Group Health and Safety Director

Mecsia is a leading UK provider of technical inspection, maintenance, and engineering services, aiming to transform the industry with a ‘Local Service, National Reach’ approach. The company has grown significantly through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, including seven business units serving large clients in different sectors including Commercial offices, healthcare and educational facilities. Under private equity ownership since 2020, Mecsia has expanded to approximately 1,200 employees, including 700 engineers. In 2024, Mecsia was acquired by Synova, recognised as PE house of the year for four of the last seven years,  who supports an ambitious growth strategy through service excellence and further acquisitions.

As a growing national business operating within these sectors, health and safety is a fundamental pillar of sustainable success. Our operations involve high-risk environments where safety excellence is not just a compliance requirement but a business imperative. A strong health and safety culture protects our employees, clients, and stakeholders, reducing incidents and improving operational efficiency. By prioritising health and safety, we enhance our reputation, maintain regulatory compliance, and create a safer, more productive workplace. Investing in best-in-class health and safety practices ensures business continuity, drives innovation, and fosters trust among our workforce and clients, positioning us as an industry leader.

Job Summary

The Group Health and Safety Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing a best-in-class health and safety strategy across all business units within the group. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role ensures alignment between individual business unit health and safety strategies while driving continuous improvement and group-wide compliance. The role will also provide monthly reporting to the board and lead strategic projects to enhance safety awareness and performance across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a unified group-wide health and safety strategy that aligns with the objectives of each business unit and promotes a culture of safety excellence.
• Policy Development: Establish and maintain robust health and safety policies, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and industry best practices.
• Business Unit Collaboration: Engage with business unit leaders to understand their specific health and safety processes, challenges, and objectives, integrating best practices to create a cohesive group-wide approach.
• Governance and Reporting: Provide comprehensive monthly reports to the board, including performance metrics, key risks, incident analysis, and strategic initiatives.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Monitor and assess compliance across all business units, identifying risks and the development of proactive solutions to mitigate hazards.
• Training and Awareness: Develop and lead health and safety training programs, awareness campaigns, and best-practice sharing initiatives to enhance engagement across the group.
• Incident Investigation and Continuous Improvement: Oversee the investigation of significant incidents, ensuring lessons learned are applied to prevent recurrence and drive continuous improvement.
• Strategy and Innovation: Lead strategic projects aimed at enhancing health and safety awareness, performance, and engagement across the organisation.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Support the business unit engagement with external regulatory bodies, ensuring the group maintains a strong reputation for health and safety excellence.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a senior health and safety leadership role within a multi-business unit or group organisation.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation, regulations, and best practices.
• Experience developing and implementing corporate health and safety strategies.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage with senior executives and operational teams.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with experience providing board-level reports.
• Ability to drive cultural change and embed a proactive safety culture across diverse business environments.
• Relevant health and safety qualifications (e.g., NEBOSH Diploma, Chartered IOSH, or equivalent).
• Strong project management and leadership skills.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to lead and shape health and safety across a growing diverse and dynamic group of businesses. If you are passionate about safety leadership and driving strategic improvements, we invite you to be part of our team and make a lasting impact.