HR requirement for all job descriptions. Must be completed and submitted to the HRBP for your Region. For clarity, please avoid using abbreviations whilst completing this form. All fields require completing.

Job Title Senior SHE Manger (SMS Governance)
Anticipated Salary Range & Contract Type  Personal contract £65,000/£75,000
(dependant on experience and qualification)
Depot / Department  Health and Safety
Section / Team  Safety Systems
Reports to (job title)  Head of Safety Systems
Direct reports (job title(s) SHE Manager & SHE Support Manager
Prior Approval obtained for HRBP/ Director  Y/N
Approved by

New Role: If N/A please complete below Y
Existing Role: If N/A please complete above N
Previous Job Title
Previous Depot/ Department

Purpose of the role

In one sentence, describe the overall purpose of this job.

The overall purpose of the Senior SHE Manager (SMS Governance) is to lead the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of the organisation’s Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) Management System, ensuring it meets legal, regulatory, and operational standards while driving a strong safety culture across the business.

List the key responsibilities of the job (no more than 5).

Lead and Govern the Safety Management System (SMS)
Own the structure, integrity, and continuous improvement of the organisation’s Safety Management System.
Ensure alignment with ISO 45001, ISO 14001, and UK regulatory frameworks (e.g., Health and Safety at Work Act, COMAH, Gas Safety (Management) Regulations).
Develop and Maintain SHE Policies and Procedures
Oversee the creation, review, and approval of relevant Safety case(s), SHE policies, standards, and procedures.
Ensure documentation is consistent, accessible, and reflects operational realities and legal requirements.
Monitor Compliance and Performance
Track SHE performance metrics, audit outcomes, and incident trends.
Provide governance reports and insights to senior leadership, identifying areas for improvement or escalation.
Support Assurance and Regulatory Engagement
Lead internal audits and support external inspections (e.g., HSE, Ofgem).
Ensure findings are addressed, lessons learned are embedded, and regulatory relationships are managed professionally.
Drive Safety Culture and Stakeholder Engagement
Champion a proactive safety culture across all levels of the organisation.
Collaborate with operational teams, contractors, and senior leaders to embed SHE governance into everyday practice.


Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Describe what, if any, academic qualifications/certifications are essential in this job?
Any of the following;

Essential Academic Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field:
Occupational Health and Safety
Environmental Management
Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, or Process)
Risk Management or Safety Leadership

Essential Professional Certifications
NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
Recognised as the gold standard for senior safety professionals in the UK.
Covers strategic risk management, legal frameworks, and organisational safety culture.
Chartered Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH)
Demonstrates professional competence, leadership, and commitment to continuous development.
Often required or strongly preferred for senior governance roles.
Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health & Safety Leadership and Management (ProQual or equivalent)
Designed for senior SHE managers and directors.
Focuses on high-level policy development, governance, and strategic implementation.

Describe what technical skills and job knowledge/experience are essential in this job?

Technical Skills

Safety Management System (SMS) Design & Governance
Expertise in developing, implementing, and maintaining integrated SHE management systems aligned with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
Skilled in document control, versioning, and governance of safety-critical procedures and standards.

Policy and Procedure Development
Ability to write, review, and standardise SHE policies and procedures across multiple operational domains (e.g., confined spaces, excavation, gas escapes).

Audit and Assurance Leadership
Proficient in planning and leading internal audits, managing external audits (e.g., HSE, Ofgem), and tracking corrective actions.

Regulatory Compliance and Interpretation
Deep understanding of UK SHE legislation including:
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Gas Safety (Management) Regulations
COMAH, CDM, PUWER, RIDDOR
Ability to interpret regulatory changes and embed them into the SMS.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting
Skilled in developing SHE KPIs, dashboards, and governance reports for senior leadership and board-level review.

Risk Management and Control Frameworks
Experience with risk registers, bowtie analysis, and assurance mapping to identify and mitigate systemic risks.

Digital SHE Systems
Proficiency in using digital platforms for document control, incident reporting, audit tracking, and performance analytics (e.g., Airsweb, Intelex, or similar).


