Head of Health, Safety and Environment

Help Shape a Safe, Sustainable Future for Scottish Canals

Scottish Canals is one of Scotland's most distinctive public organisations. As custodians of 141 miles of historic waterways, we connect communities, protect nationally significant heritage and create lasting social, environmental and economic value.

As we continue our organisational transformation, we're looking for an exceptional leader to join our senior leadership community as Head of Health, Safety & Environment. This is a rare opportunity to influence the future of an organisation that combines heritage, sustainability, commercial ambition and public service, while leading critical functions that protect our people, communities, assets and environment.

About the Role

Reporting to the Deputy Director of People & Strategy, you'll lead Scottish Canals' strategic approach to health, safety, environment, sustainability and heritage, ensuring robust governance, compliance and assurance arrangements are in place across the organisation. You'll provide visible, values-led leadership, helping to embed a proactive culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement while strengthening organisational resilience and supporting the delivery of our Corporate Plan.

As the organisation's lead professional adviser in health, safety, environment and heritage matters, you'll provide expert advice and assurance to the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team and Board on statutory compliance, organisational risk and performance. You'll also lead a team of specialist professionals responsible for:

• Health & Safety
• Environmental Management
• Sustainability & Climate Change
• Heritage Management
• Organisational Resilience & Business Continuity
• Risk Assurance & Compliance

Working closely with senior leaders, regulators, statutory agencies and external partners, you'll help shape decisions that deliver safe operations, environmental stewardship and lasting benefits for Scotland's people, places and communities.

What You'll Bring

We're looking for an accomplished senior leader with the credibility, judgement and influence to operate confidently across a complex organisation.

You'll bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in health, safety and risk management within a complex, multi-disciplinary environment.
• Chartered membership of IOSH, IIRSM or an equivalent professional body.
• A strong track record of leading compliance, assurance and governance functions.
• Experience leading specialist teams and building organisational capability.
• Expertise in audit, risk management, incident investigation and organisational learning.
• Experience working with regulators, enforcement bodies and statutory agencies.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into delivery.
• Exceptional communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Commercial, financial and governance awareness.
• Political awareness, sound judgement and resilience.
• An inclusive, collaborative leadership style aligned to our organisational values.

Why Scottish Canals?

This is an opportunity to:

• Shape the future of a nationally significant organisation.
• Lead strategic health, safety and environmental governance across Scotland's canal network.
• Drive organisation-wide culture change and continuous improvement.
• Influence Executive and Board decision-making.
• Lead environmental stewardship, sustainability and heritage outcomes.
• Develop high-performing teams and future leaders.
• Help deliver lasting environmental, social and economic impact across Scotland.

Reward

Salary £57,537 - £62,872 (Band G).

Starting salary will be determined in accordance with Scottish Canals' pay arrangements and the successful candidate's experience.

Scottish Canals offer a generous annual leave entitlement of 224 hours, plus 6 public holidays, along with enhanced sick pay, discounted shopping vouchers, health cash plan and a contributory pension scheme with up to 10% employer contribution.

Scottish Canals reserve the right to close this vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.