Head of Safety and Assurance

Head of Safety & Assurance

Closing date for applications:
Friday 03rd July 2026

To lead and embed a proactive safety, assurance and risk management culture across all operational and infrastructure functions within the railway business. The role provides strategic direction, oversight and continuous improvement for health and safety, operational assurance and compliance with regulatory and industry standards.

• Professional Head of Occupational Safety.
• Develop and deliver the organisation's Safety and Assurance Strategy in alignment with corporate goals and industry best practices.
• Lead enterprise‑wide risk assessments and ensure effective mitigation planning is embedded at all operational levels.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, driving innovation in safety technology and assurance processes.
• Ensure full compliance with UK rail safety regulations including ROGS, ORR and relevant ISO standards.
• Act as the Principal Duty Holder or Competent Person under rail legislation as appropriate.
• Lead investigations into safety‑related incidents, ensuring root cause analysis and corrective actions are effectively implemented.
• Establish assurance frameworks for fleet, infrastructure, control centres and frontline operations.
• Oversee safety certification and auditing programmes, including SMS implementation and assessment.
• Collaborate with maintenance, engineering and operations teams to ensure safety is embedded in all activities.
• Liaise with industry regulators (ORR, RSSB), unions and safety boards, ensuring transparent communication and representation.
• Prepare and present safety performance reports, including risk trends, leading indicators and audit outcomes, to executive and board‑level stakeholders.
• Drive employee engagement in safety initiatives across all levels of the business.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing Safety and Assurance team, fostering accountability, capability growth and succession planning.
• Mentor managers and staff on risk awareness, behavioural safety and compliance culture.
• Accountable for the cyber security of all fleet and on‑board digital systems (including TMS, PIS, CCTV, DAS and passenger‑facing platforms), ensuring robust governance covering system‑level risk assessment, assurance and compliance with railway, safety and information security standards (including NIS Regulations, CAF, RSSB standards and internal policies).
• Provide strategic oversight of vulnerability management, penetration testing, secure design and engineering change assurance, and the effective management of third‑party and OEM cyber risks, working in collaboration with the Corporate IT function to ensure alignment to enterprise cyber policies, governance frameworks and strategic objectives.
• On‑call requirement as and when the business needs.

• Proven leadership experience in rail safety, assurance or risk management.
• In‑depth knowledge of rail industry legislation, standards and governance frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience in strategic planning and operational execution.
• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Chartered membership of IOSH, IRM or similar is desirable.
• Experience in digital transformation or data‑led safety innovation.
• Familiarity with ERTMS, fleet risk planning and infrastructure projects.
• Skilled in change management and performance improvement in regulated environments.
• Level6 Diploma in Occupational Safety.

At Cross Country, we believe our people should reflect the diverse communities we serve. Inclusion isn’t just part of our strategy — it’s central to our success. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to be their best.