UK

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

Director, Global Health & 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 reports25-100+ reports
  • Reports toChief Operating Officer (COO)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as Head of Global EHS · VP of Health, Safety & Environment · Global H&S Lead

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

Qualifi Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management Qualifi Ltd · Level 7 · covers 1 of 10 standards
CMI Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Management and Leadership Chartered Management Institute · Level 5 · covers 4 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 2 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 2 of 10 standards
City & Guilds Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice City & Guilds Limited · Level 6 · covers 1 of 10 standards

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

The units you would start with

Strategic Commitment to Health and Well-Being Qualifi Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management
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)
Organisational health and safety strategy City & Guilds Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice

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
Change Fluency taking people through change
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Director, Global Health & Safety

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

  1. Strategic Commitment to Health and Well-Being Qualifi Ltd · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 7
  2. Manage Health and Safety in own area of responsibility Chartered Management Institute · covers 4 of 10 standards Level 5
  3. Managing a healthy and safe environment City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 5
  4. Maintain Systems and Processes for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Protection in an Engineering Environment NOCN · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 5
  5. Organisational health and safety strategy City & Guilds Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 6
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, Global Health & 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

  • ESG Reporting & H&S Integration
  • Digital Transformation & H&S Tech Adoption
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

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, Global Health & Safety plan as you set up, starting with the free Data Fluency module. No card.

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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

This role sets health and safety strategy across all business units in an organisation, worldwide. It covers everything from boardroom decisions to frontline operations, aiming to keep every site safe and compliant.

4What you'd actually use

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

EHS Management Platform (e.g., Intelex, Cority, Enablon) Strategic

Leading platform selection, managing enterprise-wide implementation and integration with other systems (e.g., HRIS, ERP), defining data governance standards, and overseeing strategic reporting.

Data Visualisation & Analytics (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) Expert

Overseeing the entire safety analytics strategy, ensuring dashboards align with executive KPIs, and integrating safety data with operational and financial data for holistic business insights and board-level reporting.

Regulatory & Standards Databases (e.g., LexisNexis, Intertek) Strategic

Setting the corporate policy on compliance monitoring, engaging with industry bodies, and briefing the executive team on significant global regulatory shifts and potential impacts.

GRC / Enterprise Risk Platform (e.g., ServiceNow GRC, Archer) Advanced

Managing the H&S risk register within the GRC platform, aligning safety KPIs with enterprise risk appetite, and using the platform for board-level reporting and enterprise risk integration.

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 choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Global H&S Strategy & Policy N/A N/A N/A
Global H&S Budget Allocation N/A N/A N/A
Major Incident Response & Communication N/A N/A N/A
Regulatory Engagement & Compliance N/A N/A N/A

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.

Global Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)
The number of lost time injuries per 100,000 hours worked across all global operations.
Target · 20% reduction over 3 years, aiming for <0.5

If our current global LTIFR is 0.8, your target is to get it down to 0.64 within the next three years. This isn't just a number; it means fewer people getting seriously hurt.

Safety Culture Perception Score
Improvement in employee perception of safety, measured through anonymous surveys covering leadership commitment, worker participation, and risk awareness.
Target · +10 point improvement in overall score

If our baseline survey score is 70/100, you'll be aiming for 80/100. This shows our people actually feel safer and more engaged in safety, not just that we've got better paperwork.

Cost Avoidance from Proactive H&S Programmes
Quantifiable savings from preventing incidents, reducing insurance premiums, and avoiding regulatory fines.
Target · Deliver £2M+ in annual cost avoidance

Implementing a new machine guarding programme prevents 3 serious injuries, saving £500K in direct and indirect costs, plus it helps reduce our insurance premium by £100K. That's £600K towards your target.

Global ISO 45001 Certification Coverage
Percentage of eligible global sites holding or actively working towards ISO 45001 certification.
Target · 100% certification across all major operational sites

Ensuring all 15 of our manufacturing plants and major distribution centres either maintain their existing ISO 45001 or achieve it within agreed timelines. It's a badge of honour, really.

