Irwin and Colton
Group Head of Health and Safety
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Group Head of Health & Safety
Location: Flexible (weekly London visit; hybrid site travel)
Salary: Up to £120,000
Sector: Private Equity / Multi-Business Group
Irwin and Colton are partnering with a rapidly growing, private equity-owned group to appoint a Group Head of Health & Safety. Reporting to the CEO, this is the most senior H&S role across the group, responsible for setting the vision, governance, and performance framework for health and safety while enabling subsidiary leadership teams to own and deliver outcomes within their operations. Given the group's acquisitive growth strategy, the role is highly transformational.
The successful candidate will design, embed, and continuously evolve a scalable, best-in-class H&S operating model, including the onboarding and integration of newly acquired businesses. The role balances strategic oversight with pragmatic delivery, protecting people while supporting commercial growth and investor expectations.
Key Responsibilities
Group Strategy, Leadership & Transformation
- Build a scalable strategic and operating framework suitable for a decentralised, multi-risk portfolio
- Define the target-state model, governance, roles, and Group-subsidiary interfaces
- Act as senior H&S advisor to the Executive, Board, and Investors
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Governance, Risk & Private Equity Oversight
- Set group-wide policies, standards, minimum requirements, and risk appetite
- Establish assurance mechanisms, escalation thresholds, and governance forums
- Ensure compliance across jurisdictions and readiness for diligence, refinancing, or exit
- Lead Board and investor reporting on performance, risk, and emerging issues
Data, Insight & Performance
- Own group H&S performance management, KPIs, leading indicators, and systems
- Implement data-led insight, trend analysis, and predictive risk management
- Drive consistency and quality of reporting while enabling local ownership
Subsidiary Engagement & Integration
- Partner with subsidiary leaders to embed strong safety cultures and accountability
- Lead onboarding and uplift of newly acquired businesses
- Provide expert support and challenge without removing operational ownership
Risk, Assurance & Culture
- Oversee risk identification, audits, incident investigation, and corrective action
- Build and lead a small, high-impact central H&S capability
- Define competence standards and develop H&S capability at all levels
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Candidate Profile
- NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent); CertIOSH minimum
- Senior H&S leadership experience in complex, multi-site or multi-business environments
- Group-level experience, ideally within private equity or decentralised organisations
- Proven track record of building or transforming H&S frameworks
- Strategic, commercially astute leader with strong Board-level influence
For more information on this opportunity or to discuss your next career move, contact Matthew Cathcart on +44(0) 1923 937 128 or apply here.
Irwin and Colton are a specialist Health and Safety recruitment company based in the Southeast of England. We recruit across the UK for all roles in the health and safety industry from Health and Safety Manager, Health and Safety Director through to Health and Safety Advisor positions.
Irwin and Colton Limited act as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job, you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found on our website www.irwinandcolton.com.
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