QSSE Safety, Security and Environment Country Manager

Atkins Middle East

Muscat, Oman

Ref: HP331-895

Job description / Role

Employment: Full Time

Atkins has been established in the Gulf for over 40 years, having first carried out design and supervision commissions in the Gulf area in 1967. The regional head office (Dubai) was established in 1979.

We provide a full range of design, engineering and project management services for buildings, transportation and other infrastructure programmes

Atkins in the Middle East now employs around 2,000 staff serving Gulf clients across all market sectors from offices in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh, and Sharjah. The Emerging Markets Business focuses on markets outside the Gulf region in areas where Atkins are not yet established including North Africa, Middle East and Eurasia.

Due to continued growth our Emerging Markets Business are looking to recruit a QSSE Safety, Security and Environment Country Manager to be based in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman to work on a number of projects in the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia.

Reporting to the QSSE Safety, Security and Environment Head, the Country Manager will have overall responsibility for safety and environment (construction and office (including safety in design, but not environmental design activities)) and operations security assurance across Atkins’ multi-divisional and Global entity (F+G and Energy) activities in the country / countries allocated to them.

It is expected that the Safety, Security and Environment Country Manager will develop into an acknowledged technical leader in his/her field, fostering an active safety / security / environment community that enhances our reputation for technical excellence by supporting innovation and cross-business collaboration, defining best practice, and championing new approaches.

As well as being an acknowledged technical leader at an operational level, the Country Manager will exhibit statesmanship, meaning that he/she will actively engage with internal and external stakeholders at the highest levels and be recognised as a significant authority. External engagements will include high level negotiation and issue resolution with client and other stakeholder entities, technical authority public speaking engagements and membership of /attendance at strategic working groups.

Requirements

The Country Manager will have at least 10 years’ experience in construction health and safety and be qualified to Nebosh Diploma level, or equivalent, having chartered membership of IOSH or similar.

Must be an Omani National.

Candidates should possess strong technical skills in construction safety and be excellent communicators at all levels.

The role requires excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence senior management and deal with all stakeholders in challenging situations.

Knowledge and experience of implementing and monitoring security systems is an advantage, but the successful candidate will receive training during mobilisation into the role.

The QSSE Safety, Security and Environment Country Manager will have the following responsibilities:

Innovation and Collaboration:
- Innovation is about creating value from ideas. The Safety, Security and Environment Country Manager will be expected to generate ideas in the areas of safety, health, environment, security and worker welfare (contractors directly / not directly employed by Atkins) that will enhance our reputation and improve the way we work;
- Support cross-selling of innovative ways of working to Middle East countries and across other regions, as managed by the Head of QSSE Safety, Security and Environment;
- Support the implementation of the QSSE strategy for safety, security and environment initiatives in-country and across the region;
- Act as an internal focal point and subject matter expert for all health, safety, security and environment related matters within the country they operate (office safety, driving, AOS, Atkins Security Standard etc.);
- Support the implementation of the Middle East Security Standard and monitor security arrangements, with the assistance of the security coordinator network in medium risk-rated countries. Support the management of security incidents when they occur.

Target Outcomes:
- Shaping the industry through thought leadership, meaning that new strategic themes and/or operational tactics are put into practice internally and published / communicated to the building and construction sector (via media publications, public speaking at safety conferences, attendance at safety strategy workshops etc.) to influence safety standards.
- Provide insight to clients which they value, to support the improvement in our client’s safety culture (as measured by our client’s safety maturity assessment) and enhance our reputation with our clients.
- Atkins employees believe we are an innovative company and value our focus on continuous safety improvements across all of our operations (office and construction site based), as evidenced by improvements in the Viewpoint (staff survey) safety related responses for the country.

Business Development:
- Provide safety, security and environment technical input to bid proposals, where required, and provide advice on the safety related resourcing levels and competencies required for effective delivery of project safety, security and environment objectives;
- Participate in bid presentations to clients, clearly positioning Atkins as an industry leader, and effectively communicating the proposed project safety, security and environment deliverables;
- Act as an Atkins’ ambassador in dealings with clients, identifying business development opportunities in support of client’s strategic objectives.

Target Outcomes:
- Safety resource and competency levels are appropriate for the scale and complexity of the project, and the safety maturity of the client and contractor(s). Measured by exception i.e. the need to re-assess resourcing as a result of disclosure of insufficiency.
- Bid proposals are enhanced by thorough and innovative technical input, and communications (in client presentations and meetings) that add value to the Atkins ’proposition, as measured by feedback from the bid director / manager.
- Business opportunities that have been derived from client engagement by the Safety, Security and Environment Country Manager.

