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

Director of 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.

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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  • Experience bandDirector/VP (16-20 years)
  • Direct reports5-8 reports
  • Reports toChief Operating Officer (COO)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as Global Head of EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) · VP, Health, Safety & Environment · Group H&S Director

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

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 20 standards
CMI Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Management and Leadership Chartered Management Institute · Level 5 · covers 5 of 20 standards
City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 2 of 20 standards
City & Guilds Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management City & Guilds Limited · Level 5 · covers 2 of 20 standards
City & Guilds Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice City & Guilds Limited · Level 6 · covers 1 of 20 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

Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Sustainability Fluency building care for people and planet into the work
Frontier Fluency the next wave, beyond mainstream AI
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Director of 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 20 standards Level 7
  2. Manage Health and Safety in own area of responsibility Chartered Management Institute · covers 5 of 20 standards Level 5
  3. Managing a healthy and safe environment City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 20 standards Level 5
  4. Maintain Systems and Processes for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Protection in an Engineering Environment NOCN · covers 1 of 20 standards Level 5
  5. Organisational health and safety strategy City & Guilds Limited · covers 1 of 20 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 of 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 Integration & Reporting (Environmental, Social, Governance)
  • Digital Twin & IoT Safety Applications
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 of Global Health & Safety plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

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

3What this role really is

This job sets health and safety standards across an organisation's global operations. It covers enterprise-wide risk management and policies that keep people safe at work, wherever they are.

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, VelocityEHS, Cority) Strategic

Leading the selection, procurement, and enterprise-wide implementation of global EHS platforms. Defining data governance standards and designing the overall reporting architecture for the C-suite.

Chemical Management & SDS Database (e.g., Chemwatch, Sphera, SiteHawk) Strategic

Setting global policy for chemical handling, storage, and approval. Managing enterprise contracts with database providers and ensuring global harmonisation of chemical safety data.

Learning Management System (LMS) (e.g., SAP Litmos, Cornerstone, TalentLMS) Strategic

Developing the global safety training strategy, selecting LMS platforms and content providers to meet enterprise-wide learning needs, and overseeing training effectiveness metrics.

Data Visualization & Reporting (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) Architect

Designing and overseeing the entire EHS analytics ecosystem. Presenting high-level insights from global H&S data to the Executive Board and other senior stakeholders to drive strategic decisions.

Document Control & Collaboration (e.g., SharePoint, MS Teams, Confluence) Strategic

Setting the enterprise standard for EHS knowledge management and collaboration, ensuring secure, accessible, and version-controlled global H&S documentation.

Permit to Work (PTW) Software (e.g., Enablon, SAP Work Manager) Strategic

Evaluating and selecting global digital PTW systems to standardise high-risk work procedures across all operations, ensuring consistent application and compliance.

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 Policy Definition Follows and implements defined policies. Interprets and applies policies to specific situations, proposes minor local adaptations. Designs and implements site-specific H&S programmes within global policy, makes recommendations for policy updates.
H&S Budget Allocation & Approval No budget authority; requests resources from supervisor. Manages small programme budgets (e.g., £1K-£5K for PPE inventory), seeks approval for larger spends. Approves programme-level spending up to £25K, makes recommendations for larger project budgets.
Response to Major Global Incident Follows emergency protocols, assists with initial information gathering. Leads local incident response, secures scene, coordinates initial investigations. Leads complex incident investigations for significant site-level events, develops corrective action plans.
Global H&S Technology Selection & Implementation Uses existing H&S software, provides feedback on usability. Configures and maintains modules within existing H&S platforms, trains new users. Evaluates new H&S software features, proposes system enhancements, acts as super-user.

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.

Enterprise Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) Reduction
The rate of incidents resulting in an employee missing work, measured across all global operations.
Target · 20% reduction over a 3-year period

If our current global LTIFR is 0.8, we'd be aiming to bring that down to 0.64 within three years through strategic programmes and cultural shifts.

Workers' Compensation Insurance Premium Reduction
The total cost of our workers' compensation insurance premiums, reflecting our overall risk profile and claims history.
Target · 5% reduction year-on-year (YoY) for eligible regions

If our annual premium is £5M, you'd be working to bring that down to £4.75M by demonstrating improved safety performance and risk control to our insurers.

