Are you ready to take full ownership of a national HSEQ function in a fast-growing, future-focused energy business?
Principal People are exclusively supporting a forward-thinking, Energy infrastructure business as they look to appoint a Head of Health and Safety to lead their operational risk and compliance strategy across over 80 active UK sites. This is a key strategic role reporting directly to the board, offering the opportunity to shape culture, build a growing team, and steer HSQE performance during a high-growth phase.
This role will see the successful candidate travelling to sites nationally 30% of the time and the office or home 70% of the time, this may fluctuate based on the needs of the business.
Head of Health and Safety – £75k-£85k + package – Energy & Infrastructure – Oxfordshire with National Travel – ID: (phone number removed)
About the Business
With a strong focus on flexibility, innovation, and reliability, the business operates one of the largest portfolios of decentralised energy assets in the country. These include gas peaking plants, battery storage, solar, wind, and synchronous condenser technologies all critical in helping balance the National Grid during periods when renewable sources alone can’t meet demand.
Since being acquired by a long-term infrastructure investor, the business has experienced significant growth. Headcount has risen from 15 to over 170 employees in the last 5 years, with further expansion planned.
Unlike many in the sector, they don’t just operate energy assets, they develop, construct, own, and maintain them. This end-to-end approach gives them far greater control over project risk, quality, and delivery, creating a more commercially agile and operationally robust business.
The culture is fast-paced, collaborative, and forward-looking. It blends the technical rigour of an engineering-led organisation with the agility of a growing private equity-backed company. Leadership is highly visible, accessible, and committed to investing in the development of their people.
This is a genuinely exciting time to join the business. With new technologies coming online, an increasingly complex risk environment, and a growing team, the company offers strong opportunities to contribute to sustainable, safe growth in a high-impact role.
The Role
The Head of Health and Safety will take full ownership of the HSEQ function across a nationwide operation with more than 80 sites, reporting directly to the board & closely collaborating with project teams and site managers. This is a strategic and operational leadership role, responsible for setting the direction of health, safety, environment, and quality across office, site, and remote settings. It offers high-level visibility within the business and is ideal for a hands-on leader who wants to influence at executive level and make a meaningful impact in a fast-growing, future-focused energy company.
The successful candidate will lead cultural change, implement robust systems, and build a growing team to support a diverse project portfolio. Immediate line management responsibilities are in place, with plans to expand to a team of 4–5 in the coming years.
Package & Benefits:
£75,000–£85,000 basic salary
Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
All Travel expenses covered
25 days annual leave + bank holidays
4% matched pension contribution
Private healthcare
3x annual salary Life assurance policy
Why this opportunity stands out:
Energy sector without the red tape – Agile, well-funded, and growing rapidly.
Tech-diverse portfolio – Projects include gas peaking, battery storage, solar, wind and synchronous condensers.
Senior leadership buy-in – Full support from the board to implement long-term cultural and strategic change.
Room to grow – Potential path to Director-level as the business scales
Stable yet exciting – Backed by private equity with long-term infrastructure focus
The role at a glance:
Lead and evolve a national HSEQ strategy across 80+ operational & under construction energy sites
Lead the team to proactively identify risks, implement data-driven solutions, and drive continuous improvement
Oversee ISO compliance (9001, 14001, 45001, 50001)
Deliver a robust change programme embedding a proactive safety culture
Lead on internal reporting, training and audits with opportunity to communicate to Board level
Represent the H&S function at a strategic level, shaping how the business approaches safety
Build, coach and expand a small but growing safety team
What we’re looking for:
Proven H&S leadership in energy, M&E, power generation, utilities, industrial, waste or similar
NEBOSH Diploma and IOSH membership (minimum NEBOSH Construction Cert)
Track record of influencing stakeholders and implementing behavioural change
Experienced in building and implementing a HSEQ Strategy
Experience managing or mentoring small HSEQ teams
Interested?
If you're ready to lead a function, influence at board level, and help shape the HSEQ direction of a dynamic infrastructure business, we'd love to speak to you.
Apply Today