Head of Safety Health and Environment Major Nuclear Capital Projects

Job Title:                     Head of Safety Health and Environment Major Nuclear Capital Projects

Location:                     Plymouth, Devon

Compensation:           Competitive + Benefits

Role Type:                   Full time / Permanent

Role ID:                        SF74004

Lead safety excellence across critical nuclear infrastructure that protects the nation

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as Head of Safety Health and Environment Major Nuclear Capital Projects at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.

The role

As a Head of Safety Health and Environment Major Nuclear Capital Projects, you’ll provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of complex nuclear and defence infrastructure programmes. You will set the direction for safety, health and environmental performance across major construction and engineering projects, ensuring the highest standards of compliance, governance and continuous improvement in high-hazard environments.

Day-to-day, you’ll influence programme outcomes, shape safety culture across multiple sites, and provide expert assurance to senior stakeholders. You’ll play a critical role in safeguarding people, the environment and critical national infrastructure, while further developing your leadership impact within one of the UK’s most significant defence programmes.

• Leading the development and delivery of safety, health and environmental strategy across major nuclear capital projects


• Driving a proactive safety culture and ensuring high standards of compliance, governance and assurance


• Managing regulatory engagement with organisations such as ONR, HSE, Ministry of Defence and environmental agencies


• Overseeing audits, investigations and continuous improvement programmes across the business


• Leading and developing a geographically dispersed safety team while supporting project delivery and mobilisation

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and is based on site at Devonport Royal Dockyard.

Essential experience of the Head of Safety Health and Environment Major Nuclear Capital Projects

• Extensive senior leadership experience in safety, health and environmental management within nuclear, defence or high-hazard industries


• Strong background in major construction or infrastructure projects


• Deep understanding of UK health, safety and environmental legislation including CDM regulations


• Experience leading high-performing teams across complex, multi-site programmes


• Strong stakeholder management skills, including working with regulators and government clients

Qualifications for the Head of Safety Health and Environment Major Nuclear Capital Projects

• Degree or Level 6 qualification in safety, health, environment, risk management or related discipline - Essential


• Chartered membership of IOSH or equivalent professional body (or evidence of working towards) - Essential 

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who is able to achieve and maintain Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPPI) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance


• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance


• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+


• Employee share scheme


• Employee shopping savings portal


• Payment of Professional Fees


• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave


• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. There is an annual Window to request this benefit. ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity


• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock

We’re Babcock — a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 people working together to make a difference.

Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts — not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance.

We call that lifetime engineering.

Join us and see how far we can go, together.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [email protected] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 14/06/2026

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