As Transmission System Operator, EirGrid is at the heart of Ireland’s electricity system, ensuring that power flows safely and reliably from where it is generated to where it is needed. EirGrid manages the real-time operation of the power system and oversees the wholesale electricity market, balancing supply and demand every second of the day. We strengthen system resilience through the development and operation of interconnectors to other countries and are also responsible for planning and developing the transmission network, investing in necessary upgrades and expansion to meet Ireland’s growing demand and support the transition to a low-carbon future. Our role is expanding significantly to include operating, developing, and owning Ireland’s offshore transmission grid, a critical step in harnessing the potential of offshore wind energy.
The Opportunity
We are now seeking a Head of Health, Safety and Environment to join the People Office.
The Head of Health, Safety and Environment will play a crucial role in enabling EirGrid to effectively and efficiently manage organisational health & safety, aligned to EirGrid’s strategy. The role will join the People Leadership team.
The Head of Health, Safety and Environment will be responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continual improvement of the EirGrid Group Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) strategy. This senior leadership role ensures the effective management of workplace safety, environmental compliance, and the promotion of a positive safety culture across all business units and operational workstreams.
The postholder will serve as the ISO Management System Representative and will be accountable for ensuring that the Group meets all legal, regulatory, and internal compliance obligations while driving performance excellence in HSE.
The Team
The People Office has overall responsibility for crafting and implementing a vision for organisational transformation, driving initiatives that support EirGrid strategic goals in people management, internal communications, and process enhancement.
The People Office plays a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of EirGrid's evolution, facilitating cultural change, and building and enabling a high-performance environment. From talent development to employee engagement, the People and Capability Office leads the charge in creating a motivated workforce and delivering best-practice HR policies and solutions.
Key Responsibilities-
Lead the EirGrid Group HSE Department, providing leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction.
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Develop and implement a Group-wide Health & Safety Strategy to enhance safety culture across all workstreams.
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Ensure the Integrated HS&E Management System remains effective, aligned with business objectives, and compliant with best practice standards.
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Support employee wellbeing initiatives within people and capability
- Manage budget and resource allocation to achieve agreed HSE objectives.
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Ensure legal compliance for all health, safety, and environmental obligations across EirGrid Group.
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Lead the review of HSE policies and procedures prior to Executive approval.
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Set policy, procedure, and safety rules compliance, including staff authorisation requirements.
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Oversee wellbeing-related compliance, including staff wellbeing framework adoption.
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Drive compliance with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards, including audit preparation, execution, and follow-up.
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Prepare monthly HSE reports for the Executive Management Team.
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Provide annual HSE reports to the Board of EirGrid plc and an Annual Environmental Report to the CRU.
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Oversee KPI reporting on accidents, incidents, and near misses across the Group.
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Work with the Chief People Officer to manage health & safety incident investigations, including root cause analysis, response and mitigation.
- Responsible for management of regulatory compliance, including keeping up to date with all new legislation, maintaining a working knowledge of all Health & Safety legislation and any developments that affect EirGrid or the industry.
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Lead the EirGrid TSO Technical & Safety Audit.
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Manage ISO audit coordination and ensure corrective actions are closed out.
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Act as the ISO Management System Representative for the Group.
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Lead engagement with external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities (CRU, HSA), industry partners, and auditors.
About you
Successful candidates will have:
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Minimum 10 years’ experience in Health & Safety leadership, preferably in energy, utilities, or infrastructure
- Degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related discipline.
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Strong experience in managing integrated HSE management systems (ISO 45001, ISO 14001).
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Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
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Experience of leading and influencing high performing teams in changing circumstances
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Ability to think strategically and translate business needs into effective HSE solutions.
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Ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, demonstrate resilience and be comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity.
- Demonstrated track record in strategy development, compliance assurance, and safety culture transformation.
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Strong process and operational excellence skills, with prior experience of managing in a service delivery/operations delivery environment.
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Ability to balance regulatory compliance with strategic, proactive risk management.
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Strong influencing skills to embed wellbeing in organisational culture.
Closing date for applications
14th July 2026
We value potential as much as experience. If you believe you can succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every requirement.
We're dedicated to diversity and inclusion at EirGrid. We recognise the strength that comes from having a diverse workforce and the importance of a supportive culture for all our people to achieve their potential. Our diversity and inclusion networks have been designed to create an inclusive culture that enables our people to feel a sense of belonging at work.
As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are offered at every stage of our recruitment process.