Portfolio Lead, Health & Safety

Summary

The role is responsible for leading, managing and overseeing Health & Safety (H&S) strategy across the portfolio, ensuring alignment with Group frameworks, compliance with local laws and regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. It acts as the designated H&S accountable lead for the portfolio, with responsibility for identifying, managing and escalating material H&S risks within the market. This role drives the development and execution of portfolio wide safety plans, performance targets, and capability building initiatives to strengthen operational safety maturity.

The position provides direct oversight and governance of site level safety execution through coaching, training and process standardization, while ensuring robust assurance through audits, compliance reviews and corrective action management. It is also accountable for portfolio licensing and statutory compliance, acting as the key liaison with authorities and escalation point for non-compliance, enforcement actions and critical issues.

In addition, the role leads and oversees incident and crisis management for the portfolio, ensuring preparedness and continuous improvement through lessons learned. A key aspect of the role is to champion a strong safety culture by leading and developing H&S teams and fostering engagement across all levels of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Health & Safety Strategy & Standards

• Define and implement portfolio wide H&S strategy, policies, and standards aligned with Group frameworks and industry best practices.
• Develop and deliver the Annual H&S and budgeting plan for portfolio, aligned with Group ambition and operational priorities.
• Set and cascade portfolio level H&S performance targets including both leading and lagging indicators (e.g., near-miss reporting, safety observations, incidents)
• Act as subject matter expert in understanding regulatory and standards implications (e.g., ISO 45001, WELL, WSHA, ACOP and local statutory framework).
• Ensure implementation and compliance with the Group H&S Management System across all assets.

2. Operational Safety Management & Execution

• Direct, oversee and ensure implementation of training support aligned with the Group training framework to strengthen portfolio-level safety capability.
• Review and approve site-level safety management plans and high-risk activities (e.g. construction/upgrading/AEI works) where required.
• Ensure site-level safety processes are compliant, effective and consistently applied.
• Exercise authority to require corrective actions where unsafe practices or non-compliance are identified.

3. Assurance, Audits & Compliance

• Lead and be accountable for portfolio participation in Group wide audits and third-party reviews.
• Conduct audit pre-checks and trial assessments to evaluate readiness.
• Ensure the portfolio in developing and tracking corrective action plans following audits including closure of audit findings within defined timeline.
• Escalate material findings or recurring issues to the
• Group.Maintain oversight of compliance with all applicable local H&S legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Support regulatory inspections, investigations and enforcement actions, ensuring appropriate response and remediation.

4. Portfolio Licensing & Statutory Renewals

• Ensure portfolio licensing and statutory renewals are effectively tracked, completed within required timelines, and maintained in full compliance.
• Serve as the primary relationship holder with local authorities on licensing matters.
• Escalate non-compliance, breaches, or regulatory risks to the Group.
• Maintain a complete and auditable register of all statutory licenses and safety-critical permits within the portfolio.

5. Incident Management & Crisis Response

• Lead and be accountable for the management of major incidents, high-potential events and regulatory-reportable incidents.
• Ensure timely and compliant reporting to relevant authorities in accordance with local legal requirements.
• Ensure robust emergency response and crisis management frameworks are in place and regularly tested.
• Determine, enforce and track corrective / preventive actions within delegated authority, ensure root cause investigations are conducted and lessons learned are embedded/implemented across the portfolio.
• Escalate serious incidents (e.g. fatalities, significant regulatory breaches) to Group leadership in line with governance protocols.

6. Contractor & Supply Chain

• Safety Ensure implementation of contractor and supplier H&S management frameworks across all assets.
• Oversee contractor prequalification, onboarding, and performance monitoring.
• Ensure high-risk works (e.g., construction/upgrading/AEI works, maintenance, confined space, working at height) are effectively controlled and supervised.
• Hold asset teams accountable for contractor safety performance and compliance.

7. Leadership & Culture

• Champion a strong safety culture across the portfolio.
• Lead, coach, and develop H&SA teams across assets.
• Build organizational capability through training, awareness programs, and leadership engagement.
• Act as the primary H&S advisor to the Portfolio CE and leadership team.
• Provide regular reporting on material risks, incidents, and compliance status to portfolio leadership and Group functions.
• Ensure clear delegation of H&S responsibilities across assets, with defined accountabilities.
• Conduct management safety site walks and provide monthly updates and reporting.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in environmental, Health and Safety
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience
• Registered Workplace Safety & Health Officer (WSHO)
• Fire Safety Manager (FSM)
• ISO 45001 Lead Auditor
• Experience managing multiple commercial buildings