Board & Executive Trust
Being seen as the go-to expert for H&S matters at the highest level, providing strategic advice that's genuinely valued.
  • You're proactively invited to strategic planning sessions, not just incident reviews. Your recommendations on H&S investment are typically approved without significant pushback. The CEO asks for your opinion on complex regulatory changes.
Regulatory Engagement & Influence
Our organisation is recognised as a leader in H&S, contributing to industry best practices and influencing policy discussions.
  • You're asked to speak at industry conferences. Our company is consulted by regulatory bodies on proposed changes. We're seen as a benchmark for H&S performance by our peers, not just another company trying to stay out of trouble.
Integrated Risk Management
Successfully embedding H&S risk management into the broader enterprise risk framework, making it a natural part of business decisions.
  • H&S risks are consistently included in top-level enterprise risk registers. Operational leaders automatically consider H&S implications in project planning. We're not just reacting
  • we're anticipating and mitigating risks across the business.

7Would you like it

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

What people enjoy
Making a Tangible Difference to People's Lives

You'll be driven by the knowledge that your strategic decisions directly contribute to preventing injuries and saving lives. This shows up in your relentless pursuit of better safety standards and your dedication to continuous improvement, even when it's tough.

Seeing a significant reduction in global LTIFR or hearing a story from a frontline worker about how a new safety procedure you championed prevented an injury.

Solving Complex Global Challenges

You thrive on the intellectual challenge of navigating diverse regulatory landscapes, cultural differences, and complex operational risks across multiple countries. You enjoy developing elegant solutions to messy, real-world problems.

Successfully implementing a standardised global 'Permit to Work' system that works effectively in 20+ countries, despite their unique legal frameworks.

Building and Leading High-Performing Teams

You get satisfaction from mentoring and developing your regional H&S managers and their teams, empowering them to deliver excellent safety outcomes locally. You're a coach and a leader, not just a policy enforcer.

Seeing a Regional H&S Manager you've mentored successfully lead a major incident investigation or achieve a significant reduction in their region's incident rates.

What frustrates people
  • The 'Safety Cop' Stereotype: Constantly fighting the perception that your job is to catch people doing things wrong, rather than being a strategic business partner.
  • Production vs. Safety: The relentless tension between operational pressure to meet targets and the need to follow safety procedures, often hearing 'We don't have time for that'.
  • Lagging Indicator Tyranny: Leadership's over-reliance on the LTIFR, meaning they only pay serious attention to safety after someone gets seriously hurt.
  • Investigation Burnout: The emotional toll of repeatedly investigating incidents where the root cause is a known, previously identified issue that was never adequately addressed.
  • Budget Battles: Having to justify every pound for safety improvements against projects with a clear, immediate ROI.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable 9-to-5 desk job – expect urgent calls, international travel, and crisis management.
  • A role where your decisions are always immediately accepted without challenge – you'll need to persuade and influence constantly.
  • The ability to directly control operational processes – your power comes from influence, strategy, and expertise, not direct command.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes our enterprise-wide safety culture, influences our operational costs through incident reduction, and protects our licence to operate globally. You're essentially the guardian of our people and our reputation when it comes to health and safety.

Inside the business
  • C-Suite (CEO, COO, CFO, CHRO)
  • Board of Directors (especially Audit & Risk Committees)
  • Regional Operations Leaders
  • Legal & Compliance Teams
  • HR and Talent Management
Outside the business
  • Regulatory bodies (HSE, OSHA, local equivalents)
  • Industry associations and peer groups
  • External auditors and consultants
  • Insurance providers
  • Key suppliers and contractors

9What you need before you start

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

  • Proven track record of leading large-scale H&S functions (100+ employees, multiple sites/regions) for at least 5-8 years.
  • Demonstrable experience presenting H&S performance and strategy to executive leadership and/or Board of Directors.
  • Deep expertise in designing, implementing, and auditing ISO 45001-compliant Safety Management Systems across a global footprint.
  • Significant experience managing major H&S incidents, including regulatory investigations and crisis communications.
  • A strong understanding of financial management and budget oversight for a multi-million-pound H&S function.

10What to practise next

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

Advanced Predictive Modelling for H&S

Moving beyond simple trend analysis, advanced predictive models can identify complex correlations in vast datasets (incident reports, near misses, audit findings, operational data) to forecast where and when incidents are most likely to occur. This enables truly proactive intervention.

