Head of Health and Safety (UK Ports)
CLdN
Purfleet or Killingholme (Humber) | Competitive Salary + Car and Benefits
Irwin and Colton are delighted to be partnering exclusively with CLdN to identify a new Head of Health and Safety, responsible for their UK Ports business division. With 30 ships operating more than 200 sailings a week, CLdN provides shortsea roll-on / roll-off (ro-ro) connections between the European continent, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iberia and Scandinavia. CLdN Ports owns/operates three UK terminals (Purfleet, Killingholme and Liverpool) with over 700 employees.
This role will lead the development, implementation and monitoring of all health and safety activities across UK port operations, ensuring the wellbeing of employees, contractors, and visitors at complex, high-risk maritime terminals.
Leading a small team of specialists and working closely with the senior leadership team, this position will play a critical role in supporting operational excellence and sustainable growth by embedding a proactive, risk-aware safety culture across a network of modern, fast-paced port environments.
Responsibilities of the Head of Health and Safety role will include:
Working closely with senior operational leaders to lead risk management activity across stevedoring, cargo handling, and landside operations, ensuring compliance with all UK health, safety, and environmental legislation.
Acting as the principal point of contact with regulatory authorities, customers, and industry bodies on all matters relating to safety performance and incident response.
Overseeing safety investigations, audits, and assurance activity, ensuring robust follow-up and continuous improvement.
Managing the review and development of policies, procedures, training frameworks and emergency plans that meet the unique demands of high-volume, high-risk port environments.
Supporting the ongoing development and performance of the safety team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing safety function across all sites.
The successful Head of Health and Safety candidate will have:
Experience leading health and safety functions within logistics, ports, shipping, industrial, or other complex operational environments.
NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent qualification (minimum NEBOSH General Certificate) and ideally CMIOSH status.
Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels.
Demonstrable experience working with regulators and industry bodies, and managing compliance in a highly regulated setting.
A proactive, strategic mindset, balanced with the ability to deliver on-the-ground change and improvement across multi-site operations.
This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of Europe's most dynamic logistics and maritime groups in a critical leadership role. For further information, please contact Sam Tearne on or 01923 963 651 to discuss further and apply.
