Group Health and Safety Operating System and Governance Lead
Birmingham or Slough based with 30% global travel
Competitive Salary plus Excellent benefits
Are you looking for a Group-level Health & Safety leadership role where you can shape global strategy, influence senior stakeholders, and drive transformational change across a complex international engineering organisation?
Irwin and Colton are exclusively partnering with Smiths Group to recruit a Group Health & Safety Operating System and Governance Lead. Smiths Group is a FTSE-listed global engineering business employing over 14,000 people across more than 50 countries, delivering mission‑critical technologies and services across energy, industrial, aerospace, and security markets.
This is a newly created Group-level position, offering the opportunity to define and embed the future Health & Safety operating model across the organisation during a period of significant transformation. Reporting directly to the VP Enterprise Excellence, Health & Safety and Innovation, the role will work closely with divisional Health & Safety leaders across North America, Asia, Latin America and the UK to strengthen governance, improve performance, and drive a more proactive, data‑led approach to safety and wellbeing.
Responsibilities of the Health, Safety and Environment Manager
- Developing and delivering the Group Health & Safety, Security and Wellbeing strategy
- Leading the enhancement of the global Health & Safety operating system and governance framework
- Partnering with divisional leaders to drive consistency, performance and best practice
- Improving the use of data, reporting and insights to support decision‑making
- Supporting the implementation of a new global Health & Safety software platform
- Reviewing policies, standards and assurance processes across the Group
- Promoting a culture of wellbeing, psychological safety and continuous improvement
The successful Health, Safety and Environment Manager will have:
- A NEBOSH Diploma or an equivalent HSE qualification
- Significant experience in a senior Health & Safety role within a global, matrix organisation
- Experience developing governance frameworks, operating systems and Group standards
- A background within manufacturing, engineering, energy, industrial or other high‑risk environments
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at Executive level
- Experience using data and analytics to improve Health & Safety performance
- Exposure to North American operations and OSHA requirements
- Experience leading transformation, systems or change programmes
This is an excellent opportunity to work for a world leading brand within their field in a professional working environment. If the role is of interest, please contact Scott Whyte on 01923 937 123.
