Country QHSE Manager

Role Overview

Country QHSE Manager at SGS. The Health & Safety Country Manager provides strategic and operational leadership to drive a proactive, risk-based Health & Safety culture across the country, aligned with SGS global standards and business objectives.

Company Overview

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. Recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity, SGS operates a network of more than 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world with more than 89,000 employees.

Role Purpose

The role is accountable for embedding effective risk management, strengthening operational discipline, and ensuring that Health & Safety is integrated into all business activities to support sustainable and safe growth. Acting as a trusted advisor to the Managing Director and leadership teams, the role influences decision-making and ensures strong governance, leadership accountability, and continuous improvement across all locations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership by translating global and regional Health & Safety strategy into a clear and actionable country roadmap aligned with business priorities.
• Anticipate, prioritize, and manage critical risks using data-driven insights and proactive approaches.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Drive a risk-based approach focusing on identification, assessment, and control of critical risks, ensuring effectiveness of controls rather than simple compliance.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations and SGS standards.
• Support integration of Health & Safety into acquisitions, projects, and operational changes.

Safety Culture & Engagement

• Lead the development of a strong safety culture, reinforcing leadership behaviors, accountability, and employee engagement across all levels of the organisation.
• Build trust, influence stakeholders at all levels, and integrate Health & Safety into business decision-making.
• Drive behavioural change, ownership, and accountability, fostering a positive and proactive safety culture.

Incident Management & Learning

• Ensure robust incident reporting, investigation, and learning processes, with a focus on root cause analysis and prevention of recurrence.

Capability Building & Team Leadership

• Build organisational capability through coaching, training, and development of Health & Safety personnel and operational leaders.
• Develop high-performing teams and build capability through coaching, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure consistent and effective implementation of the Health & Safety Management System with measurable performance outcomes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Health & Safety or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in Health & Safety management, including corporate leadership roles in complex or multi-site environments.
• Professional certification (e.g. NEBOSH, ISO 45001 Lead Auditor) is preferred.
• Experience in site and lab operations setup.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, influence senior stakeholders, and drive continuous improvement.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Risk Leadership – anticipate, prioritize, and manage critical risks using data-driven insights and proactive approaches.
• Influencing & Engagement – build trust, influence stakeholders at all levels, and integrate Health & Safety into business decision-making.
• Safety Culture Leadership – drive behavioural change, ownership, and accountability, fostering a positive and proactive safety culture.
• Operational Excellence – ensure consistent and effective implementation of the Health & Safety Management System with measurable performance outcomes.
• Team Leadership & Capability Building – develop high-performing teams and build capability through coaching, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.