Global ISO 45001 Certification Coverage
The percentage of our eligible global sites that successfully achieve and maintain ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System certification.
Target · 100% of all eligible manufacturing and major operational sites

Ensuring all 15 global manufacturing sites not only achieve but consistently maintain their ISO 45001 certification, with no major non-conformities.

Global Audit Compliance Score (Internal & External)
The average score achieved across all internal and external H&S audits conducted across our global operations.
Target · Maintain a 95%+ average score

Achieving an average score of 96% across all regional H&S audits, demonstrating consistent compliance and robust management systems.

Safety Culture Maturity
How deeply safety is embedded in our employees' daily behaviour and decision-making, from the shop floor to the executive suite.
  • Sustained improvement in employee safety perception survey scores
  • increased proactive hazard reporting and 'Good Catch' submissions
  • visible and consistent 'Stop Work Authority' usage across all levels
  • positive feedback from site visits and leadership walk-arounds.
Regulatory Foresight & Proactive Management
Our ability to anticipate changes in global H&S legislation and proactively adapt our policies and practices before they become compliance issues.
  • Zero major non-compliance fines or significant regulatory enforcement actions globally
  • proactive updates to global H&S policies ahead of new legislation
  • being invited to participate in industry working groups or regulatory consultations
  • positive feedback from legal counsel on our preparedness.
Executive Buy-in & Influence
The extent to which H&S is seen as a strategic business imperative by the executive team and board, leading to appropriate resource allocation and support.
  • H&S agenda consistently featured and prioritised in executive and board meetings
  • consistent approval of strategic safety investments and programmes
  • active participation of executive leaders in safety initiatives
  • positive feedback from the COO and CEO on H&S leadership.

7Would you like it

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

What people enjoy
Protecting People & Preventing Harm

You'll find deep satisfaction in seeing incident rates drop, knowing that your work directly contributes to thousands of employees going home safe each day. This is the core 'why' that drives every decision.

Reviewing the quarterly incident report and seeing zero LTIs in a region that previously struggled, knowing your strategic interventions made a difference.

Shaping Enterprise Strategy & Culture

You're motivated by the opportunity to embed safety into the very fabric of our global operations, influencing executive decisions and driving cultural change across diverse teams. You want to build a legacy of safety excellence.

Successfully presenting a compelling business case to the Board for a multi-million-pound investment in new safety technology, and getting it approved.

Navigating Complexity & Solving Global Challenges

You thrive on the intellectual challenge of interpreting complex international regulations, designing solutions for diverse operational environments, and managing high-stakes global crises. It's about solving problems that truly matter.

Developing a unified H&S policy that satisfies regulatory requirements in 20+ countries while remaining practical and effective for our operations.

What frustrates people
  • The 'cost centre' mentality: Constantly having to justify safety investments against immediate production targets.
  • Getting regional teams to adopt global standards consistently, especially when local practices are deeply entrenched.
  • Dealing with legacy systems and disparate data sources that hinder a truly global view of H&S performance.
  • The emotional toll of managing serious incidents and supporting affected employees and families.
  • Navigating complex legal and cultural differences across multiple countries while trying to maintain a unified approach.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable routine – expect global emergencies, urgent regulatory changes, and constant travel.
  • Daily hands-on site inspections – your role is primarily strategic oversight and leadership, not frontline auditing.
  • The ability to please everyone – you'll often have to make tough calls that balance safety imperatives with operational realities, which won't always be popular.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes our global operational safety culture, significantly reduces enterprise-wide risk exposure, protects our brand reputation, and impacts our financial performance through reduced incidents, claims, and insurance premiums. Frankly, it's about making sure our people are safe and our business stays out of trouble, consistently, everywhere we operate.

Inside the business
  • C-Suite (CEO, COO, CHRO, General Counsel)
  • Regional Operations Directors
  • Legal Counsel
  • HR Leadership
  • Procurement Leadership
  • Finance Leadership
  • Internal Audit
Outside the business
  • Regulatory bodies (e.g., HSE, OSHA, local equivalents)
  • External auditors and certification bodies (e.g., ISO 45001)
  • Insurance providers and brokers
  • Industry associations and peer groups
  • Key suppliers and contractors (especially those working on our sites)

9What you need before you start

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

  • A proven track record of 16-20 years in progressive Health & Safety leadership roles, with at least 5-7 years managing global or multi-site H&S programmes and large teams.
  • Deep, demonstrable understanding of international H&S law, regulatory frameworks (e.g., ISO 45001), and best practices across diverse industries.
  • Extensive experience presenting to and influencing executive leadership and Board-level committees on H&S strategy, performance, and risk.
  • Demonstrated success in leading significant H&S cultural change initiatives across complex, multinational organisations.
  • Experience in managing substantial H&S budgets (multi-million £) and demonstrating return on investment for safety programmes.

