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Regional HSE Leader – Central Europe
Hybrid in Madrid, Santander & Valladolid·Added 2 months ago
Overview
Job details
Hybrid
Office and home days — the ad has the split.
Requirements
Have the right to work in Spain
WSP Spain doesn't mention sponsorship in the ad.
Work in English
English is required, per the ad.
Be near Madrid, Santander & Valladolid for hybrid days
No relocation package mentioned.
Have 15+ years of experience
Senior-level role.
University degree
“Degree in Health & Safety, Environmental Management, Engineering, Science, or a related field.” — per the ad.
Pay & benefits
What you'll get
A working environment inspired by belonging, driven by inclusion.
Our flexible working policy - We recognise the importance of work-life balance and encourage you to find yours.
WSP is about making the world around us a better place, including the environment, transport infrastructure, buildings and land use.
Excellent career prospects. We're growing fast, and every day we strive to outdo ourselves. We are open to your ideas and want to try new things. We have a supportive environment that invests in your development and training.
WSP is about embracing a culture of collaboration with colleagues who stand out for their skills. Come and discover our fantastic team!
Requirements
What we're looking for
Minimum 15 years of progressive HSE leadership experience.
Experience leading HSE programs across multiple countries or jurisdictions.
Demonstrated success operating in complex matrix organizations.
Strong understanding of HSE management systems, risk management, regulatory compliance, and assurance.
Degree in Health & Safety, Environmental Management, Engineering, Science, or a related field.
Relevant professional HSE qualifications preferred.
The role
Building a sustainable future, together.
At WSP, we design the future of our communities. As one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms, we bring together expertise across transport and infrastructure, buildings, energy, environment, water and advisory. Across Central Europe, we combine local knowledge with international reach to deliver projects that create a positive, lasting impact for clients, communities and the environment.
WSP Central Europe is seeking to enhance the expertise within our HSE community and we are currently looking for an Regional HSE Leader based in either Spain, Italy or France.
In this role, you will join a multidisciplinary team that embodies our company's core values: solidarity, a passion for large-scale and complex projects, and a spirit of innovation and conviviality.
The Regional HSE Leader will be responsible for developing and implementing the regional HSE strategy, ensuring alignment with global HSSEQ priorities and business objectives. The role will establish clear regional priorities, objectives, and performance measures to drive continuous improvement and strengthen HSE performance across Central Europe.
Working closely with senior leaders and operational teams, the successful candidate will influence strategic and operational decision-making by ensuring HSE considerations are embedded into business planning, project delivery, and day-to-day operations. A key focus will be promoting a proactive culture where safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible outcomes are recognised as fundamental to business success.
What you'll do
The role will lead the continued development of a strong and consistent HSE culture across the region, ensuring that HSE is integrated into all aspects of project delivery and operational activity. The successful candidate will strengthen leadership engagement, accountability, and ownership of HSE performance by encouraging leaders and teams to actively manage risks and learn from experience.
A key responsibility will be creating an environment where identifying hazards, speaking up, sharing lessons learned, and driving continuous improvement are embedded behaviours throughout the organisation.
The Regional HSE Leader will provide strategic oversight of HSE performance across Central European countries, ensuring consistent implementation of global HSE frameworks, management systems, standards, and critical risk controls. Through effective governance, performance monitoring, and analysis of trends, the role will identify improvement opportunities and support initiatives that enhance overall HSE maturity.
The role will also provide leadership and support in relation to incident reporting, investigations, learning processes, and the effective management of corrective and preventative actions.
Operating across multiple jurisdictions, the role will ensure compliance with applicable HSE legislation, regulatory requirements, and industry standards. The successful candidate will support country teams in understanding and implementing local requirements while maintaining alignment with global expectations.
The role will monitor emerging legislative developments, assess their impact on regional operations, and support engagement with regulatory authorities and significant enforcement matters where required.
The Regional HSE Leader will provide leadership and direction to a distributed network of HSE professionals across Central Europe. Through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing, the role will build capability, strengthen collaboration, and promote consistent ways of working.
The successful candidate will encourage the sharing of leading practices and lessons learned across countries, while recognising and respecting local regulatory, cultural, and operational differences.
The role will oversee regional risk management activities and critical risk programmes, ensuring that appropriate controls are in place to prevent serious injuries, fatalities, and significant environmental events. The successful candidate will support audits, assurance activities, certifications, and management reviews, using insights from these processes to drive improvement.