Machine Learning Algorithms · Data Integration & Cleansing · Model Interpretation & Bias · Ethical AI in H&S

  • This quarter: Work with your analytics team to explore existing predictive models in other business functions.
  • Next 6 months: Commission a proof-of-concept for a predictive H&S model using our own data.
  • Next 12 months: Develop a roadmap for integrating predictive analytics into our global H&S strategy.
  • Quick win: Ask your data analytics team to present on their current capabilities and how they might apply to H&S.

Quick win: Challenge your team to identify one area where a simple predictive model (e.g., correlating specific leading indicators with future incident rates) could provide better insights than current methods.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attend global H&S conferences (e.g., Safety & Health Expo, NSC Congress) to stay abreast of emerging trends and network with peers.
  • Participate in industry working groups or committees to influence H&S standards and best practices.
  • Undertake executive leadership training programmes, particularly those focused on global management, change leadership, or board governance.
  • Engage in continuous learning around ESG integration and digital transformation in H&S.
  • Mentor emerging H&S talent within the organisation, giving back to the profession.

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.

ESG Reporting & H&S Integration

Investors, customers, and employees increasingly demand transparency and accountability on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. H&S is a critical 'S' component, and its integration into broader ESG reporting frameworks is becoming non-negotiable. Your ability to articulate H&S impact within an ESG context will be key.

  • SASB/GRI Standards
  • Materiality Assessments
  • Social Capital Metrics
  • Investor Relations & H&S

Digital Transformation & H&S Tech Adoption

The pace of technological change in H&S is accelerating. From wearables and IoT sensors to AI-powered predictive analytics and digital twins, these tools offer unprecedented opportunities to prevent incidents and improve efficiency. As Director, you'll need to lead the charge in evaluating, piloting, and scaling these technologies globally.

  • IoT & Wearable Safety Devices
  • Predictive Analytics for H&S
  • Digital Twins & VR/AR for Training
  • Cybersecurity for OT/H&S Systems

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Safety Management Systems (SMS) Design & Audit
  • Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) Principles
  • Global Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA)
  • Leading vs. Lagging Indicator Strategy

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. 1

    Regional H&S Manager (Large Multi-National)

    5-8 years in this role

    Skills to master

    • Managing a multi-country H&S function, developing regional strategies, leading significant incident investigations, managing large budgets, and influencing senior regional operational leaders.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully reduced regional LTIFR by 20%+ over 3 years.
    • Led a major H&S programme implementation across multiple sites in your region.
    • Consistently received positive feedback on your ability to influence senior operational leaders.
    • Developed and mentored at least 3-5 H&S professionals who have progressed in their careers.
  2. 2

    Head of H&S for a Large Business Unit (Global Company)

    4-7 years in this role

    Skills to master

    • Owning the full H&S strategy and performance for a significant business unit, managing a team of H&S professionals, reporting directly to a business unit President, and integrating H&S into specific business unit objectives.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully achieved ISO 45001 certification across all sites in your business unit.
    • Developed and implemented a new H&S risk management framework that significantly improved business unit performance.
    • Demonstrated strong financial acumen in managing a multi-million-pound H&S budget.
    • Consistently achieved high scores in safety culture surveys within your business unit.
  3. 3

    Senior H&S Consultant (Global Firm)

    8-10 years in this role (after prior industry experience)

    Skills to master

    • Advising multiple global clients on H&S strategy, SMS implementation, regulatory compliance, and incident management. This path requires a broad understanding of diverse industries and regulatory environments.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Led major H&S transformation projects for Fortune 500 clients.
    • Developed a reputation as a thought leader in a specific H&S domain (e.g., HOP, process safety).
    • Demonstrated exceptional client relationship management and business development skills.
    • Published articles or presented at major industry conferences on H&S best practices.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to positions such as Chief Risk Officer or Chief Sustainability Officer, overseeing risk or sustainability across an entire organisation.

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, Global Health & Safety is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

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 Strategic Commitment to Health and Well-Being, worked against Director, Global Health & Safety.

