United Kingdom · Operations · C-Suite (20+ years)

VP of EHS & Operations Risk

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 bandC-Suite (20+ years)
  • Reports toChief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as Chief Health & Safety Officer · Group Head of Operations Safety · Global EHS Director

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

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

NOCN Level 2 Diploma in Drilling Operations NOCN · Level 2 · covers 1 of 10 standards
MPQC Level 2 Diploma in Marine Aggregate Extraction MP Awards · Level 2 · 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

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

The units you would start with

Contribute to Maintaining Health, Safety and the Environment in the Drilling Workplace NOCN Level 2 Diploma in Drilling Operations
Maintain Personal Health, Safety and Environmental Standards on Board a Vessel MPQC Level 2 Diploma in Marine Aggregate Extraction
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)

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
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Sustainability Fluency building care for people and planet into the work
Your Plan Illustration

Built for VP of EHS & Operations Risk

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

  1. Contribute to Maintaining Health, Safety and the Environment in the Drilling Workplace NOCN · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 2
  2. Maintain Personal Health, Safety and Environmental Standards on Board a Vessel MP Awards · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 2
  3. Manage Health and Safety in own area of responsibility Chartered Management Institute · covers 4 of 10 standards Level 5
  4. Managing a healthy and safe environment City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 5
  5. Maintain Systems and Processes for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Protection in an Engineering Environment NOCN · covers 1 of 10 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 VP of EHS & Operations Risk?

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 Strategy & Integrated Reporting
  • Cyber-Physical Systems Safety & AI Governance
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 VP of EHS & Operations Risk plan as you set up, starting with the free Data Fluency module. No card.

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

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 leads safety strategy and operational risk across an organisation's global operations, protecting people and assets.

4What you'd actually use

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

Cority / Enablon (EHS Management Platform) Expert

Leading the strategic selection, enterprise-wide deployment, integration with ERP and HRIS, and defining data governance for all EHS modules. You're not just using it; you're defining how the entire organisation uses it to manage EHS.

Tableau / Anaplan (Data Analysis & Reporting) Expert

Architecting executive dashboards for EHS performance, modelling predictive risk scenarios for the Board, and linking EHS data directly to financial outcomes and ESG reporting. You're using it to tell the strategic story of EHS.

ServiceNow GRC / Confluence (Collaboration & Document Control) Expert

Architecting the enterprise knowledge management system for all EHS documentation, ensuring version control, audit trails for legal compliance, and seamless access for global teams. You're building the backbone of EHS information management.

3E Protect (Chemical Management / SDS) Expert

Setting enterprise policy for chemical approval, overseeing global regulatory reporting (e.g., Tier II), and assessing supply chain chemical risks at a strategic level. You're managing our global chemical footprint.

Workday Learning / Cornerstone (Learning Management System) Expert

Developing the enterprise-wide safety training strategy, linking competency models to training requirements, and managing the global EHS training budget. You're ensuring our entire workforce is competently trained.

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 EHS Strategy & Policy N/A N/A N/A
Major EHS Investment & Budget N/A N/A N/A
M&A EHS Due Diligence & Integration N/A N/A N/A
Regulatory Engagement & Crisis Response N/A N/A N/A
Organisational Design & Talent for EHS 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.

Enterprise TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) Reduction
The overall rate of recordable injuries across all global operations.
Target · A sustained 10-15% year-on-year reduction across the enterprise.

Reducing the global TRIR from 0.8 to 0.7 by year-end, indicating fewer workplace injuries relative to hours worked across all our sites.

Workers' Compensation Premium Reduction
The financial cost associated with workplace injuries and related insurance premiums.
Target · A 5-10% reduction in annual workers' compensation insurance premiums.

Successfully negotiating a £2M reduction in our annual insurance premiums by demonstrating a robust safety record and proactive risk management strategies to underwriters.

External ISO 45001 Certification Success
The successful attainment and maintenance of international occupational health and safety management system certifications across all relevant sites.
Target · Zero major non-conformances in external ISO 45001 audits across the entire global portfolio.

Achieving re-certification for all 20 global manufacturing sites with no major findings, showcasing consistent, high-standard EHS management.

Environmental Non-Compliance Fines & Penalties
The total financial cost incurred from environmental regulatory breaches.
Target · Zero fines or penalties related to environmental non-compliance globally.

Ensuring no environmental incidents lead to regulatory fines, which could otherwise be in the hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds.

