Head of Safety, Health & Environment

Head of Safety, Health & Environment

Location

Manchester, GB

Department Name

OB North West HSE Director (115605) G2

About Network Rail

We’re proud to be recognised as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equity for the fourth year running. Find out more from our people here.

Network Rail operates and maintains the railway infrastructure 24/7 365 days a year. Our purpose is to connect people and goods with where they need to be and our vision is for a simpler, better, greener railway.

The North West route is part of the North West and Central region and runs from Cheshire in the south to Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Cumbria in the North, with the two Northern Powerhouse cities of Liverpool and Manchester on the route, as well as the tourist destinations of Blackpool and the Lake District.

Major stations across the route include Crewe, Liverpool Lime Street, Preston, Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly.

We’re a very busy region, with 1.3 million passengers travelling on our rails every weekday and 700,000 tonnes of freight moved a week. With 571 stations in the North West & Central region, we make up a quarter of Britain’s railway system.

For us, ‘Diversity’ means recognising differences between people while valuing the contribution they make. ‘Inclusion’ means creating safe and welcoming workplaces with fair cultures that encourages innovative and fresh ways of thinking.

We value the commitments you may have outside of work and will consider flexible and hybrid working applications. If we can make it work – we will! Please click here for more information.

Brief Description

To lead on the delivery for safety, health and environmental assurance (SHE) for the region / route. Develop and direct the implementation of appropriate policies and strategies on SHE across the region /route that deliver continuous improvement and enable efficient and effective delivery.

This role is for a 12 month secondment / FTC opportunity.

About the role (External)

Every day will be different, but you can expect to be involved in the following activities:

You will provide strategic leadership in Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) across the region/route. Ensuring compliance with company procedures, manage SHE risks, and implement robust controls.

You’ll lead continuous improvement initiatives and the development of risk-based assurance programs, including audits and self-assessments. Standardize SHE policy application in line with legal requirements, inspire and manage the SHE team, and drive a strong safety culture internally and with external partners.

You will also serve as the main regional SHE contact and act as the Designated Competent Person for key investigations.

In order to be successful in this role, we would like you to have/to be:

• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. MIOSH, CQI, IIRSM or equivalent) with chartered status and/or educated to degree level.
• Relevant experience in the successful management of SHEQ.
• Good interpersonal, influencing, communication and organisational skills.
• Strong management and leadership skills.
• Ability to act as a role model to demonstrate appropriate safety behaviours.
• Detailed knowledge of safety and operational issues.
• Good understanding of the UK and European legislative framework and requirements.
• An experienced Health and Safety, Environmental or Quality practitioner.
• Knowledge of audit and investigation

We would also like but it isn’t crucial to have/to be:

• Knowledge of Network Rail’s systems and processes.
• Knowledge of railway infrastructure materials and components.
• Good IT skills

How to apply (External)

We are a Disability Confident Leader and want to make the most of the skills and talents disabled people bring to the workplace – skills and talents we need in our business Click here for more information

Salary and benefits:

• Salary: Starting at £85,395 and increasing to £97,911
• Pro-rata annual leave entitlement (28 days)
• My benefits – our discounted online shopping site
• A range of discounted offers including, childcare vouchers, healthcare offers – cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits
• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets
• 75% discount on leisure travel
• A choice of contributory pension schemes
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community

Want to find out about what fantastic benefits we offer? Find out here

Network Rail adheres to a structured pay framework, any salary offered will be within the pay range advertised.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

Closing date: 6th June 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.

Click ‘apply now’ to apply.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision

We will endeavour to offer a diverse interview panel wherever possible.

This is a 12 month fixed term opportunity.

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