QHSE Business Partner, Europe

Job Introduction

The role will support the Europe Business Unit in ensuring services are delivered in a safe and responsible manner, in addition to assuring effectiveness and implementation of management systems designed to ensure the quality of services provided.

The position will provide professional Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) support functional leadership to nominated/various contracts in an assigned Country, ensuring Company and Regulatory compliance, governance and general environmental services, waste management, grounds maintenance industry best practice.

The position foresees the maintenance in the assigned Country and Operations of the Quality Management, Health and Safety and Environmental, IT Security and IT Service Management Systems. He/she is also responsible for the compliance to all local applicable laws and regulations related to QHSE.

Purpose of the Role

• To provide competent, professional Health, Safety, Environment and Quality support and guidance to European assigned contracts and to be the main point of contact for HSEQ matters for allocated contracts.
• To support the Europe Business Unit in the execution of the HSEQ strategy for the Europe business and ensure processes are established and in place at contract level to regularly monitor progress; leading on the coordination of action plans to correct where and if appropriate.
• Help to deliver key QHSE improvement plans, KPIs and objectives, taking into account the key risks faced by the contracts and report on progress.
• To support the review, development and improvement of the management system and support its implementation at contract/site level.
• In addition to general and traditional Health, Safety, Environment and Quality, to support and advise on ‘Country specific’ safety and compliance related topics.
• Conduct inspections and audits and assist contracts to achieve compliance where performance improvement observations have been identified.
• Ensure correct and suitable ‘performance’ information is obtained, maintained and managed within local, regulatory and Serco’s management information systems in suitable formats and timescales.

Structure and Reporting

Reporting to the QHSE Director of Serco Europe.The QHSE Business Partner will be required to develop relationships with contract/site teams, in particular, Contract/Operations Managers and local management and supervisory teams.

The role will also liaise with the Business Operations Directors and Managers, Fleet Managers and the technical support teams as necessary.

It may also be necessary from time to time to provide support to other Serco operations/business units within Europe.

Key Responsibilities

Primary:

• Responsible for the health and safety of the assigned country contracts within the nominated sectors, noting that accountability for ensuring high standards of health and safety practice lies with contracts and operational teams.
• To manage and oversee contracts to defined standards for HSE compliance, including:
• HSE statutory and SMS compliance being effectively managed by the contract.
• HSE actions being managed and closed out in a timely manner.
• To manage and develop team members, ensuring appropriate work allocation and that all activities are completed on time and to a high professional standard.
• To ensure that all incidents, accidents, and other QHSE data and information are entered into relevant applications accurately and in accordance with agreed reporting procedures.
• To review generic working procedures and risk assessments.
• To conduct site inspections, planned general inspections, engagement activities, and security inspections/checks (either physical on-site, virtual, or remote).
• Attendance at H&S Committee meetings (either physical on-site or remotely).
• Attendance at local management/leadership meetings.
• To produce QHSE performance reports where necessary.
• To drive cultural change within the business to improve H&S performance.
• To assist with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line audits.

Secondary:

• To assist and advise with campaigns, initiatives, and trials.
• To help redefine processes when requested.

The QHSE Business Partner should:

• Be prepared to travel within the assigned country and to other countries within Europe.
• Be flexible with working hours, which may include out-of-hours working to support contracts, as some operating models provide 24-hour services.

Qualifications

Essential:

• NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent
• ISO Knowledge and understanding
• Full, clean driving licence is essential

Desirable:

• Environmental Management qualification
• Relevant qualification in fire safety and construction health & safety
• Trained trainer (e.g. HABC Level 3 Award in Education and Training)
• Membership of a related professional organisation at an appropriate level, e.g. IOSH Lead Auditor / Internal Assessor

Essential Skills and Knowledge

The QHSE Business Partner should:

• Be a skilled people manager and have a good understanding of people management activities and processes.
• Have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Be able to manage workload and prioritise according to risk.
• Be prepared to make decisions and be held accountable for those decisions.
• Have a good understanding of management systems and their implementation.
• Have a good understanding of ISO standards and the assessment process.
• Have recognised compliance and auditing skills.
• Have working knowledge of health and safety at work and environmental protection legislation, and their practical application.
• Be able to develop trusting relationships and influence at various levels of the organisation.
• Be a strong facilitator and team player, able to maintain productive working relationships and promote collaborative teamwork.

Essential Experiences

The QHSE Business Partner should have:

• Experience of working within the assigned country.
• Experience of working in an operational role, with an understanding of the risks facing a wide range of services.
• Experience of working with and/or implementing management systems.
• Experience in the assessment process for ISO standards.
• Experience of managing a team or function.