10What to practise next

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

Advanced AI for Predictive Safety & Anomaly Detection

AI's ability to process vast datasets and identify subtle anomalies is a game-changer for H&S. We're moving from simply analysing past incidents to predicting where and when future incidents are most likely to occur, allowing for truly proactive interventions.

Machine Learning Models for Incident Prediction · Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Unstructured Data · Anomaly Detection Algorithms · Ethical AI & Bias Mitigation

  • This month: Work with our Data Science team (if we have one) to understand current AI capabilities and identify potential H&S applications.
  • Next 3 months: Commission a proof-of-concept project to apply AI to a specific H&S dataset (e.g., near-miss reports) to identify predictive indicators.
  • Next 6 months: Develop a strategy for integrating AI-driven insights into our global H&S decision-making processes.
  • Ongoing: Stay informed on advancements in AI and its practical applications in industrial safety through webinars and industry reports.

Quick win: Start using AI tools (like ChatGPT or Claude) to summarise complex incident reports or identify common themes in safety observation data, saving your team significant manual effort today.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regular participation in leading international H&S conferences (e.g., Safety & Health Expo, NSC Congress & Expo) to stay abreast of global trends and network with peers.
  • Enrollment in executive leadership development programmes, particularly those focused on global leadership, change management, and influencing skills.
  • Ongoing legal training on international H&S regulations and emerging legal risks.
  • Active engagement with industry bodies and working groups to contribute to and shape H&S best practices.

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 Integration & Reporting (Environmental, Social, Governance)

Investors, regulators, and customers are increasingly demanding transparency and performance across ESG metrics. H&S is a critical 'Social' component, and its integration into broader ESG strategy is no longer optional; it's a business imperative. Your ability to articulate H&S's contribution to ESG will be key.

  • SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board)
  • GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)
  • TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures)
  • Materiality Assessments
  • Carbon Footprint & Social Impact Linkages

Digital Twin & IoT Safety Applications

Industry 4.0 and the rise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) mean we can create 'digital twins' of our physical operations. This allows for real-time hazard detection, predictive maintenance that prevents failures, and immersive virtual safety training. This technology will fundamentally change how we monitor and manage safety.

  • Sensor Data Integration
  • Predictive Analytics for Equipment Failure
  • Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) for Training
  • Real-time Location Systems (RTLS)
  • Cybersecurity for Operational Technology (OT)

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
  • Risk Assessment Methodologies (JSA, HIRA, PHA)
  • Regulatory Framework Navigation (ISO 45001, OSHA, RIDDOR, EU Directives, etc.)
  • Hierarchy of Controls Application
  • Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) Principles
  • Emergency Response Planning (ERP) & Crisis Management

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 Multinational)

    3-5 years in role before Director level

    Skills to master

    • Multi-site H&S management across diverse regulatory environments, regional budget ownership, developing and mentoring a team of H&S professionals.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistent achievement of regional H&S targets and compliance metrics.
    • Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a high-performing regional H&S team.
    • Successful implementation of significant H&S improvement programmes across multiple sites.
    • Strong relationships with regional business leaders and effective influence.
  2. 2

    Senior H&S Business Partner (Large Enterprise)

    4-6 years in role before Director level

    Skills to master

    • Strategic partnership with senior business leaders (e.g., a specific division or global function), translating business goals into H&S strategy, influencing without direct authority.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Proven ability to integrate H&S into business unit strategy, not just operational compliance.
    • Highly effective at influencing senior stakeholders and gaining buy-in for H&S initiatives.
    • Track record of identifying and mitigating complex H&S risks specific to a business segment.
    • Recognised as a trusted advisor to business leadership on all H&S matters.
  3. 3

    H&S Consulting Leader (Global Firm)

    5-7 years in role before Director level

    Skills to master

    • Exposure to diverse industries and complex H&S challenges, client management and business development, strategic problem-solving for multiple organisations, leading large project teams.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successful delivery of high-impact H&S consulting engagements for major clients.
    • Ability to quickly diagnose complex H&S issues and develop practical, strategic solutions.
    • Strong commercial acumen and understanding of how H&S impacts various business models.
    • Demonstrated thought leadership in specific H&S domains.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to a Chief Risk Officer role overseeing all enterprise risk, or a board or non-executive director position offering governance and strategic oversight.

