Director - HSWW HSE

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Director – HSWW HSE in Riyadh to provide strategic leadership for HSE across HSWW utility compounds. You will establish governance, drive risk management, embed design-for-safety, strengthen emergency preparedness, and ensure environmental protection across complex assets.

The role requires senior leadership in HSE strategy for regulated infrastructure, strong governance, and experience with HAZID/HAZOP, audits, and incident investigations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in OHS or related field required.
• Senior leadership experience in HSE strategy for utilities.
• Professional certifications (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead HSE strategy for HSWW utility compounds.
• Establish governance frameworks, policies, procedures and reporting.
• Define HSE targets, KPIs, dashboards across projects and sites.
• Oversee risk assessments, incident investigations, and emergency planning.
• Ensure compliance with HSE legislation and permits.

Skills

HSE leadership

HSWW utility compounds

Utilities safety

Occupational health and safety

Environmental management

Security governance

HSE strategy & governance

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety

Advanced degree in HSE or Risk Management

Tools

ISO standards

Hazard analysis tools

Job description

Director - HSWW HSE

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Industry: Utilities
Function: Occupational Health and Safety
Job type: Full‑time

Job Snapshot

Senior leadership experience in HSE strategy, utility compounds, and regulated infrastructure environments.

Role Context

The Director – HSWW HSE provides strategic leadership and overall accountability for HSE performance across HSWW utility compounds. The role focuses on building a strong governance framework, improving risk management, embedding design‑for‑safety principles, strengthening emergency preparedness, and ensuring environmental protection across complex utility assets.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the HSWW HSE strategy for utility compounds in line with corporate objectives, client expectations, regulatory requirements, and portfolio risk priorities.
• Establish governance frameworks, HSE policies, procedures, standards, and reporting structures across design, construction, commissioning, and operations.
• Define HSE performance targets, KPIs, assurance routines, and governance dashboards for all HSWW compound projects and operational sites.
• Provide senior HSE input into long‑term planning, investment decisions, risk reviews, asset upgrades, and portfolio development.
• Own and continuously improve the HSE Management System for HSWW utility compounds, including manuals, standards, procedures, operating controls, and compliance processes.
• Ensure relevant ISO standards and recognized HSE management practices are integrated into HSWW project delivery and operational environments.
• Define minimum HSE requirements for treatment plants, pumping stations, utility hubs, reservoirs, storage facilities, network interface compounds, and associated civil and MEP works.
• Oversee design‑for‑safety standards for new and upgraded utility compounds.
• Lead identification, assessment, control, and review of HSE risks across the HSWW portfolio.
• Oversee major risk assessments, HAZID, HAZOP, process safety reviews, and Management of Change activities for critical assets and operational changes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable HSE legislation, permits, regulatory conditions, client requirements, and internal governance standards.
• Develop and oversee HSE audit and inspection programs, ensuring corrective and preventive actions are tracked, verified, and closed.
• Provide leadership for serious incident investigations, high‑potential event reviews, root cause analysis, and lessons learned.
• Direct the development, review, and testing of emergency response plans for compounds, process areas, confined spaces, chemical handling zones, and critical utility assets.
• Interface with regulators, external agencies, clients, and emergency response bodies during significant incidents, inspections, and emergency situations.
• Oversee environmental management across HSWW compounds, including effluent quality, sludge handling, emissions, odors, chemical storage, noise, waste, and site impacts.
• Ensure effective spill prevention, containment, and emergency response systems are in place for chemicals, fuels, sludge, wastewater, and process streams.
• Promote water efficiency, energy efficiency, waste minimization, pollution prevention, and environmental improvement initiatives aligned with sustainability targets.
• Ensure accurate environmental monitoring, regulatory reporting, data management, and submission of environmental performance information.
• Champion a visible safety culture and zero‑harm mindset across HSWW projects, operations, contractors, and leadership teams.
• Define competency requirements for critical HSE roles, including confined space teams, rescue teams, chemical handlers, permit issuers, process operators, and emergency response personnel.
• Oversee the development and delivery of HSWW‑specific HSE training programs, toolbox campaigns, competency assessments, and refresher training.
• Promote behavioral safety programs, leadership safety walks, site observations, feedback routines, and proactive hazard reporting.
• Act as the senior HSE representative for HSWW utility compounds with clients, regulators, consultants, contractors, operators, and external stakeholders.
• Lead HSE components of client reviews, audits, progress meetings, governance forums, and performance discussions.
• Coordinate responses to regulatory inspections, notices, findings, directives, and follow‑up requirements.
• Support community and stakeholder engagement on HSE matters related to odors, noise, traffic, construction impacts, environmental controls, and operational risks.
• Guide project and operations teams in embedding HSE controls into construction planning, commissioning readiness, operational procedures, maintenance strategies, and asset handover.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen compliance, reduce risk exposure, improve environmental outcomes, and increase HSE maturity across the portfolio.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Utilities Management, or a related discipline.
• Advanced degree in HSE, Environmental Management, Engineering, Risk Management, or Business Management is an advantage.
• Senior leadership experience in HSE strategy, utility compounds, water, wastewater, treatment plants, pumping stations, reservoirs, or critical infrastructure environments.
• Strong background in health, safety, security, and environmental governance across design, construction, commissioning, and operations.
• Proven ability to develop HSE management systems, policies, procedures, KPIs, assurance programs, and reporting structures.
• Experience leading HAZID, HAZOP, risk assessments, Management of Change, process safety reviews, audits, inspections, incident investigations, and emergency preparedness programs.
• Strong knowledge of regulated utility environments, environmental permits, compliance obligations, and operational risk controls.
• Experience managing HSE risks related to confined spaces, chemicals, treatment processes, pumping stations, sludge handling, reservoirs, utility interfaces, civil works, and MEP works.
• Strong understanding of environmental management, including effluent monitoring, emissions, odor control, waste management, chemical containment, spill response, and sustainability initiatives.
• Ability to engage confidently with clients, regulators, external agencies, contractors, operators, senior leadership, and community stakeholders.
• Strong communication and reporting skills with the ability to convert HSE data, risks, and findings into clear executive‑level recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, influence behavior, build safety culture, and improve performance across multiple sites or projects.
• Professional certifications such as NEBOSH Diploma, CSP, CMIOSH, ISO Lead Auditor, PMP, or equivalent credentials are highly desirable.
• High level of integrity, professional judgment, accountability, and commitment to safe, compliant, and sustainable utility operations.