A key focus will be ensuring corrective and preventative actions are effectively implemented and that risk management remains an integral part of operational decision-making.
Success in this role will be demonstrated through visible and engaged leadership across the region, building strong relationships with leaders, teams, and operational projects. The successful candidate will influence decision-making through an HSE perspective, ensuring that safety, health, and environmental considerations are embedded into business activities rather than treated as a separate compliance function.
The role will develop leaders and HSE professionals by strengthening capability, encouraging collaboration, and promoting the sharing of best practices across countries. Through the effective use of data, assurance findings, and operational insights, the successful candidate will identify opportunities for improvement and support a culture of learning.
The Regional HSE Leader will also demonstrate strong leadership during significant incidents, crisis situations, and high-risk activities, providing direction and support when it matters most.
successful candidate will deliver measurable improvements in HSE performance, including a stronger and more consistent HSE culture across the region, increased leadership engagement and accountability, and effective implementation of HSE frameworks and critical risk controls.
Success will also be reflected through strong compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, improved management of critical risks, positive audit and assurance outcomes, and increased capability and maturity across regional leaders and HSE teams.
Ultimately, the role will ensure HSE is fully integrated into project delivery, operational performance, and business decision-making, supporting a safer, healthier, and more sustainable organisation.
Key Challenges
This role requires an experienced HSE leader who can operate effectively across multiple countries with differing legal, regulatory, cultural, and operational environments. The successful candidate will need to balance global consistency with local requirements, influence leaders and project teams without direct authority, and build a common HSE culture across a diverse regional business.
The role will also require the ability to drive meaningful improvement while supporting business growth, operational excellence, and sustainable performance.
Hiring process
Find and apply
Application review · 0–2 weeks
Phone interview
With a Talent Attraction · Phone call · 0–30 min
Up to 30 minutes on technical fit, communication, motivation and professionalism.
In-person interview
With interview team · In person
Technical, scenario or competency-based questions from the interview team.
Technical assessment
Not every role
Competency on the software or tools the role uses; same day as the interview or separate, if applicable.
Job offer
- Application review can take up to two weeks.
- Background and reference checks run after the signed contract, via a third party.
- The Spanish adverts describe a shorter three-interview version of this process.
Hiring process
Telephone interview: We'll start with a telephone interview to get to know you better and discuss your experience with the Head of Talent Acquisition & Mobility, Central Europe.
Manager Interview: You will meet with our Chief HSSEQ Officer and CHRO Central Europe.
Interview with the Executive Board Members: A meeting with the Regional MD to discuss your potential role and our strategic vision.
About WSP Spain
WSP is a global engineering and professional services firm specializing in infrastructure, transportation, buildings, energy, and environmental consulting. With over 66,000 employees worldwide, WSP operates across multiple countries and is one of the largest engineering consultancies in the world, delivering projects ranging from major transport networks to data centers and industrial facilities.
In Spain, WSP has a significant presence with offices in Madrid and Barcelona, offering a wide range of roles in civil, electrical, mechanical, and BIM engineering, as well as project management for data centers, railways, and energy infrastructure. The company is known for its collaborative culture and commitment to innovation, making it an attractive employer for international engineers and technical professionals seeking to work in Spain.
- Industry
- Engineering
- Founded
- 1885
- Employees
- 50,000–100,000
- Headquarters
- Montreal, Canada
- In Spain
- Madrid, Barcelona
- Website
- wsp.com
Good to know if you are moving
- WSP has offices in Madrid and Barcelona, offering opportunities in a variety of engineering disciplines.
- The company is a global leader in engineering, providing international career growth and mobility opportunities.
- WSP is committed to sustainability and innovation, with many projects focused on renewable energy and green infrastructure.
- The Spain office works on major infrastructure projects, including high-speed rail, data centers, and energy systems, offering exposure to large-scale, international work.
- WSP offers a multicultural work environment, with teams collaborating across borders, which is ideal for international professionals.
In their own words
About the company & team
We are one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Our trusted employees share a common goal of making a positive and lasting impact on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity and inclusion.
Are you hesitating to apply? Go for it! We are proud to promote diversity, equal opportunities and professional integration within our teams, and we are convinced that our differences and an inclusive working environment contribute to our development. All applications will be carefully considered.
Location
WSP Spain · Madrid
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