Board and Executive Confidence
The level of trust and confidence the Board and Executive Leadership Team have in the EHS strategy and its execution.
  • Regular invitations to strategic planning sessions beyond EHS topics
  • proactive consultation on major capital projects or M&A activities
  • positive feedback in annual performance reviews from the CEO and Board members
  • EHS being a standing, high-priority item on Board agendas, not just a compliance check.
Regulatory Relationship Strength
The quality and proactivity of our relationships with key regulatory bodies globally.
  • Regulators viewing us as a trusted partner and industry leader, rather than just a regulated entity
  • proactive engagement in policy discussions
  • swift and transparent resolution of any regulatory queries
  • minimal escalations or adversarial interactions.
Safety Culture Maturity
The observable shift towards a truly proactive, interdependent safety culture across the organisation.
  • Significant increases in proactive safety observations and near-miss reporting from all levels
  • high engagement in safety committees
  • anecdotal evidence of employees at all levels feeling empowered to exercise Stop Work Authority
  • positive results from anonymous safety culture surveys (e.g., 80%+ believing safety is genuinely prioritised over production).
M&A EHS Integration Effectiveness
The seamless and robust integration of EHS considerations into all Mergers & Acquisitions activities.
  • Zero unforeseen EHS liabilities arising post-acquisition due to inadequate due diligence
  • successful and timely integration of acquired entities into our EHS management systems
  • positive feedback from acquired company leadership on the EHS transition process.

7Would you like it

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

What people enjoy
Protecting Lives and Livelihoods

You're driven by the profound responsibility of ensuring thousands of people go home safely each day. This manifests in your relentless pursuit of robust safety systems, your deep dive into incident trends, and your advocacy for every necessary safety investment. Frankly, it's what gets you out of bed.

Knowing that a new global safety standard you championed has prevented numerous injuries across our sites, or successfully navigating a major crisis without loss of life.

Shaping Enterprise Strategy & Culture

You thrive on influencing the highest levels of the organisation, embedding safety as a core value, not just a department. This means actively participating in executive strategy sessions, challenging assumptions, and seeing your vision for a safer, more resilient company come to life through widespread cultural adoption.

Successfully integrating EHS metrics into the CEO's annual performance goals, or seeing a significant shift in leadership behaviour towards proactive safety engagement.

Navigating Complexity and High Stakes

The challenge of managing EHS risk across diverse global operations, complex regulatory landscapes, and rapidly evolving technologies energises you. You enjoy the intellectual rigour of solving multi-faceted problems and the adrenaline of leading through high-pressure situations, knowing the impact of your decisions is enormous.

Leading the EHS due diligence for a multi-billion-pound acquisition, identifying critical risks, and successfully mitigating them before the deal closes.

What frustrates people
  • Executive leadership not fully grasping the financial and human cost of poor EHS.
  • Bureaucratic inertia and slow decision-making on critical safety investments.
  • The constant need to justify EHS spend against other business priorities.
  • Dealing with regulatory changes that seem arbitrary or overly complex across different jurisdictions.
  • The emotional toll of managing and responding to serious incidents, even when preventable.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable 9-to-5 existence – crises don't respect office hours.
  • A role where you're universally loved or seen as the 'fun' department.
  • The ability to make every single operational decision yourself; you'll be influencing, not always dictating.
  • A role without significant political navigation and stakeholder management.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts the organisation's license to operate, its financial stability through risk mitigation, its global reputation, and most importantly, the physical and psychological safety of its entire workforce. You'll be setting the tone from the top, influencing culture, and ensuring long-term sustainability through robust risk management.

Inside the business
  • CEO and Executive Leadership Team
  • Board of Directors (especially Audit & Risk Committees)
  • Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Operations leadership
  • General Counsel and Legal team
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Finance team
  • Heads of Business Units and Regional Leaders
Outside the business
  • Government Regulators (e.g., HSE, OSHA, EPA)
  • Investors and ESG Rating Agencies
  • Insurance Providers and Underwriters
  • Industry Bodies and Associations
  • External Auditors and Consultants
  • Local Communities and Media

9What you need before you start

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

  • Extensive experience (20+ years) in senior EHS leadership roles within large-scale, complex operational environments (e.g., manufacturing, logistics, heavy industry).
  • Demonstrated track record of successfully leading enterprise-wide EHS strategy development and implementation, resulting in significant improvements in safety performance.
  • Proven ability to effectively engage with and influence Board-level executives, regulators, and external stakeholders on critical EHS matters.
  • Experience managing multi-million-pound EHS budgets and leading large, geographically dispersed EHS teams (100+ individuals).
  • Deep expertise in EHS management systems (e.g., ISO 45001) and their strategic deployment across a global organisation.
  • Strong understanding of the financial and reputational implications of EHS performance, including workers' compensation, insurance, and ESG reporting.

