Safety

Electricity Safety Rules

SAP authorisation

HV electrical environments

Driving licence

Education

NEBOSH General Certificate

HNC in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Team Safety, Health, Environment and Resilience Business Unit National Grid Ventures Requisition No. 12459 City Ashford, GB, TN25 6AF Date posted 20 October 2026

At National Grid Interconnectors, we're helping to deliver a cleaner, more secure energy future. With 7.8GW of interconnection capacity linking Great Britain to Europe, our assets play a critical role in moving low-carbon electricity to where it's needed most, strengthening energy security and supporting the transition to net zero.

We're looking for a Lead Safety Engineer to join our team at IFA in Sellindge, Kent, our largest and longest-established interconnector. This is a key leadership role where you'll champion safety excellence, shape our safety culture, and provide specialist expertise across Safety, Health, Environment and Sustainability (SHES) and System Safety.

Working closely with operational teams and stakeholders across the Interconnector portfolio, you'll drive continuous improvement, ensure compliance with Electricity Safety Rules and industry legislation, and help maintain the highest standards of safety across our assets and operations.

As this is an onsite role, you'll need to hold a full UK driving licence and live within an hours commute to site.

There will also be travel to different sites as and when required.

What you'll do

• Lead and promote a positive safety culture across our operational sites, ensuring compliance with SHES policies, procedures and standards.
• Act as the subject matter expert for Electricity Safety Rules and System Safety, providing guidance and interpretation across the business.
• Support and audit Safety from the System activities, safety authorisations and operational safety arrangements.
• Lead investigations into occupational safety and environmental incidents, ensuring robust root cause analysis, effective corrective actions and the sharing of lessons learned.
• Provide expert advice on statutory health and safety requirements, including regulations such as PUWER, LOLER and COSHH.
• Deliver training, coaching and development on safety and system safety topics across operational teams.
• Conduct authorisation interviews for Electricity Safety Rules roles and supporting competency assessments.
• Produce and present safety performance metrics and reports to support continuous improvement.Partnering with Site Managers to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.
• Support wider safety initiatives, setting standards, identifying opportunities for improvement and representing the business both internally and externally.

What you'll need

We're looking for an experienced safety professional with a strong operational background and a passion for driving high standards across complex infrastructure environments.

You'll ideally have:

• Extensive experience in Safety, Health and Environmental management, including specialist knowledge of System Safety and Electricity Safety Rules.
• Current or previous authorisation as a Senior Authorised Person (SAP) under National Grid Safety Rules.
• Strong knowledge of safety authorisations and operational safety management within high-voltage electrical environments.
• A NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent health and safety qualification).
• Experience across electrical infrastructure environments such as converter stations, substations, overhead lines and HV cable systems.
• An HNC (or equivalent) in a STEM discipline, preferably Electrical Engineering.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing multidisciplinary teams.
• A full UK driving licence.

What you’ll get

A competitive salary between £64,242.00- £76,014.50 per annum– dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few

More Information

This role closes on 3rd November at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates – we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Safety, Health, Environment and Resilience

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it’s everything we put into everything we do. It’s our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It’s all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.