Southern Water
Private UK utility supplying drinking water and treating wastewater across southern England.
Head of Health & Safety
Lead health & safety strategy, oversee teams, ensure compliance and drive culture.
Job Highlights
About the Role
In this senior role you will provide calm, confident leadership across health, safety, security and wellbeing, shaping long‑term strategy and ensuring employees feel safe and empowered. You will work closely with senior leaders, partners and regulators, guiding major decisions and building strong relationships throughout the organisation. • Support and develop Health, Safety & Wellbeing Managers across the organisation. • Advise senior leaders on safety priorities with clear insights and recommendations. • Ensure consistent application of safety standards throughout all business areas. • Design people‑centred strategies to improve safety and wellbeing. • Lead and motivate a cross‑disciplinary team across a wide geographic region. • Manage budgets responsibly and make balanced safety decisions. • Build trusted relationships with partners, regulators and community stakeholders. • Participate in a standby rota (typically one week in eight) for incident support. • Provide senior‑level health and safety leadership, preferably in a CNI or similar environment.
Key Responsibilities
- ▸safety standards
- ▸strategy design
- ▸team leadership
- ▸budget management
- ▸stakeholder relations
- ▸incident support
What You Bring
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of health and safety legislation and practical application. • Experience with process safety and large‑scale construction or infrastructure projects. • Hold a warm, engaging communication style that fosters trust and cultural change. • NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) and Chartered/Fellow IOSH membership. • Awareness of environmental considerations and behavioural safety. • Full UK driving licence.
Requirements
- ▸safety legislation
- ▸process safety
- ▸communication
- ▸nebosh diploma
- ▸environmental awareness
- ▸driving licence
Benefits
The Head of Health & Safety position at Southern Water closes on 30 January 2026. It is a permanent, full-time role based on a hybrid model between the Durrington head office and home, with a typical 37‑hour week but part‑time options available. Salary is competitive, includes a £500 monthly car allowance and up to a 20 % bonus. Southern Water is undertaking a £7.8 billion investment programme for 2025‑2030, aiming to transform Britain’s water industry through resilience, sustainability and service excellence. Joining now offers the chance to influence strategic change within a highly skilled leadership team and deliver lasting value for customers. The company champions an inclusive culture, welcoming applicants of all backgrounds and offering reasonable adjustments during recruitment. Employees are part of an incident‑support ethos, with a standby rota (one week in eight) that ensures 24/7 service reliability. Opportunities for personal growth, professional development and innovation are integral to the Southern Water experience, encouraging staff to play to their strengths and contribute to a fair, positive future.
Work Environment
Hybrid