10What to practise next

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

Advanced EHS Analytics & Data Science Leadership

While AI tools will do much of the heavy lifting, you'll need to lead the strategic direction of our EHS data science capabilities. This means understanding the art of the possible with advanced analytics, defining key questions, and ensuring the integrity and interpretability of complex models.

Causal Inference in EHS · Machine Learning Model Governance · Data Visualisation for Executive Decision-Making · Data Lake & Warehouse Architecture for EHS · Ethical Data Use & Privacy in EHS

  • This quarter: Review our current EHS data architecture and identify opportunities for consolidation and enhancement.
  • Next 6 months: Engage with leading EHS data scientists or consultancies to understand cutting-edge applications.
  • Next 12 months: Sponsor a project to build a truly predictive EHS risk model, defining the business requirements.
  • Year 2: Establish an internal EHS data governance committee to ensure data quality and ethical use.

Quick win: Challenge your current analytics team to move beyond descriptive reporting to more predictive insights; ask 'what's going to happen?' not just 'what happened?'

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regular attendance and speaking engagements at global EHS and risk management conferences (e.g., NSC Congress, Safety & Health Expo, World Congress on Safety and Health at Work).
  • Active participation in relevant industry associations and working groups (e.g., IOSH, AIHA, ASSE, World Economic Forum safety initiatives).
  • Executive education programmes focused on corporate governance, strategic leadership, or advanced risk management from top-tier business schools.
  • Mentoring emerging EHS leaders, both internally and externally, to foster talent development in the profession.
  • Publishing articles or thought leadership pieces on emerging EHS risks, technologies, or strategic approaches.

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 Strategy & Integrated Reporting

EHS is no longer just about compliance; it's a critical component of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, which is under intense scrutiny from investors, customers, and regulators. Your role will increasingly merge EHS into the broader sustainability agenda, influencing capital allocation and brand value.

  • Materiality Assessments
  • GRI, SASB, TCFD Frameworks
  • Carbon Accounting & Decarbonisation Pathways
  • Human Rights Due Diligence in Supply Chains
  • ESG Assurance & Verification

Cyber-Physical Systems Safety & AI Governance

As our operations become more automated, connected, and reliant on AI (robotics, IoT, autonomous vehicles), the traditional lines between IT security, operational technology (OT) safety, and physical safety blur. You'll need to understand how to ensure the safety of these complex, interconnected systems and govern the ethical use of AI in EHS.

  • Safety-Critical Systems Design
  • Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) Safety
  • IoT Security & Data Integrity for EHS
  • AI Ethics & Bias in Predictive Safety
  • Digital Twin & Simulation for Safety

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Enterprise Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
  • Global Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA/JHA)
  • Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) & Culture Transformation
  • Management Systems & Compliance (ISO 45001/14001)
  • Enterprise Emergency Response Planning (ERP)

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

    Director of EHS (Global/Regional)

    5-10 years in this role before C-suite consideration

    Skills to master

    • Enterprise-level programme management, global team leadership, strategic budget management, complex regulatory navigation, executive stakeholder management.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistent achievement of significant EHS performance improvements across a large scope.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence and lead change without direct authority across multiple business units.
    • Proven track record of building and developing high-performing EHS teams.
    • Strong financial acumen and ability to link EHS performance to business outcomes.
  2. 2

    VP of Operations (with strong EHS background)

    3-7 years in this role before C-suite EHS consideration

    Skills to master

    • Full P&L responsibility, end-to-end operational leadership, supply chain optimisation, strategic planning for entire business units, deep understanding of operational drivers and constraints.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successful leadership of a significant operational business unit, demonstrating both efficiency and safety excellence.
    • Proven ability to balance production demands with uncompromising safety standards.
    • Strong commercial awareness and understanding of market dynamics.
    • Experience integrating EHS into broader operational excellence initiatives.
  3. 3

    Chief Risk Officer (CRO) or Head of Enterprise Risk Management

    5-10 years in this role before C-suite EHS consideration

    Skills to master

    • Holistic enterprise risk assessment, financial risk modelling, geopolitical risk analysis, regulatory compliance across all business functions, board-level risk reporting.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Demonstrated expertise in identifying, assessing, and mitigating a wide range of enterprise risks, not just EHS.
    • Strong analytical and quantitative skills for risk modelling and scenario planning.
    • Proven ability to develop and implement robust enterprise risk management frameworks.
    • High credibility with the Board and external auditors on risk matters.

15Where this role leads

The long view: Experience in this role can lead to chief executive positions, or to enterprise-wide risk leadership as a chief risk officer.

