United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · Director/VP (16-20 years)

Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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Experience bandDirector/VP (16-20 years)
Direct reports5-10 reports
Reports toChief Operating Officer (COO) or CEO
UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as VP, Compliance, Quality, Health & Safety · Global Head of EHS & Risk · Chief Safety Officer (CSO) · Director, Integrated Risk Management

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

CMI Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Management and Leadership Chartered Management Institute · Level 5 · covers 5 of 12 standards

City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 2 of 12 standards

City & Guilds Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 2 of 12 standards

NOCN Level 5 Diploma in Computer Engineering (Information Technology and Data Science) NOCN · Level 5 · covers 1 of 12 standards

NOCN Level 5 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics and Smart Manufacturing) NOCN · Level 5 · covers 1 of 12 standards

NOCN Level 5 Diploma in Civil Engineering NOCN · Level 5 · covers 1 of 12 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Manage Health and Safety in own area of responsibility CMI Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Management and Leadership

Managing a healthy and safe environment City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management

Maintain Systems and Processes for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Protection in an Engineering Environment NOCN Level 5 Diploma in Computer Engineering (Information Technology and Data Science)

Maintain Systems and Processes for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Protection in a Working Environment NOCN Level 5 Diploma in Civil Engineering

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner

Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision

AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly

Sustainability Fluency building care for people and planet into the work

Your Plan Illustration

Built for Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety

4 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

Manage Health and Safety in own area of responsibility Chartered Management Institute · covers 5 of 12 standards Level 5
Managing a healthy and safe environment City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 12 standards Level 5
Maintain Systems and Processes for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Protection in an Engineering Environment NOCN · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 5
Maintain Systems and Processes for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Protection in a Working Environment NOCN · covers 1 of 12 standards Level 5

These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

AI Governance & Ethical Deployment
ESG Reporting & Climate Risk Integration

Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluencyworking with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluencyturning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluencyusing AI responsibly
Sustainability Fluencybuilding care for people and planet into the work

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

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Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

A Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety shapes how a business protects its people, its assets and its reputation. The role influences decisions at board level and carries responsibility for operational resilience across the organisation.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

EHS/GRC Platform (e.g., Intelex, Enablon, Sphera Cloud) Strategic

Leading platform selection, defining enterprise data governance, ensuring integration with other critical business systems (ERP, HRIS), and driving maximum value from the investment across the organisation.

Data Analysis & Visualisation (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Advanced Excel) Architect

Designing the enterprise-wide EHS analytics strategy, overseeing the development of executive dashboards, ensuring data integrity, and using insights to drive strategic decision-making and board reporting.

Regulatory Database (e.g., LexisNexis, Wolters Kluwer, ENHESA) Strategic

Setting enterprise policy based on global regulatory trends, managing relationships with content providers, and ensuring the business has access to the most current and relevant regulatory intelligence.

Collaboration & Knowledge Management (e.g., MS Teams, SharePoint, Confluence) Strategic

Designing the information architecture for the entire CQHS function's knowledge management system, ensuring effective collaboration across global teams, and promoting best practice sharing.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choice	Coming in	Where you are now	The step above
Strategic Programme Investment (e.g., new EHS software)	No authority. Provide data for senior's decision.	Recommend specific solutions and budget requests to manager.	Propose and justify programme investment (up to £50K) to Director, with supporting business case.
Organisational Design (within CQHS function)	No authority.	Suggest minor process improvements within own scope.	Propose team structure changes or new roles within a specific workstream to Lead/Manager.
Major Incident Response & Communication	Follow established protocols, collect data, assist in initial response.	Lead local incident investigation, ensure immediate controls are in place, draft initial internal reports.	Lead complex incident investigations (RCA), determine root causes, develop CAPAs, manage internal communications, and prepare initial regulatory notifications.
Regulatory Interpretation & Policy Setting	Research specific regulations as directed.	Interpret routine regulatory requirements for specific operational tasks.	Interpret complex regulations, assess business impact, and draft updated policies/procedures for a specific region or business unit.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) & LTI (Lost Time Injury) Reduction

The overall reduction in incidents across the entire business unit or enterprise.

Target · Achieve a 10-15% year-over-year reduction in TRIR and LTI rates enterprise-wide.

Reduced the company's TRIR from 2.5 to 2.1 over 12 months, saving an estimated £500K in direct and indirect incident costs.

Workers' Compensation & Insurance Premium Optimisation

Demonstrable reduction in workers' compensation claims costs and overall insurance premiums through effective risk management.