Skills Set

• HSE leadership
• HSWW utility compounds
• Utilities safety
• Occupational health and safety
• Environmental management
• Security governance
• HSE strategy and governance
• HSE Management System
• Design for safety, construction HSE, commissioning HSE, operational HSE
• Risk management, HAZID, HAZOP, process safety, Management of Change
• HSE audits, site inspections, corrective and preventive actions
• Incident investigation, root cause analysis, emergency preparedness, emergency response plans
• Confined space safety, rescue teams, chemical handling, permit to work, process operators
• Effluent quality, sludge handling, emissions control, odor management, chemical storage
• Waste management, spill prevention and response
• Environmental monitoring, regulatory reporting, water and energy efficiency, sustainability targets
• Zero harm culture, behavioral safety, leadership safety walks, safety observations
• Client audits, regulatory inspections, community impact management
• HSE performance KPIs, executive reporting

Why Join Us

The Director – HSWW HSE role in Riyadh offers the opportunity to lead HSE strategy and assurance across critical utility infrastructure that supports safe, reliable, and sustainable public services. The position provides senior influence across treatment plants, pumping stations, reservoirs, utility hubs, environmental protection, emergency preparedness, regulatory compliance, and safety culture. It is a strong fit for an experienced HSE director who wants to shape governance, improve performance, and support long‑term utility resilience in Saudi Arabia's growing utilities sector.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation is a global engineering, construction, and program management company supporting major infrastructure, utilities, transportation, environmental, urban development, and technology‑led programs. In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Parsons supports complex utility and infrastructure environments through HSE leadership, technical governance, environmental assurance, risk management, stakeholder coordination, safety culture, and client‑focused delivery across large‑scale development and operational assets.