Senior H&S Advisor

Houlihan; Chatham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional benefits package

Job summary

Houlihan & Co is seeking a Senior Health & Safety Advisor to drive standards across live civil engineering groundworks projects in Essex and Kent. You will conduct regular site visits, lead risk assessments, review RAMS and champion a practical safety culture.

Reporting to the Head of Health & Safety, you’ll train site teams, support incident investigations and ensure compliance with CDM 2015, LOLER and PUWER, while maintaining the company’s H&S management system and client requirements.

Qualifications

• NEBOSH Construction Certificate is the minimum requirement.
• NEBOSH Diploma or progress towards is preferred.
• CSCS card is required/essential for site access.

Responsibilities

• Carry out regular site inspections and audits with practical recommendations.
• Support compliance with CDM 2015, RIDDOR, LOLER and PUWER.
• Review RAMS, task briefings and lift plans for suitability.
• Provide competent advice on high-risk groundworks operations.
• Assist with accident investigations and RIDDOR reporting.
• Deliver toolbox talks and inductions; identify training needs.
• Maintain and improve the H&S management system and procedures.
• Monitor changes in legislation and best practice; advise on implications.
• Assist with tenders and SSIP submissions.
• Build strong relationships with site teams and clients.

Skills

Site inspections

Risk assessments

Incident investigations

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Client liaison

Education

NEBOSH Construction Certificate

NEBOSH Diploma (or working towards)

CSCS card

Job description

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Reports to: Head of Health & Safety

Houlihan & Co is a growing UK civil engineering business delivering groundworks packages for main contractors across the South East. Our projects span residential and infrastructure schemes, including substructures, drainage, roads and sewers, and external works.

As our business continues to grow, we’re looking for an experienced Senior Health & Safety Advisor to help drive standards, support our site teams and ensure health and safety remains at the heart of everything we do.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Health & Safety, you’ll play a key role in promoting and maintaining high standards across our live projects throughout Essex and Kent.

This is a hands-on, site-focused role combining regular site visits and inspections with office-based work. You’ll work closely with site managers, supervisors, operatives and our clients’ H&S teams to ensure compliance, identify risks and drive practical improvements.

We’re looking for someone who is confident challenging unsafe practices, builds credibility with the workforce and understands the realities of delivering safe, productive groundworks operations.

You’ll have the opportunity to make a genuine impact across the business, supporting our teams while helping to develop a positive, proactive safety culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out regular site inspections and audits, identifying areas for improvement and providing clear, practical recommendations to the Head of Health & Safety.
• Support compliance with relevant health and safety legislation, including CDM 2015, RIDDOR, LOLER and PUWER, alongside client-specific requirements.
• Review RAMS, task briefings and lift plans to ensure they are suitable, practical and appropriate for the activities being undertaken.
• Provide competent advice on high-risk groundworks operations, including excavations, temporary works, plant–people interface, underground services, confined spaces and lifting operations.
• Assist with accident and incident investigations, root cause analysis and RIDDOR reporting, helping to identify and implement effective preventative measures.
• Deliver toolbox talks and inductions, identify training needs and promote safe working practices across the workforce.
• Support the Head of Health & Safety in maintaining and continually improving the company’s H&S management system, policies and procedures.
• Monitor changes in legislation, regulations and industry best practice, advising the business on their practical implications.
• Assist with tenders, pre-qualification questionnaires and SSIP accreditation submissions, including CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor.
• Build strong working relationships with site teams and clients, encouraging ownership of health and safety at every level.
• Promote a positive, proactive safety culture, helping to embed continuous improvement across all projects.

What We’re Looking For

Qualifications

• NEBOSH Construction Certificate as a minimum.
• NEBOSH Diploma, or currently working towards one, preferred.
• Valid CSCS card.
• Temporary Works Coordinator or Supervisor training/qualification desirable.

Experience and Skills

• Proven experience in a senior health and safety role, ideally within civil engineering or groundworks, with exposure to residential and infrastructure projects.
• Strong working knowledge of CDM 2015 and the risks associated with groundworks operations.
• Practical experience of site inspections, risk assessments, method statements and incident investigations.
• Confident communication and influencing skills, with the ability to challenge unsafe practices constructively and build strong relationships across site teams.
• A proactive, practical approach to problem-solving, with the confidence to work independently and escalte issues when necessary.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly between sites across Essex and Kent.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of £50,000–£60,000, depending on experience.
• Additional benefits package.

Join Houlihan & Co and play a key role in supporting our growth, strengthening our safety standards and helping ensure everyone goes home safe at the end of the working day.