Principal HSE Manager, Project Lead

KBR, Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

AD&D

FSAs

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

KBR is seeking a Principal HSE Manager, Project Lead to drive health, safety, and environmental assurance across complex projects. You will lead and implement HSE programs, audits, and performance reporting while mitigating risk and fostering a Zero Harm culture on site.

You will mentor HSE professionals and coordinate with clients, contractors, and regulators to ensure compliant and safe project execution across industrial environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, Construction Management, or related field.
• Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CRSP, NEBOSH, ISO 45001 Lead Auditor, or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain HSE assurance frameworks with standards, reporting and communication protocols.
• Lead execution of HSE assurance programs across large projects and contractor workforces.
• Promote Zero Harm culture through leadership, accountability, and proactive engagement.
• Coordinate with contractors to ensure effective HSE program implementation and compliance.
• Monitor contractor safety performance, audits, and regulatory obligations.
• Lead audits of contractor programs, determine corrective actions, and report to leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Auditing

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree (required)

Certifications such as CSP/CIH/NEBOSH preferred

Job description

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) provides holistic and value-added solutions across the entire asset life cycle. These include world-class licensed process technologies, differentiated advisory services, deep technical domain expertise, energy transition solutions, high-end design capabilities, and smart solutions to optimize planned and operating assets.

KBR is seeking a Principal HSE Manager, Project Lead to lead and oversee Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) assurance programs across complex projects and operational environments. This role is responsible for driving HSE compliance, contractor assurance, auditing, performance reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives while fostering a culture of Zero Harm. Operating with broad leadership responsibility, the Principal HSE Manager, Project Lead develops and implements assurance frameworks, standards, and reporting structures, while serving as a key liaison between project teams, contractors, clients, subcontractors, and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance, mitigate risk, and support safe and successful project execution.

Functional job responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive HSE assurance frameworks that establish project standards, compliance expectations, reporting requirements, and communication protocols.
• Lead the execution of HSE assurance programs to verify alignment with corporate policies, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight for HSE performance across large, complex projects and contractor workforces.
• Promote and reinforce a culture of Zero Harm through proactive engagement, leadership, and accountability.
• Develop safety data requirements and contractual HSE mechanisms for inclusion in supply chain and procurement documentation.
• Lead the evaluation, review, and approval of contractor HSE plans, ensuring adequate controls are established for high-risk activities.
• Coordinate closely with contractors to ensure effective implementation of HSE programs, procedures, and performance expectations.
• Monitor contractor compliance with safety standards, regulatory requirements, and project-specific HSE obligations.
• Establish project-wide HSE performance metrics, reporting structures, and assurance processes.
• Conduct and oversee audits of contractor programs, plans, permits, training records, qualifications, logs, and related documentation.
• Analyze audit findings, identify trends, assess risks, and develop corrective action strategies.
• Provide detailed reports and recommendations to project leadership regarding HSE performance, compliance, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead site-wide continuous improvement initiatives designed to enhance safety performance and operational effectiveness.
• Facilitate cross-contractor forums to share lessons learned, best practices, leading indicators, and corrective actions.
• Drive implementation of improvement plans resulting from audits, assessments, incident reviews, and performance evaluations.
• Support the development and deployment of innovative assurance methodologies and performance monitoring tools.
• Serve as the primary HSE assurance liaison with clients, contractors, subcontractors, project leadership teams, and regulatory agencies.
• Support business development and project execution efforts through the provision of HSE assurance expertise.
• Participate in the development of functional strategies, global processes, and organizational procedures related to assurance and compliance.
• Mentor and develop HSE professionals, fostering leadership growth and technical excellence within the organization.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 12+ years of progressive HSE, assurance, compliance, risk management, or operational safety experience.
• Minimum 4+ years of leadership or management experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing HSE assurance programs within large-scale industrial, construction, energy, infrastructure, or engineering projects.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements, auditing methodologies, contractor management practices, and HSE management systems.
• Experience conducting compliance audits, performance assessments, and assurance reviews.
• Excellent analytical, communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CRSP, NEBOSH, ISO 45001 Lead Auditor, or equivalent.
• Experience supporting major EPC, infrastructure, government, or industrial projects.
• Knowledge of supply chain risk management and contractor qualification processes.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-contractor environments and complex project assurance activities.

Physical Qualifications

Work is located within a construction/industrial site:

• Extensive walking in and around a construction site, climbing ladders, climbing scaffolding, working on elevated platforms, working on uneven surfaces and working in small or confined spaces.
• Some lifting may be required, up to 20lbs.
• Must have the ability to walk into and out of the project (enter/egress).
• Must be able to use appropriate standard issued Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) required for each assigned task (i.e. harness, life vest, lift buckets, hearing and eye protection, steel-toed boots, etc.)
• Day-to-day physical requirements involve standard office activities including sitting/standing for extended periods of time, attending meetings, use of keyboard and mouse repetitively.

Decarbonization – Energy Transition – Sustainability

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.