Target · Secure a 5-10% reduction in annual workers' compensation claims costs and influence a 3-5% reduction in overall EHS insurance premiums.

Negotiated a 7% reduction in our annual EHS insurance premium based on a robust risk management programme and improved safety performance data.

Regulatory Compliance & Audit Performance

The success rate in passing external regulatory audits and maintaining a strong compliance record.

Target · Achieve zero major non-conformities in external regulatory audits (e.g., ISO 45001, environmental permits) and maintain a 99%+ compliance rate on critical regulations.

Successfully led the business unit through its biennial ISO 45001 re-certification with zero major findings and only two minor observations.

Risk Register Maturity & Mitigation Progress

The completeness, accuracy, and active management of the enterprise risk register, demonstrating progress on critical risk mitigation actions.

Target · Maintain a 'green' status (90%+ completion) on all critical risk mitigation actions identified on the enterprise risk register, with quarterly updates to the board.

Oversaw the implementation of a new critical control for process safety, moving a top-tier risk from 'amber' to 'green' within 9 months, as reported to the Audit Committee.

Board & Executive Confidence

The level of trust and confidence the Board and Executive team have in the company's risk and safety management capabilities.

Regularly invited to present at Board meetings on risk posture
executive team proactively seeks your input on strategic projects
positive feedback from non-executive directors on risk reporting clarity and completeness.

Organisational Safety Culture

The measurable improvement in the company's safety culture, moving towards a more proactive, reporting, and learning-focused environment.

Year-over-year improvement in safety culture survey scores (e.g., 10% increase in 'willingness to report near misses')
increased engagement in safety initiatives from frontline staff and management
external recognition for safety performance or programmes.

Strategic Influence & Thought Leadership

Your ability to influence strategic business decisions by effectively articulating risk and opportunity, and your standing as a recognised expert internally and externally.

Your recommendations are frequently adopted in strategic planning
you're asked to represent the company at industry forums or regulatory discussions
you're seen as the 'go-to' person for complex risk challenges by business unit leaders.

Talent Development & Team Leadership

The effectiveness of your leadership in building a high-performing CQHS team and developing future leaders within the function.

High retention rates within your team
successful internal promotions from your direct reports
positive feedback in 360-degree reviews regarding your coaching and mentorship
a clear succession plan for key roles within your department.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy

Protecting People & Planet

You'll feel a deep sense of purpose knowing your work directly prevents harm to employees and minimises environmental impact. This isn't just a job; it's a mission.

Seeing a significant reduction in workplace injuries after implementing a new safety programme you championed, or successfully navigating a complex environmental permit application.

Strategic Impact & Business Resilience

You'll thrive on shaping the long-term direction of the business, making decisions that enhance its resilience and ensure its sustainable growth. You want to be at the table where the big decisions are made.

Presenting a new enterprise risk strategy to the board that gets approved and seeing it embedded into the company's annual operating plan.

Complex Problem Solving & System Design

You enjoy dissecting intricate organisational challenges, designing robust systems, and seeing those systems effectively implemented across a large, complex organisation.

Architecting a global incident management system that integrates data from multiple regions and business units, providing real-time insights for executive leadership.

What frustrates people

Executive leadership paying lip service to safety but then cutting budgets for critical controls or pushing unrealistic production targets.
Dealing with the aftermath of a major incident, knowing it could have been prevented if earlier warnings had been heeded.
Bureaucracy and resistance from entrenched business units when trying to implement new, enterprise-wide safety standards.
The constant tension between operational efficiency and robust risk management, often feeling like you're fighting an uphill battle.
Finding that critical safety data is siloed, incomplete, or inaccurate, making it difficult to get a true picture of risk.

What this role does not give you

A quiet, predictable work environment – expect urgent crises and shifting priorities.
Instant gratification – large-scale cultural and systemic change takes years, not months.
A purely technical role – you'll spend more time influencing people than analysing data yourself.
A 'blame-free' environment – while we promote learning, you'll be accountable when things go wrong on your watch.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes the company's enterprise-wide risk management framework, influencing operational strategy, capital allocation, and reputation. Your decisions impact everything from employee wellbeing and regulatory compliance to insurance costs and investor confidence. You're essentially the guardian of our license to operate and our social licence.