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

Strategic Commitment to Health and Well-Being Level 7

Applied to your work in Director of 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 of Global Health & Safety
  • Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
  • Risk Assessment Methodologies (JSA, HIRA, PHA)
  • Regulatory Framework Navigation (ISO 45001, OSHA, RIDDOR, EU Directives, etc.)
  • Hierarchy of Controls Application
  • Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) Principles
  • Emergency Response Planning (ERP) & Crisis Management
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 Global Health & Safety is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Chief Health & Safety Officer (CHSO)

    3-5 years from Director level

    C-Suite (Level 7)

    • Enterprise H&S Architecture Designing the optimal organisational structure and operating model for global H&S.
    • Strategic Partnership Development Building alliances with industry bodies, regulators, and other C-suite leaders to advance global safety standards.
  2. Chief Operating Officer (COO)

    5-8 years from Director level

    C-Suite (Level 7)

    • Supply Chain Optimisation Driving efficiency and resilience across the entire supply chain.
    • Digital Transformation Leadership Leading the adoption of new technologies across operational functions.
    • Mergers & Acquisitions Integration (Operational) Overseeing the operational integration of acquired businesses.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

As the Director of Global Health & Safety, your time is precious. You're focused on strategy, culture, and high-stakes decisions. The good news is, AI isn't here to replace your strategic brain; it's here to give you superpowers, automating the heavy lifting of data analysis, regulatory research, and report generation.

Imagine having a highly intelligent assistant that can sift through thousands of reports, summarise complex regulations, and even draft your board presentations. That's what AI can do for you. It means less time buried in spreadsheets and more time leading your global team, engaging with stakeholders, and truly shaping our safety future. Frankly, it's about getting back to what truly matters.

Global Risk Trend Analysis

AI analyses thousands of incident reports, near-miss data, and safety observations from across all regions, identifying subtle patterns and correlations (e.g., specific equipment failures, recurring human factors in certain shifts) that would be impossible for a human to spot. It flags emerging risks and potential hotspots before they lead to a major incident, giving you a predictive edge.

Regulatory Impact Assessment

Use an AI assistant to instantly summarise changes to specific international or local H&S regulations (e.g., new EU directives, updated OSHA standards). It can compare the new text to our existing global policies, highlighting key compliance actions required and potential gaps, saving your legal team countless hours of research.

Board Report Generation

AI drafts initial versions of your quarterly H&S reports for the Executive Board and Audit Committee. It pulls key metrics from your EHS platform, summarises global performance trends, and even suggests strategic insights and recommendations, giving you a solid, data-driven starting point for your high-level presentations.

Policy & Procedure Drafting

AI helps you create first drafts of complex global safety policies or standard operating procedures (SOPs). You can feed it existing best practices, regulatory requirements, and specific operational contexts, and it will generate a consistent, compliant, and clearly worded document, significantly speeding up policy development and review cycles.

Common questions

Common questions

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

Common routes in include Regional H&S Manager (Large Multinational) (3-5 years in role before Director level), Senior H&S Business Partner (Large Enterprise) (4-6 years in role before Director level) and H&S Consulting Leader (Global Firm) (5-7 years in role before Director level). Times vary with prior experience.

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

This role can lead on to Chief Health & Safety Officer (CHSO) (3-5 years from Director level) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) (5-8 years from Director level), depending on the skills you build.

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

Increasingly, ESG Integration & Reporting (Environmental, Social, Governance) and Digital Twin & IoT Safety Applications. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

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

Experience as a Director of Global Health & Safety gives a strong foundation for work in other regulated, risk-aware sectors such as pharmaceuticals, energy, aviation and complex manufacturing. The principles of protecting people and operations apply across these industries, so the skills carry over well.

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 Director of Global Health & Safety plan, free 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.