Contractor Safety Risk and Policy Lead

Job Title Safety Risk and Policy Lead - Contractor Management
Salary Range SGNC Non-Industrial Range 5 to 6 (£44,415 to £66,774 -dependant on experience and qualifications)

Depot / Department Health and Safety
Section / Team Safety Systems
Reports to (job title) Senior Risk and Policy Manager (Safety)
Direct reports (job title(s)

Role Purpose
To act as the Safety Team subject matter lead for contractor management risk, responsible for developing, implementing, and assuring policies, standards, and governance controls that ensure contractor activities are consistently safe, compliant, and aligned with regulatory requirements and SGN's Safety Management System.
The role translates insights from contractor assurance activities-such as inspections, audits, and performance data-into practical safety policy improvements and risk controls, strengthening oversight, driving continuous improvement, and reducing safety risk across the contractor supply chain.
Key responsibilities:
• Own and continuously improve contractor management safety policies and standards, ensuring clear expectations for contractors and supply chain partners
• Define and embed contractor-specific risk controls covering high-risk activities (e.g. excavation, gas operations, temporary works)
• Provide subject matter expertise on CDM Regulations and contractor compliance, ensuring client and principal contractor duties are clearly defined and met
• Establish and assure contractor governance frameworks, including roles, responsibilities, and assurance requirements across the supply chain
• Set and maintain contractor competence and onboarding standards, ensuring only suitably qualified and capable contractors undertake safety-critical work
• Analyse outputs from contractor audits, inspections, and incident investigations to identify systemic risks and policy gaps
• Develop and oversee contractor performance metrics and KPIs, driving visibility of safety performance and areas of concern
• Provide independent challenge and assurance on contractor safety performance, identifying non-compliance and required interventions
• Support and influence contractor performance reviews and improvement plans, ensuring safety issues are effectively addressed
• Drive continuous improvement of contractor safety management, ensuring lessons learned are embedded into policy, standards, and operational practice
Expertise and Experience
• Strong background in contractor management and safety assurance within high-risk environments, with working knowledge of CDM Regulations and supply chain governance
• Proven experience developing and applying safety policy, risk controls, & contractor competence frameworks
• Ability to analyse inspection, audit, and incident data to identify systemic contractor risk and drive improvement
• Effective engagement & influencing operational teams & contractors to improve safety compliance performance

Qualifications: - NEBOSH National Ge4neral Certificate (essential), CDM-focused training or qualification, IOSH Membership (Both preferred) and Relevant experience in utilities, construction, or high-risk industries as an alternative to formal qualifications (where appropriate)
Key Behaviours - Contractor risk focused, credible, influential, pragmatic, operationally aware, analytical, insight-driven and collaborative