Inside the business

C-Suite (CEO, COO, CFO, General Counsel)
Board of Directors (especially Audit & Risk Committees)
Regional Operations Directors
Heads of HR, Legal, and Procurement
Business Unit Leaders

Outside the business

Regulatory bodies (e.g., HSE, EPA, OFWAT)
External auditors and insurers
Industry associations and standard-setting bodies
Legal counsel and expert consultants
Investors and rating agencies (ESG focus)

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

A minimum of 16 years of progressive experience in Compliance, Quality, Health, and Safety, with at least 8-10 years in senior leadership or management roles (e.g., Regional Risk Manager, Head of EHS).
Demonstrated experience managing large, geographically dispersed teams (25+ individuals, including managers) and significant budgets (£2M+).
Proven track record of driving measurable improvements in safety performance, reducing risk, and successfully navigating complex regulatory environments.
Experience presenting to and influencing C-suite executives and Board-level committees.
A deep understanding of enterprise risk management principles and their application in a complex operational setting.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Digital Transformation of CQHS

The digitalisation of operations means CQHS needs to keep pace. This involves moving beyond paper-based systems to integrated digital platforms, IoT sensors, and real-time data analytics for predictive risk management.

IoT for Safety · Digital Twins & Simulation · Integrated Data Lakes · Cybersecurity for OT/ICS

This quarter: Review the current state of digital maturity within our operations and identify gaps for CQHS.
Next 6 months: Partner with IT and Operations to develop a roadmap for CQHS digital transformation.
Next 12 months: Champion a pilot project for a new digital safety tool (e.g., smart PPE, drone inspections).
Ongoing: Engage with vendors and industry experts to stay abreast of emerging CQHS technologies.

Quick win: Identify one manual, high-volume CQHS process that could be easily digitised or automated (e.g., permit-to-work system, incident reporting).

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up

Regularly attend and present at industry conferences and forums (e.g., IOSH, Safety & Health Expo, IRM events) to stay current with best practices and network with peers.
Actively participate in professional bodies (e.g., IOSH, IEMA) at a leadership level, contributing to policy development or special interest groups.
Undertake executive education programmes focused on strategic leadership, change management, or board governance.
Mentor emerging talent within the CQHS field, giving back to the profession and developing your own leadership skills.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI Governance & Ethical Deployment

As AI tools become more prevalent in risk assessment, incident analysis, and predictive modelling, understanding their ethical implications, data privacy concerns, and potential for bias is paramount. You'll need to set the guardrails.

AI Ethics Principles
Data Privacy (GDPR, etc.)
Bias Detection & Mitigation
Explainable AI (XAI)

ESG Reporting & Climate Risk Integration

Investors, regulators, and customers are increasingly demanding robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. Your role is critical in integrating climate-related risks (physical and transitional) into our ERM framework and ensuring accurate, defensible ESG reporting.

TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures)
SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative)
Supply Chain ESG Due Diligence
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Accounting

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Frameworks
Global Regulatory Strategy & Compliance
Organisational Culture Change & Behavioural Safety
Crisis Management & Business Continuity
M&A Due Diligence (CQHS)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

1
Regional Risk Manager / Head of EHS (L5)
3-5 years at L5
Skills to master
- Mastering multi-site management, P&L responsibility for a significant region, building and leading a team of managers, and influencing regional business leaders. You'd also need to demonstrate strong strategic thinking and crisis management at a regional scale.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a major EHS transformation programme across a large region.
- Achieved significant, measurable reductions in regional incident rates and insurance costs.
- Developed and mentored multiple direct reports into more senior roles.
- Consistently presented compelling risk updates to regional leadership and contributed to strategic regional planning.
2
Head of Group Compliance (from a different function, e.g., Legal)
5-7 years in a related L5/L6 compliance role
Skills to master
- Deepening understanding of operational health, safety, and environmental risks, translating legal compliance into practical operational controls, and gaining credibility with operational teams. You'd need to bridge the gap between legal theory and shop-floor reality.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managed complex regulatory compliance programmes across multiple domains.
- Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with operational leaders and understand their challenges.
- Undertaken significant professional development in occupational health and safety (e.g., NEBOSH Diploma).
- Led cross-functional initiatives that integrated compliance requirements into business processes.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to a Chief Risk & Safety Officer post. It can also lead to a Board Non-Executive Director role focused on risk and governance, or a Global Head of ESG and Sustainability position.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Manage Health and Safety in own area of responsibility, worked against Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety.

Manage Health and Safety in own area of responsibility Level 5

Applied to your work in Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety

This unit aims to enable learners to understand and manage health and safety within their own area of responsibility. Learners will gain knowledge of legal responsibilities, risk assessment, and risk minimisation strategies to promote a safe working environment.

