QHSE Director Recruitment

What the role involves

• Setting QHSE strategy and integrated management system across the business, covering ISO 45001, ISO 14001, and applicable quality standards
• Leading the QHSE team and managing the QHSE function budget across all sites or business units, including QHSE advisors, auditors, and environment managers
• Reporting QHSE performance to the board and regulatory bodies, including RIDDOR statistics, environmental incidents, and quality performance metrics
• Managing QHSE risk across the business and supply chain, including contractor safety management and supply chain compliance
• Leading incident investigation and crisis management, including major accident investigations, regulatory interventions, and improvement plan implementation
• Driving QHSE culture and behavioural safety programmes, building line management ownership of safety rather than centralising it in the function

Who employers are looking for

NEBOSH Diploma is the essential foundation for QHSE Director appointments, candidates without it are rarely considered regardless of other experience. CMIOSH (chartered member via IOSH) is increasingly required rather than simply valued, reflecting the professionalisation of the health and safety discipline. ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 Lead Auditor qualifications confirm the technical depth to own the management systems personally.

For the environmental dimension, IEMA Full Member or PIEMA (Principal member) demonstrates the environmental leadership capability required. Quality management qualification, CQI MCQI or equivalent, rounds out the integrated QHSE credential. Candidates who hold strong health and safety credentials but limited quality or environmental qualifications are regularly appointed to QHSE Director roles where one discipline dominates, but full QHSE Director briefs increasingly expect competence across all three disciplines.

The leadership capability to build a safety culture, influencing line management, workforce, and the board rather than policing compliance, is what most distinguishes QHSE Director candidates at final selection. Technical knowledge opens doors. Cultural leadership ability determines success.

Salary benchmarks

QHSE Directors in oil and gas and major construction earn at the top of the range. CMIOSH and IEMA qualifications add market value. Package typically includes car allowance, performance bonus, and enhanced pension.

Industries that hire QHSE Directors

• Construction: leading QHSE across a major tier 1 or specialist contractor at group level, with CDM and HSE regulatory compliance
• Oil and gas: leading QHSE for upstream, downstream, or service operations with OPITO and COMAH regulatory frameworks
• Manufacturing: leading integrated QHSE management across multiple manufacturing sites with ISO 45001 and quality standard compliance
• Energy: heading QHSE for power generation, transmission, or renewables operations with ONR or HSE regulatory interfaces
• Utilities: leading QHSE for water, gas, or electricity infrastructure operations with network asset management and contractor safety management

Related roles

• Operations Director: the most common line management relationship for the QHSE Director, with QHSE as a key operational function
• Managing Director: QHSE Directors in smaller businesses or specialist safety consultancies may report directly to the MD
• Engineering Director: a peer relationship where engineering technical compliance and QHSE management share oversight of product and process safety
• Head of Quality: the quality specialist role in businesses where quality is managed separately from health, safety, and environment

Where we place QHSE Director professionals

We place QHSE Director professionals across the UK. Browse by location or register your CV for roles that match your experience.