HSE Advisor - Factory Operations

Opportunity Overview

We are seeking an HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) Advisor to oversee and enhance safety and environmental practices at the new HVDC factory in Saudi Arabia. This role is essential for safeguarding the well-being of employees, contractors, and visitors throughout factory operations. The advisor will uphold HSE management systems, ensure legislative and corporate compliance, and cultivate a safety-first culture through proactive risk management, training, audits, and continuous improvement efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and sustain HSE management systems aligned with corporate policies and Saudi Arabian regulations for operational factory activities.
• Conduct comprehensive risk evaluations including job hazard analyses, field inspections, and safety walkthroughs to identify hazards.
• Lead execution of permit-to-work systems and enforce safe work protocols for high-risk tasks like work at height, hot work, lifting, and confined spaces where relevant.
• Drive incident prevention by championing leading safety indicators such as observations, audits, safety rounds, and near-miss reporting.
• Investigate safety incidents, accidents, and near misses; perform root cause analyses and ensure corrective and preventive actions are effectively applied and verified.
• Participate in emergency preparedness planning, drills, and response exercises to reinforce readiness.
• Manage environmental compliance encompassing waste management, hazardous material handling, emissions control, and pollution prevention during daily operations.
• Identify and mitigate environmental risks associated with routine activities while monitoring contractor and internal adherence to environmental procedures and permits.
• Support sustainability initiatives aligned with corporate and site-specific conservation goals.
• Ensure up-to-date knowledge of local and national health, safety, and environmental laws, standards, and codes; ensure corporate policy compliance.
• Conduct internal HSE audits and facilitate external inspections, ensuring proper documentation readiness including training records, incident logs, and management of change procedures.
• Create and deliver targeted HSE training programs based on job roles and risk levels, including induction, refresher, and task-specific training sessions.
• Lead toolbox talks, safety briefings, and safety culture awareness campaigns to reinforce behavioral safety principles.
• Verify competence for high-risk tasks and maintain comprehensive training documentation.
• Communicate HSE performance metrics and improvement strategies to stakeholders effectively.
• Manage contractor safety by implementing onboarding procedures, compliance assessments, and monitoring contractor activities through audits and meetings.
• Maintain meticulous HSE records covering inspections, audit outcomes, permit-to-work logs, incident investigations, training, and follow-up on corrective actions.
• Monitor and report key HSE indicators such as injury rates, near misses, audit closures, and environmental compliance measures.
• Encourage a proactive safety culture by promoting hazard and near miss reporting and recognizing safe practices.
• Engage in operational improvements related to HSE risk mitigation, including equipment safety reviews and process modifications.
• Support Management of Change activities affecting processes, equipment, or chemicals from an HSE perspective.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Relevant certifications such as NEBOSH or equivalent occupational health and safety qualifications.
• Demonstrated experience working as an HSE Advisor or Officer within industrial or manufacturing environments, particularly during operational stages.
• Strong expertise in occupational health and safety legislation, risk assessment methodologies, safe work procedures, and incident investigations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of environmental management applicable to industrial operations including hazardous waste, materials management, emissions, and pollution control.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence diverse teams across functions.
• Proven ability to foster compliance and drive safe behavior through coaching, audits, and follow-up action.
• Sharp analytical skills, strong decision-making capacity in high-pressure scenarios, and meticulous attention to detail.
• Proficiency with HSE management systems, record keeping, reporting tools, and standard computer applications.
• Capacity to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic operational setting.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written.

Preferred Attributes

• Experience in multinational or multicultural industrial settings.
• Familiarity with ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) standards.
• Background in managing contractor-heavy work environments and contractor safety oversight.