How the thinking builds

1 Remember
2 Understand
3 Apply
4 Analyse
5 Evaluate
6 Create

An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration

Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Frameworks
Global Regulatory Strategy & Compliance
Organisational Culture Change & Behavioural Safety
Crisis Management & Business Continuity
M&A Due Diligence (CQHS)

This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

Chief Risk & Safety Officer (CRSO) / Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) (L7)
4-6 years as Director

Elevation to C-suite, enterprise-wide strategic authority, P&L £10M+, board governance, investor relations.
- Global regulatory foresight and influencing policy at an international level.
- Advanced crisis communication and reputation management.
- Integrated risk management across financial, operational, strategic, and compliance domains.
- Building and leading a C-suite peer group and influencing across the executive team.
Board Advisor / Non-Executive Director (NED) for Risk & Safety
5-8 years as Director (often post-CRSO)

Transition to advisory role, providing strategic oversight and governance without day-to-day operational responsibility.
- Providing independent, objective advice on enterprise risk management to multiple organisations.
- Contributing to board-level discussions on strategy, performance, and succession.
- Mentoring executive teams on risk and safety leadership.
- Representing shareholder interests and ensuring robust corporate governance.

Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

As a Director, your time is gold. AI isn't here to replace your strategic brain, but it can certainly amplify it, freeing you from the tactical weeds so you can focus on what truly matters: shaping our enterprise risk posture and influencing the board. Imagine having a digital co-pilot that handles the grunt work, leaving you to lead.

In Compliance, Quality, Health, and Safety, AI is rapidly transforming how we identify, assess, and mitigate risks. For a Director, this means moving beyond reactive reporting to proactive, predictive risk management, and ensuring your team is equipped with the best tools. Our AI Productivity Hub shows you how to integrate these tools, not just for your team, but for your own strategic output.

Automated Policy & Procedure Drafting

Feed an AI assistant a new regulatory requirement or a business need, and it can draft comprehensive policies, procedures, or even training modules in minutes. You'll spend your time reviewing and refining, not starting from scratch, ensuring consistency and speed across the enterprise.

Predictive Risk & Trend Analysis

Use AI to scan vast amounts of unstructured data – incident reports, audit findings, safety observations, external news feeds – to identify emerging risks, 'weak signals,' and hidden correlations that manual analysis would miss. This gives you a truly proactive view of where the next major incident might arise, allowing you to allocate resources strategically.

Global Regulatory Intelligence & Impact Assessment

Point an AI assistant at new legislation from any jurisdiction, and it will summarise key changes, identify impacted business units, and suggest necessary policy updates. This dramatically reduces the time spent on legal interpretation and ensures we stay ahead of global compliance requirements, protecting us from fines and reputational damage.

Board-Ready Report Generation

Leverage AI to synthesise complex EHS data into concise, visually compelling board reports and executive summaries. Instead of spending hours aggregating data and formatting, you can focus on crafting the strategic narrative and preparing for tough questions, knowing the data is accurately and efficiently presented.

Common questions

How do you become a Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety?

Common routes in include Regional Risk Manager / Head of EHS (3-5 years at L5) and Head of Group Compliance (from a different function, e.g., Legal) (5-7 years in a related L5/L6 compliance role). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety progress to?

This role can lead on to Chief Risk & Safety Officer (CRSO) / Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) (4-6 years as Director) and Board Advisor / Non-Executive Director (NED) for Risk & Safety (5-8 years as Director (often post-CRSO)), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety?

Increasingly, AI Governance & Ethical Deployment and ESG Reporting & Climate Risk Integration. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Automation Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.

Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety

Where should we send it?

Two short quizzes about you

Will AI change your work as a Director of Enterprise Risk & Safety?

What's rising in its place

AI Governance & Ethical Deployment

ESG Reporting & Climate Risk Integration

Skills this role draws on

Technical

How you actually get there, here

Regional Risk Manager / Head of EHS (L5)

Head of Group Compliance (from a different function, e.g., Legal)

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

Roles this leads to

One to one, on the work you already do

Everything else the record holds

The career path, and where it branches

Chief Risk & Safety Officer (CRSO) / Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) (L7)

Board Advisor / Non-Executive Director (NED) for Risk & Safety

Where AI is starting to help

Automated Policy & Procedure Drafting

Predictive Risk & Trend Analysis

Global Regulatory Intelligence & Impact Assessment

Board-Ready Report Generation

Common questions

Want a read on where you stand?