Global Director of HSE & Sustainability

  • Smartsearch Recruitment
  • Feb 28, 2026
Full time Manufacturing

Job Description

Global Director of HSE & Sustainability

Salary £110,000 £120,000 Hybrid working (Croydon)

We re supporting a global manufacturing organisation in the appointment of a Global Director of HSE & Sustainability.

This is a senior leadership role, accountable for defining and executing the organisation s global Health, Safety and Sustainability strategy. You ll set the direction for safety culture, regulatory compliance and sustainability performance across international manufacturing operations, working closely with the Executive team and regional leadership to ensure consistent standards and engagement worldwide.

Role responsibilities

Strategic leadership

  • Define and implement a global HSE strategy aligned with operational and sustainability objectives
  • Partner with Executive and regional leaders to drive alignment, accountability and performance
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen safety culture and sustainability outcomes

Governance & compliance

  • Oversee compliance with local and international HSE regulations and standards, including ISO 14001 and ISO 45001
  • Establish global governance frameworks, reporting mechanisms and incident management processes
  • Develop and maintain global HSE policies, audits and performance metrics

People & leadership

  • Directly manage the Sustainability Manager and Energy Lead, providing leadership and strategic direction
  • Provide leadership and oversight to regional HSE teams, ensuring consistent standards and knowledge sharing
  • Foster collaboration across countries and functions

Sustainability & energy

  • Integrate sustainability objectives into operational activity
  • Oversee energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives
  • Support long-term environmental commitments and sustainability reporting

Reporting & engagement

  • Present HSE and sustainability performance to the Executive Committee and Board
  • Act as a global ambassador for HSE and sustainability excellence
  • Drive engagement, accountability and continuous improvement across the organisation

Candidate requirements

  • Strong background in senior HSE leadership within global manufacturing or industrial environments
  • Experience across sustainability, environmental management or corporate responsibility
  • Proven track record of implementing HSE strategy across multiple countries
  • NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) and CMIOSH (or equivalent professional accreditation)
  • Strong knowledge of ISO management systems and regulatory requirements
  • Experience delivering sustainability and energy management programmes
  • Credibility and confidence influencing senior and executive stakeholders

Skills & attributes

  • Strategic thinker with strong operational understanding
  • Clear, confident communicator able to influence across cultures and seniority levels
  • Passionate about embedding safety and sustainability into organisational culture
  • Pragmatic, collaborative leader with a global mindset

This role offers the opportunity to shape and lead a global HSE and sustainability agenda within a growing, international manufacturing group, with meaningful impact at Executive and Board level.

Hybrid working is supported, with regular presence at the Croydon office.

If you re a senior HSE leader looking for a global, strategic role with real influence, we d welcome your application.

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