HVAC Manager

SIRE LIFE SCIENCES; Cuijk; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SIRE LIFE SCIENCES is seeking a Health & Safety Manager to lead all HSE activities for a major HVAC and utilities project in Cuijk/Haps.

You will drive safe design, installation, testing, commissioning and handover of HVAC systems and critical utility infrastructure, coordinating with project management, engineering, construction, and commissioning teams to ensure regulatory compliance and safety excellence.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management are essential.
• Fluency in English is required; Dutch language skills are advantageous.
• Professional HSE certification such as NEBOSH Diploma, HVK, IOSH, CSP, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the HSE strategy, management plans, procedures, and performance objectives.
• Ensure corporate HSE standards and legal requirements are translated into project activities.
• Provide expert HSE guidance to project management, engineering, construction, and commissioning teams.
• Monitor changes in safety legislation, standards and industry practices relevant to HVAC, building services and utilities.
• Lead project risk assessments, HAZIDs, and method statement reviews.
• Oversee safe execution of installation activities, including piping, ducting, and electrical works.
• Verify contractor compliance with HSE requirements and safe working procedures.
• Lead investigations into incidents and near misses and implement corrective actions.
• Deliver HSE inductions, toolbox talks, and targeted safety training.
• Coach teams on HSE expectations and promote proactive reporting and continuous improvement.

Skills

Communication

Stakeholder management

Influencing

English fluency

Dutch advantageous

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety

Job description

The Company

The client is a leading player in the specialized nutrition industry, dedicated to improving the well-being of vulnerable groups, including infants, the elderly, and individuals with medical conditions. With a strong focus on innovation, quality, and compliance, our client works closely with co-manufacturers to ensure that all products meet the highest standards of safety, regulatory requirements, and nutritional excellence.

Role Description

The Health & Safety Manager will lead all Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) activities for a major HVAC and Utilities project in Cuijk/Haps. The role is responsible for ensuring the safe design, installation, testing, commissioning, and handover of HVAC systems and critical utility infrastructure, including mechanical, electrical, process, and facility support systems.

Working closely with project management, engineering, construction, commissioning, and contracting partners, you will ensure compliance with company standards, statutory requirements, and industry best practices while driving a strong safety culture throughout the project lifecycle. Particular emphasis will be placed on managing risks associated with construction activities, utility tie-ins, energization, commissioning, permit-to-work processes, and contractor operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the project HSE strategy, management plans, procedures, and performance objectives.
• Ensure corporate HSE standards and legal requirements are effectively translated into project execution activities.
• Provide expert HSE guidance to project management, engineering, construction, and commissioning teams.
• Monitor changes in safety legislation, standards, and industry practices relevant to HVAC, building services, and utility installations.
• Ensure HSE requirements are embedded within HVAC, utilities, mechanical, electrical, and construction activities.
• Lead project risk assessments, HAZIDs, task risk assessments, and method statement reviews.
• Oversee safe execution of installation activities, including piping, ducting, utility distribution systems, equipment installation, lifting operations, and temporary works.
• Verify contractor compliance with project HSE requirements and safe working procedures.
• Monitor high-risk activities including working at height, lifting and rigging operations, electrical works and energization, confined space entry, hot works, excavation and underground services, pressure testing, utility tie-ins and shutdown activities, chemical handling and water treatment systems.
• Ensure safe commissioning, start-up, testing, balancing, and validation of HVAC and utility systems.
• Support commissioning teams with risk assessments, permit-to-work requirements, isolation plans, and safe system handover processes.
• Verify effective implementation of Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) and energy isolation procedures.
• Ensure management of change (MOC) processes are followed during commissioning and handover activities.
• Support operational readiness and ensure safety requirements are met before system start-up and occupancy.
• Provide visible safety leadership on project sites.
• Conduct routine site inspections, safety audits, behavioral safety observations, and contractor reviews.
• Lead investigations into incidents, near misses, unsafe acts, and unsafe conditions.
• Conduct root cause analysis and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions are implemented.
• Exercise stop-work authority when critical safety risks are identified.
• Deliver HSE inductions, toolbox talks, awareness sessions, and targeted safety training.
• Coach project managers, supervisors, engineers, construction personnel, and contractors on HSE expectations.
• Promote proactive safety reporting, workforce engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive a culture of personal accountability and operational discipline across all project teams.
• Plan and execute HSE audits, inspections, and compliance reviews.
• Coordinate interactions with regulatory authorities, clients, insurers, and external auditors.
• Monitor HSE KPIs, leading indicators, observations, and incident trends.
• Prepare regular reports for project steering committees and senior management.
• Capture and communicate lessons learned from construction and commissioning activities.
• Identify opportunities to reduce risk through engineering controls, process improvements, and safe work practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8-10 years of Health & Safety experience within large-scale HVAC, utilities, construction, engineering, pharmaceutical, life sciences, industrial, semiconductor, or critical facility projects.
• Demonstrated experience supporting mechanical and utility systems installation, commissioning, and start-up activities.
• Strong understanding of HVAC systems, central utility plants, clean utilities, building services, mechanical installations, and associated construction risks.
• Proven experience managing contractor safety on complex, multi-contractor project sites.
• Knowledge of permit-to-work systems, LOTO, energization procedures, hot work controls, confined space entry, pressure testing, lifting operations, and commissioning safety.
• Experience supporting commissioning and qualification activities within regulated or high-compliance environments is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of Dutch and European HSE legislation and industry standards.
• Experience conducting incident investigations, root cause analyses, and safety audits.
• Professional HSE certification such as NEBOSH Diploma, HVK, IOSH, CSP, or equivalent.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Ability to work effectively with engineering, construction, commissioning, and operations teams in a fast-paced project environment.
• Fluency in English is required; Dutch language skills are advantageous.