People Development:
- Support the recruitment process for safety personnel within country using the competency framework to establish baseline requirements;
- Establish (in collaboration with their line manager) development objectives and performance targets for all safety personnel in-country;
- Participate in the Performance Development Reviews (in collaboration with their line manager) for all safety personnel in-country;
- Mentoring and otherwise assisting in the development of safety personnel, as required;
- Support the Head of QSSE Safety, Security and Environment in the development and implementation of a regional safety, security and environment training plan, delivering training, as required.

Target Outcomes:
- ‘Right-first-time’ recruitment of personnel who meet the required competency standards, as measured by results of performance appraisals (expected level 3 performance assessment) within 12 months of recruitment.
- Country level performance assessment of all safety personnel (100% PDR completion), with areas for development clearly described and planned.
- Year-on-year delivery of development objectives for all in-country safety personnel.
- All planned training is effectively delivered, with benefits realised (measured and reported).

Stakeholder Management:
- Work closely with operational management within Atkins to promote core QSSE values and act as a champion for “See it, stop it, save a life” – through attendance at country senior leadership team meetings, operational meetings, workshops and training;
- Regularly present on safety and security topics at monthly staff briefings – common theme to be use of RIVO system and importance of near-miss reporting;
- Position themself as a significant industry contributor on safety matters, through public speaking engagements and media publications;
- Work closely with regulatory authorities (municipalities and ministries) developing a good working relationship and promoting Atkins as an industry leader in safety;
- Meet clients’ and contractors’ senior/executive management to promote health and safety and encourage improvement project(s) safety performance;
- Maintain a close working relationship with HSE managers and Directors within key client organisations.

Target Outcomes:
- Development and implementation of a country stakeholder management plan with expected / planned outcomes and realised outcomes.
- Safety, security and environment presentations at 100% of monthly staff briefings in-country.
- Year-on-year >5% increase in levels of near-miss reporting for Atkins personnel business activities.

Monitoring, Reviewing and Reporting:
- Provide assurance through auditing that Atkins’ operations (all divisions / countries / Global entities) are fully compliant with Atkins’ HSEMS (including Atkins Minimum Requirements for Construction Safety (AMR)) and Middle East Security Standard;
- To ensure, through auditing, the maintenance of legally compliant worker welfare standards on constructions sites and labour camps whether contractually obligated to do so, or with the permission of clients / contractors. As a result, to establish Atkins’ position on worker welfare across the country portfolio of relevant projects, noting exceptions and developing action plans for remediation where relevant;
- Ensure that monthly reporting is submitted in accordance with Atkins’ format and timetable, acting as a focal point for the collation of information from divisions and Global entities;
- Support project teams with resolution of challenges and issues on construction sites;
- Undertake thorough internal investigations in the event of serious accidents (or high potential incidents) and security incidents.
- Implement escalation procedures for different accident / incident types, engaging with the crisis management communication protocols and crisis management where required.

Target Outcomes:
- Evidence of 100% controls compliance reported by external audits including clients/PMCs/regulatory authorities/certification body and internal audits conducted by Group QSSE.
- Compliance with the Group escalation procedure for accidents / incidents.

We offer an excellent package which includes:
- A competitive salary
- Accommodation allowance
- Transportation allowance
- 26 calendar days annual leave (based on 6 day working week)
- Medical and life insurance cover
- Company gratuity scheme
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Employee Well-Being Programme - 24 hour free advice on financial, legal and family care specialists and also access to personal health, fitness and nutrition consultants.

About the Company

Atkins is one of the leading providers of professional, technology based consultancy and support services to the industry, commerce and governments in all of the worlds major economies. With over 17,000 staff operating in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas, Atkins has a broad range of skills and resources and provides Clients with a comprehensive service throughout the entire life cycle of the projects in the built environment.

We aim to be the international first choice supplier of technical and integrated services. Shaped by our customers' needs, our vision is to:

  • focus on quality
  • seek world class design and excellence
  • strive to add value
  • be flexible to the evolving needs of a changing society

Atkins first carried out design and supervision commissions in the Gulf area in 1967. From its regional head office in Dubai, U.A.E. Atkins Middle East now employs over 2000 staff located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Oman (Muscat ), Qatar (Doha) Bahrain (Manama), Kuwait (Kuwait City) and India (Bangalore).

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