Summary
WSP is seeking an HSE Manager to lead health, safety and environmental management for utility-scale renewable energy projects in Abu Dhabi. The role covers solar PV, battery energy storage, electrical infrastructure and grid interconnection across development, construction, commissioning and handover. Responsibilities include setting HSE governance, overseeing contractor plans and risk controls, managing site inspections and audits, and leading incident response and reporting. Applicants need at least 15 years of relevant HSE experience, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline and a NEBOSH International General Certificate or equivalent.
The posting
As published on wsp.com. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
The HSE Manager will lead the health, safety and environmental management arrangements for large-scale utility renewable energy development comprising solar photovoltaic generation, battery energy storage systems, balance-of-plant infrastructure, electrical facilities and grid interconnection works. This role will support both development and delivery activities, ensuring that HSE risks are effectively managed across head-office coordination and multiple project sites.
Working closely with project management, construction management, contractors, original equipment manufacturers and other project stakeholders, the HSE Manager will establish consistent HSE governance, provide technical leadership, and promote safe, compliant and environmentally responsible project delivery.
Responsibilities
- Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the project HSE management plan and associate procedures in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory, organizational and contractual requirements.
- Provide HSE leadership during the development, design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover phases of large-scale renewable energy and energy storage assets.
- Act as the primary HSE point of contact for project leadership and coordinate HSE matters with contractors, consultants, original equipment manufacturers, utility and grid-interface stakeholders, and relevant authorities.
- Establish a project-wide HSE governance framework covering solar PV facilities, battery energy storage systems, balance-of-plant works, electrical facilities, substations, transmission or grid interconnection works, temporary facilities and logistics activities.
- Review design deliverables, constructability proposals and project execution plans to identify and eliminate or reduce health, safety and environmental risks through the hierarchy of controls.
- Review and approve contractors’ HSE plans, risk assessments, method statements, lifting plans, emergency arrangements and other task-specific HSE documentation before work begins.
- Lead HSE risk assessments for high-risk activities, including electrical works and energization, battery installation and testing, heavy lifting, work at height, excavation, confined spaces, hot works, interface activities and simultaneous operations.
- Manage and mentor HSE personnel across multiple work fronts, ensuring consistent site monitoring, reporting, escalation and close-out practices.
- Plan and conduct regular site inspections, leadership safety walks, audits and joint inspections with the project team and contractor representatives.
- Monitor contractor performance against agreed HSE objectives, leading and lagging indicators, and corrective-action requirements; ensure findings are tracked to timely closure.
- Develop and deliver project HSE inductions, briefings, awareness campaigns and targeted training for employees and contractor personnel.
- Ensure appropriate emergency preparedness and response arrangements are developed, tested and maintained for construction, electrical, battery, fire, environmental and medical emergencies.
- Lead or oversee incident notification, investigation and root-cause analysis, ensuring lessons learned and corrective or preventive actions are communicated and implemented across all sites.
- Coordinate environmental management controls, including waste management, spill prevention, dust and noise control, hazardous-material handling, biodiversity considerations and regulatory compliance.
- Prepare clear HSE reports, dashboards and management updates, highlighting critical risks, trends, non-conformances and required decisions.
- Facilitate HSE meetings with project leadership, contractors and key stakeholders and support a positive, intervention-led safety culture throughout the project lifecycle.
Qualifications
- Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to establish consistent HSE standards across complex, multi-contractor and multi-site environments.
- Demonstrated knowledge of HSE risks associated with utility-scale solar PV, battery energy storage, high-voltage electrical systems, substations and grid interconnection works.
- Sound understanding of construction HSE management, contractor assurance, design risk management, commissioning and energization controls.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, facilitation, investigation and report writing skills.
- Ability to priorities critical risks, challenge unsafe practices, and provide pragmatic, technically sound solutions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and digital HSE reporting or action-tracking systems.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science or a relevant discipline.
- Minimum 15 years of relevant HSE experience, including substantial experience supporting major power, renewable energy, energy storage, electrical infrastructure or similarly complex construction programmes.
- Relevant professional health and safety qualification, with NEBOSH International General Certificate as a minimum; NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent advanced qualification is preferred.
- Demonstrable experience leading HSE across large-scale, multi-site construction projects involving multiple contractors and interfaces.
- Practical experience with utility-scale solar PV projects and/or battery energy storage systems is strongly preferred.
- Experience with high voltage works substations, electrical facilities, grid interconnection, commissioning and energization activities is highly desirable.
- Professional membership or certification from a recognized HSE body is preferred.
- Previous experience working in the UAE or wider Middle East on major power or infrastructure projects is advantageous.
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