Strategic Commitment to Health and Well-Being Level 7

Applied to your work in Director, Global Health & Safety

1. To enable the learner to critically evaluate existing organisational strategies and policies concerning integrated health, well-being, and safety, incorporating relevant legal and regulatory compliance. 2. To enable the learner to comprehensively analyse the diverse occupational health and well-being issues impacting employee welfare, organisational reputation, and identifying associated threats. 3. To enable the learner to determine organisational adherence to risk assessment principles and develop robust strategies for engagement and improvement in occupational health and well-being. 4. To enable the learner to effectively promote and engage stakeholders at all organisational levels to ensure the successful implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of health and well-being strategies. 5. To enable the learner to outline time-bound measurements for strategic changes and improvements, demonstrating the full range of benefits across individuals, groups, and the wider organisation. 6. To enable the learner to cultivate and assess stakeholder understanding, commitment, and critical reflection towards established health and well-being objectives.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 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, Global Health & Safety
  • Safety Management Systems (SMS) Design & Audit
  • Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) Principles
  • Global Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA)
  • Leading vs. Lagging Indicator Strategy
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, Global Health & Safety is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. VP, EHS & Sustainability

    3-5 years

    Executive (L7)

    • Advanced environmental management systems (e.g., ISO 14001).
    • Climate change risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
    • Circular economy principles and sustainable supply chain management.
    • Water and waste management at an enterprise scale.

  2. Chief Operating Officer (COO)

    5-8 years

    C-Suite (L7)

    • Advanced financial modelling and business analytics.
    • Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies (if applicable).
    • Global supply chain management and procurement strategy.
    • Digital transformation of core business operations.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, as a Director, your time is precious. You're thinking about global strategy, not getting bogged down in data consolidation or drafting routine reports. Good news: AI isn't just for junior roles. It's a powerful tool that can free you up to focus on what truly matters: driving enterprise-wide safety transformation.

Imagine cutting through the noise of thousands of incident reports, quickly understanding complex regulatory changes, or getting a first draft of a critical safety alert in minutes. That's not science fiction; it's what AI can do for you, right now, in this role. We're talking about shifting your focus from 'doing' to 'leading' and 'innovating'.

Automated Incident Triage & Trend Spotting

Use AI with Natural Language Processing (NLP) to scan incoming incident and near-miss reports from across the globe. The AI automatically categorises events, flags high-potential incidents based on keywords (e.g., 'amputation', 'chemical spill'), and identifies emerging trends that might otherwise get lost in the sheer volume of data. This means you get a real-time, executive-level view of global risk, allowing for proactive intervention.

Predictive Risk & Precursor Event Analysis

Beyond just reporting, AI models can analyse thousands of low-level safety observations, minor spills, and near misses to identify hidden patterns that often precede major incidents. The system can flag a specific region or site where 'rushing' behaviours or 'equipment malfunction' reports are spiking, giving you a predictive edge to deploy resources before a serious event occurs. It's about getting ahead of the curve.

Regulatory Change Summariser & Impact Assessment

Point an AI tool at new, dense regulatory publications from HSE, OSHA, or local equivalents. It quickly generates concise summaries of key changes, identifies which internal global policies are likely impacted, and even provides a first draft of the required updates. This saves you and your legal team days of manual review, ensuring we're always ahead of compliance requirements.

Executive Briefing & Safety Alert Generation

After a significant incident or a major programme launch, feed the key findings, data, and corrective actions into an AI. It can generate a clear, concise 'Safety Alert' or a 'Lessons Learned' communication draft for global distribution, or even a structured executive briefing. This ensures consistent, high-quality communication to all stakeholders, freeing you to focus on the strategic implications.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Director, Global Health & Safety?

Common routes in include Regional H&S Manager (Large Multi-National) (5-8 years in this role), Head of H&S for a Large Business Unit (Global Company) (4-7 years in this role) and Senior H&S Consultant (Global Firm) (8-10 years in this role (after prior industry experience)). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Director, Global Health & Safety progress to?

This role can lead on to VP, EHS & Sustainability (3-5 years) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) (5-8 years), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Director, Global Health & Safety?

Increasingly, ESG Reporting & H&S Integration and Digital Transformation & H&S Tech Adoption. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

Skills in global health and safety, risk management, and regulatory compliance carry across industries with large operational footprints, including manufacturing, energy, construction, logistics, and technology firms with hardware operations.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

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 Data 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.