Job Description – Head of Construction QHSE

Role: Head of Construction Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (QHSE)
Location: North  
Contract: Permanent
Sector: Construction

About the Role

We are seeking an accomplished Head of Construction QHSE to lead the strategic direction, management and continuous improvement of Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality performance across a wide portfolio of construction, refurbishment and estate development projects.

Reporting to the QHSE Director for Projects, you will oversee a team of QHSE professionals and play a key role in shaping and strengthening Mitie's QHSE compliance and culture across complex, multi‑contractor construction environments. This role requires strong stakeholder management and the ability to influence at executive level.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a national team of Construction QHSE professionals, ensuring consistent and high‑quality delivery across all projects.
• Contribute to and support the strategic direction for QHSE within the Projects Division.
• Allocate workloads effectively, review performance and promote a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous professional development.
• Champion a proactive and positive safety culture across all construction activities.
• Develop, implement and maintain robust QHSE processes and procedures aligned with legal, regulatory and industry requirements.
• Ensure compliance with UK HSE legislation and CDM Regulations, supporting Mitie in fulfilling Principal Contractor and Designer duties.
• Provide QHSE oversight of complex construction activities, including contractor management, temporary works and lifting operations.
• Lead and support audits, inspections and investigations, ensuring corrective actions are identified, implemented and tracked to completion.
• Undertake regular site audits across a diverse project portfolio.
• Provide QHSE input to project meetings, design reviews, risk workshops and safety briefings.
• Oversee quality assurance arrangements to ensure construction works meet design intent, specifications and regulatory standards.
• Monitor and report on quality performance, non‑conformances, root causes and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure effective arrangements are in place for QHSE training, inductions, toolbox talks and awareness sessions for employees and contractors.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and professional advice to project teams on construction safety, quality and environmental management.
• Ensure early engagement with internal and external stakeholders to embed QHSE requirements into pre‑construction planning and delivery.
• Monitor KPIs, leading indicators, incidents, trends and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement.

About You

You are a confident, credible and influential QHSE leader with significant experience managing teams and embedding safe, compliant and high‑quality working practices across complex, multi‑contractor construction projects. You bring a collaborative but robust approach, with the ability to challenge and influence at all levels.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of UK HSE legislation, CDM Regulations, BS5975, BS7121, and practical construction safety best practice.
• Proven experience in a senior QHSE leadership role within the construction sector.
• Experience working with multiple contractors and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across senior and operational levels.
• Strong auditing, investigation and risk management capability.
• Chartered or professionally recognised membership (e.g. CMIOSH, CEng MICE).
• Environmental management knowledge.
• SC clearance or eligibility to obtain clearance.

Desirable

• Experience overseeing or developing construction quality management systems.
• Fire safety knowledge or relevant qualifications.
• Knowledge of the Building Safety Act.