Group Director – Project Health & Safety

Job Purpose

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Group Director – Project Health & Safety (H&S) will be responsible for ensuring all health and safety measures are effectively implemented and maintained on construction project sites within the Group Planning & Project Management Department (GPPMD) at DP World. This role serves as the primary liaison between the Project Management team and the Group Health, Safety, and Environment (GHSE) Department. The Group Director – Project H&S will focus on risk reduction, lead DP World’s "Zero Harm" philosophy, and prioritize the elimination of Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) incidents. The role also ensures compliance of contractor safety programmes and fosters continual improvement in safety practices.

Key Accountabilities

Health & Safety Oversight:

• Support the GPPMD project managers with H&S due diligence assessments to ensure all potential H&S deficiencies and risks have been addressed in the Pre-Project stage and included in the GPPMD reports to the end users.
• Oversee and monitor health and safety activities across all capital construction projects managed by GPPMD, ensuring adherence to DP World’s health & safety policies, industry regulations, and local legislation.
• Focus on risk reduction to ensure the safety of all workers.
• Support the GPPMD project managers with budgeting activities related to H&S, including forecasting, allocation, and monitoring of H&S expenses.
• Identify cost-efficient solutions to enhance H&S performance in project sites without compromising on quality or compliance.
  
  

Zero Harm Leadership

• Champion DP World’s "Zero Harm" philosophy, promoting a safety-first culture with the goal of eliminating Serious Injuries and Fatality (SIF) incidents.
• Ensure all practices and measures align with this focus on safeguarding people.
  
  

Liaison & Communication

• Act as the focal point between GPPMD and GHSE, ensuring seamless communication and coordination of H&S initiatives across project sites.
• Where applicable, lead the global rollout of relevant H&S programmes and initiatives to GPPMD project sites.
  
  

Contractor Safety Compliance

• Review contractor safety management programs to ensure they are compliant with DP World’s health and safety standards.
• Conduct regular audits and inspections to verify contractor adherence to safety requirements on project sites.
  
  

Risk Assessment & Mitigation

• Collaborate with project managers and HSE professionals to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, identifying and mitigating potential threats at various stages of construction projects and capitalizing on potential opportunities.
  
  

Training & Awareness

• Develop, organise, and deliver training programmes to ensure that all project teams are aware of health and safety requirements, fostering a proactive safety culture across all construction sites.
  
  

Incident Investigation & Reporting

• Lead the investigation of any incidents, accidents, or near misses on construction sites, focusing on Serious Incidents.
• Develop and analyze reports to identify trends and propose solutions. Share best practices and lessons learned across the project teams to prevent future occurrences.
  
  

Compliance Monitoring & Project Audits

• Plan, execute, and report on regular H&S project audits to ensure ongoing compliance with both internal and external health and safety regulations.
• Recommend corrective actions and monitor their implementation to ensure a continuous improvement culture toward H&S matters.
• Develop reports for GPPMD management on findings and recommended actions to be taken to resolve hazards and risks.
• Lead and represent GPPMD in any H&S internal or external audits ensuring timely resolution of audit findings and nonconformances.
  
  

Health & Safety Documentation

• Maintain comprehensive and accurate records of all health and safety activities on a department level as well as on a project level, including training records, incident reports, audits, and risk assessments.
• Develop reports on H&S metrics as per the department and project communication plans.
  
  

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Regularly report on the performance of H&S activities to GPPMD project teams, highlighting key findings, challenges, and areas for improvement.
• Develop and analyse reports on serious incidents to identify trends and inform continuous improvement efforts.
  
  

H&S Lessons Learned & Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement in health and safety practices by reviewing H&S lessons learned and incorporating them into future projects.
• Share best practices with the project teams and develop strategies to prevent future incidents.
  
  

Governance

• Ensure that all H&S activities for projects and the department are aligned with the GPPMD Strategy & PMO governance framework and that all activities and documentation (including but not limited to project audit reports, lessons learned, risks, improvement plans, etc.) adhere to the relevant PMO standards and templates and performed in the relevant PMO systems.
• Collaborate with the GPPMD Strategy & PMO team to continually improve H&S practices in processes, procedures, and templates as part of the department and project governance frameworks.
  
  

General

• Act as an ambassador for DP World at all times when working; promoting and demonstrating positive behaviours in harmony with DP World’s Principles, values and culture; ensuring the highest level of safety is applied in all activities; understanding and following DP World’s Code of Conduct and Ethics policies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Applicable if role has direct or indirect reports - responsible for the management and leadership of an engaged team, promoting collaboration and ensuring that each is developed and evaluated against goals and objectives which are aligned, specific, measurable, attainable yet challenging, realistic and time bound.
  
  

Qualifications, Experience And Skills

• Formal degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field is required.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., NEBOSH, OSHA, ISO 45001) are preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a health and safety role within construction, ideally with experience in capital construction or large-scale infrastructure projects. Experience working in a liaison role between departments is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety laws, regulations, and best practices in the construction industry. Familiarity with risk assessment methodologies, safety audits, accident investigation procedures, and contractor safety management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple teams and departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly assess situations, develop solutions, and drive improvements.
• Ability to lead health and safety initiatives, mentor site personnel, and drive a culture of safety across all levels of the organisation.
• Excellent verbal, written communication, good computer & software skills, report writing and administrative skills
  
  

About Us

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 115,000 employees from 160 nationalities, spanning 78 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses -- Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What's more, we're reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimizing disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

DP World is on a mission to transcend boundaries and bridge the gap between all nations and cultures – not just in what we do but also in how we behave.

We are dedicated to creating a culture where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. We believe that embracing inclusion and diversity, drives innovation and growth and helps us connect people, businesses, and societies. Free minds and different perspectives are changing our world, and together we can change what’s possible.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW