Corporate HSE Director – Tier One Main Contractor

Corporate HSE Director – Tier One Main Contractor (KSA)

Reports to:
Chief Operating Officer / Executive Leadership

Function:
Corporate Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

Location:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Job Purpose

To provide strategic leadership and executive oversight of all Health, Safety, and Environmental functions across the organisation and its project portfolio, spanning PIF-funded giga-projects, government infrastructure, and complex construction programmes valued at SAR 5–20bn+.

The role drives a unified HSE vision, ensures full compliance with Saudi regulatory frameworks and international standards, and embeds a culture of safety excellence, sustainability, and operational resilience across all business units and project sites.

Key Accountabilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Set the corporate HSE vision and long-term strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and require requirements of entities such as PIF, Government Authority, and Vision 2030 compliance expectations.
• Lead enterprise-level HSE governance, establishing frameworks, controls, KPIs, audits, and reporting mechanisms suitable for mega-project portfolios.
• Provide expert counsel to the COO, and CEO / Board (when appropriate) on risk, regulatory change, emerging HSE technologies, and strategic decision-making.

2. Corporate HSE Framework, Policy & Compliance

• Oversee the development and implementation of corporate HSE policies, systems, and protocols consistent with ISO 45001, ISO 14001, and Saudi regulatory requirements.
• Lead the continuous improvement of HSE management systems, embedding digital tools, analytics, and real-time monitoring across projects.
• Ensure full compliance with PIF, Royal Commission, GACA, MOTLS, , and other government client HSE requirements.

3. Mega-Project Safety Management

• Direct HSE strategy and operational execution across high-value construction programmes, including complex civil, infrastructure, aviation, WTP and other heavy civil engineering projects predominantly revolving around transportation.
• Oversee corporate and project-level HSE teams (Project HSE Directors, Managers, Engineers, Officers, Environmental Specialists), ensuring capability, resource planning, and performance management.
• Ensure rigorous incident management, emergency preparedness, and crisis-response protocols across all active project sites.

4. Environmental Management & Sustainability

• Lead development of environmental plans, impact assessments, sustainability strategies, and regulatory submissions aligned with global best practice.
• Drive corporate decarbonisation initiatives, waste-management strategies, water-efficiency programmes, and sustainable construction practices.
• Oversee environmental data reporting (monthly, quarterly, annual) and ensure audit-ready compliance across the organisation.

5. Digital Integration & Advanced HSE Systems

• Champion the adoption of digital HSE platforms, predictive analytics, and smart-site technologies (IoT sensors, real-time monitoring, digital permit-to-work, BIM-integrated HSE planning).
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of innovative tools that enhance risk visibility and improve workforce safety outcomes.

6. HSE Training, Capability Building & Culture Development

• Establish a corporate HSE Academy to drive competency, certifications, leadership training, and workforce development.
• Ensure all project personnel from labour to executive level are fully trained, competent, and compliant with HSE expectations.
• Lead company-wide HSE awareness campaigns, safety culture initiatives, and behavioural-based safety programmes.

7. Stakeholder Engagement & External Relations

• Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory authorities, PIF stakeholder groups, government ministries, auditors, and major clients.
• Build trusted relationships with consultants, certification bodies, and external institutions to align with global best practice.
• Represent the organisation at industry forums, HSE councils, and government committees within the Kingdom.

Key Internal & External Stakeholders

Internal:

• Executive Leadership, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, HR, QA/QC, Project Directors, Corporate Support Functions.

External:

• PIF entities, Government Authorities, Ministries, Consultants, ISO Auditors, HSE Institutions, Environmental Regulators

Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in HSE, Environmental Engineering, or Occupational Safety. (NVQ 6 & 7 I also acceptable)
• Professional certifications (NEBOSH, IOSH, CSP, IEMA, ISO Lead Auditor, or equivalent).

Experience

• 25+ years
  HSE leadership experience within
  Tier-1 contracting
  environment in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, or the greater GCC region.
• Proven track record overseeing
  $1Bn + design build GMP or lump sum contracts
  .
• Demonstrable success building corporate HSE strategy, governance systems, and digital safety transformation programmes.
• Extensive experience leading diverse, multi-disciplinary HSE teams across multiple project locations.
• Strong understanding of Saudi regulatory bodies, compliance channels, permitting frameworks, and local labour/HSE legislation.

Capabilities & Leadership Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong executive presence and communication skills.
• Excellence in risk management, incident investigation, crisis leadership, and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to influence at Board level and drive cultural transformation.
• High digital literacy and strong command of emerging HSE technologies and data tools.
• Fluent in English; Arabic is highly advantageous.