SHEQ Advisor

SHEQ Advisor

Department: Water

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Cheshire

Reporting To: Rachel Watkinson

You’ll join OCU’s Water division supporting the delivery of essential water and wastewater infrastructure projects that underpin communities across the UK. Working as part of the Regional SHEQ team, you’ll play a key role in shaping a strong safety‑first culture while helping ensure projects are delivered safely, compliantly and to a high standard.

This is an opportunity to contribute to a growing sector at a time of significant investment, with exposure to a wide range of operational activities and the chance to develop your SHEQ career within a business that is expanding rapidly and committed to continuous improvement.

You’ll provide day‑to‑day SHEQ support and guidance to operational teams, helping to embed best practice and ensure that health, safety, environmental and quality standards are consistently applied across all project activities. Working closely with management and site teams, you’ll support the implementation of safe systems of work while driving improvements in performance and compliance.

You’ll monitor SHEQ performance across projects, reviewing key data, identifying trends and supporting the delivery of corrective actions where needed. A core part of your role will involve engaging directly with site teams, reinforcing expectations, promoting positive behaviours and ensuring standards are understood and maintained.

You’ll carry out site audits and inspections, support incident and accident investigations, and ensure that lessons learned are effectively captured and shared. You’ll also play an active role in promoting a proactive safety culture, confidently challenging unsafe behaviours and supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the business.

Alongside operational support, you’ll assist with mobilisation of new projects, contributing to the development of risk assessments, method statements, SHE plans and Construction Phase Plans in line with CDM requirements. You’ll also support SHE communications, training and engagement activities to strengthen awareness and compliance across the workforce.

Essential:

• Experience with in SHEQ, or a background in utilities, construction or infrastructure environments
• NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent qualification
• Strong understanding of health, safety, environmental and quality standards and compliance frameworks
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage with a range of stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills with a proactive and professional approach
• Good IT skills including Microsoft Office
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel

Desirable:

• Experience with in the water or wastewater sector
• IOSH or IEMA membership
• Experience supporting audits, investigations and SHEQ performance reporting
• Ability to analyse performance data and contribute to improvement initiatives