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 VP of EHS & Operations Risk 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 Contribute to Maintaining Health, Safety and the Environment in the Drilling Workplace, worked against VP of EHS & Operations Risk.

Contribute to Maintaining Health, Safety and the Environment in the Drilling Workplace Level 2

Applied to your work in VP of EHS & Operations Risk

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to contribute effectively to maintaining a healthy, safe, and environmentally responsible drilling workplace. Learners will develop the ability to follow established procedures, report concerns, and use appropriate protective equipment, while also understanding their individual responsibilities in upholding health, safety, and environmental standards.

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
VP of EHS & Operations Risk
  • Enterprise Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
  • Global Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA/JHA)
  • Behaviour-Based Safety (BBS) & Culture Transformation
  • Management Systems & Compliance (ISO 45001/14001)
  • Enterprise Emergency Response Planning (ERP)
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

VP of EHS & Operations Risk is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Chief Operations Officer (COO)

    3-5 years as VP of EHS & Operations Risk

    Significant increase in scope and P&L accountability, leading all operational functions.

    • Advanced manufacturing technologies (e.g., Industry 4.0, automation).
    • Global logistics and distribution network design.
    • Customer experience integration within operations.
    • Strategic vendor and contract management at an enterprise level.
  2. Board Member (Non-Executive Director)

    5+ years as VP of EHS & Operations Risk

    Shift from executive leadership to governance and strategic oversight.

    • Financial reporting and audit committee responsibilities.
    • Executive compensation and nomination committee oversight.
    • Stakeholder engagement at a macro-economic and societal level.
    • Mergers & Acquisitions strategy and integration oversight.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, even at the C-suite, the sheer volume of data, regulations, and reports can be overwhelming. AI isn't here to replace your strategic mind, but it can certainly take a huge chunk of the grunt work off your plate. Imagine having more time to actually think about long-term risk, rather than chasing down numbers or drafting yet another compliance report.

For a VP of EHS & Operations Risk, AI is a game-changer. It means moving from reactive reporting to proactive, predictive risk management at an enterprise scale. You'll be using these tools not just to save time, but to gain deeper insights, make more informed decisions, and communicate complex information more effectively to the Board and external stakeholders.

Enterprise Observation & Incident Analysis

Use advanced AI to analyse vast amounts of global safety observation data, incident reports, and near-miss logs from every site. The AI will instantly spot recurring systemic issues, identify root causes across different business units, and flag emerging trends that a human eye might miss. This isn't just about counting; it's about understanding the 'why' at a global scale and informing your strategic interventions.

Predictive Risk Modelling for Global Operations

Imagine an AI model that analyses historical incident data, operational schedules, weather patterns, equipment maintenance logs, and even workforce fatigue data from all our global sites. It then predicts which areas, shifts, or processes are most likely to experience an incident next week or next month. This allows you to strategically allocate safety resources, target interventions, and get ahead of problems before they even start, transforming EHS from reactive to truly predictive.

Global Regulatory Intelligence & Impact Assessment

New EHS regulations pop up constantly, and they vary wildly by country. An AI assistant can ingest thousands of pages of new legislation from dozens of jurisdictions, summarise the key changes, and instantly assess the potential impact on our specific global operations. It can even draft preliminary compliance checklists, freeing your legal and EHS teams from weeks of manual research and ensuring we're always ahead of the curve.

Board-Level Incident & Crisis Comms Drafting

When a major incident occurs, time is of the essence, and communication needs to be precise and consistent. Input the core facts into an AI tool, and it can generate structured first drafts of board reports, regulatory notifications, internal executive summaries, and even initial public statements. This ensures rapid, accurate, and compliant communication, allowing you to focus on the strategic response and stakeholder management.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a VP of EHS & Operations Risk?

Common routes in include Director of EHS (Global/Regional) (5-10 years in this role before C-suite consideration), VP of Operations (with strong EHS background) (3-7 years in this role before C-suite EHS consideration) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO) or Head of Enterprise Risk Management (5-10 years in this role before C-suite EHS consideration). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a VP of EHS & Operations Risk progress to?

This role can lead on to Chief Operations Officer (COO) (3-5 years as VP of EHS & Operations Risk) and Board Member (Non-Executive Director) (5+ years as VP of EHS & Operations Risk), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a VP of EHS & Operations Risk?

Increasingly, ESG Strategy & Integrated Reporting and Cyber-Physical Systems Safety & AI Governance. 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 operations

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

Understanding of operational risk, regulation, and cultural change carries across industries with heavy physical operations, including energy, mining, construction, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. These skills apply anywhere safety and operational resilience matter.

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.