Job Experience

Extensive Experience in High-Hazard Industries
5-7 years in SHE roles within gas, utilities, energy, or infrastructure sectors.
Strong operational understanding of gas distribution environments and associated risks.
Leadership in SHE Governance
Proven experience leading SHE governance frameworks and influencing cross-functional teams.
Experience chairing or contributing to SHE committees, policy boards, or audit panels.
Strategic and Cultural Influence
Demonstrated ability to embed safety culture through governance, leadership engagement, and behavioural safety initiatives.
Regulatory Engagement
Experience liaising with regulators (e.g., HSE, Ofgem) and responding to formal investigations or improvement notices.
Change Management
Led or supported major change initiatives involving SHE systems, such as SMS overhauls, ISO transitions, or digital platform rollouts.

In terms of skills, qualifications, job knowledge and experience, what are the key differences between… A. This job and the one above it? And B. This job and the one below it?

The Head of Safety Management Systems operates at a strategic and enterprise level, shaping SMS direction and engaging with regulators and executive team
The Senior SHE Manager governs the structure and integrity of the SMS, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement.
The SHE Manager works at an operational level, implementing safety procedures and supporting frontline teams.


Problem Solving & Complexity
Generally speaking, what are the typical problems encountered in this job? Please highlight one of the below options and provide further details-

Mostly routine, with straightforward, rehearsed/ scripted solutions Regularly non-routine / complex, with solutions requiring analysis, experience and knowledge.


Further details of the above.


Describe a typical problem that the job holder is expected to deal with themselves.

A problem that requires technical expertise, governance leadership, and cross-functional coordination, but does not typically require escalation unless systemic risks or legal implications are uncovered.

Describe a typical problem that the job holder will need to escalate for someone else to deal with.

Strategic Risk Exposure: The non-compliance is not isolated—it suggests a breakdown in SMS implementation across the organisation, potentially exposing SGN to regulatory action or reputational damage.
Cross-Functional Impact: Resolving the issue requires coordination across operations, training, HR, and SHE—beyond the Senior Manager’s direct remit.
Regulatory Sensitivity: If the issue is discovered by or reported to the HSE or Ofgem, it could trigger formal investigation or enforcement action.
Resource and Authority Requirements: Addressing the problem may require significant investment in retraining, system redesign, or leadership intervention—decisions that sit with the Head of Safety Systems or escalation to CSO

What is the most difficult aspect of this job?

The most difficult aspect of being a Senior SHE Manager, especially in a high-hazard environment like a UK gas distribution network, is balancing the strategic governance of safety systems with the real-world complexity of operational implementation.

Does this job require someone who can think strategically / tactically?

Both


Impact of role

If the job holder ‘gets things very right, or very wrong’, how far reaching would this be inside SGN?

If a Senior SHE Manager (Safety Management System – Governance) at SGN gets things very right or very wrong, the impact is highly far-reaching across the organisation — touching safety culture, regulatory compliance, operational integrity, and even SGN’s public reputation.

If the job holder ‘gets things very right, or very wrong’, how far reaching would this be outside SGN?

If a Senior SHE Manager (Safety Management System – Governance) at SGN gets things very right or very wrong, the consequences can extend well beyond the organisation, affecting regulators, industry peers, contractors, and the public.

To what extent does the job directly contribute to departmental/company objectives?

This role contributes to objectives with themes of compliance, our journey to Zero Harm, stakeholder/customer obligations and operational efficiencies


What timeframe does this job mainly operate within (i.e. does it deal mainly with current, day-to-day issues, or deal regularly with long-term change or strategic issues?)

Although both, the role probably lends itself towards longer term action

Describe the most impactful decision(s) the job holder will typically make.

The most impactful decisions a Senior SHE Manager (Safety Management System – Governance) typically makes are those that directly shape how safety is governed, understood, and practiced across the organisation. These decisions influence SGN’s legal compliance, operational integrity, and safety culture.

Does the role have accountability for the performance and results of multiple related units? Please specify how many.   

Yes — the Senior SHE Manager (Safety Management System – Governance) typically has accountability for the performance and results of multiple related units, though not in a direct line-management sense. Their accountability is functional and systemic, rather than hierarchical.

Influence/ working relationships.

Who does the job holder interact with within the business on a regular basis?
H&S Team, Head of Safety Management Systems and Team, Policy, Training, & COO population

Who does the job holder interact with outside the business on a regular basis?
Potential for HSE engagement

How does the job holder interact with these stakeholders and to what level?  (For example, are they exchanging information, building rapport, enhancing SGN reputation, handling complaints, influencing and persuading, conducting complex negotiations?)
All of the above minus complex negotiations

Resource – Who /what are they responsible for?  (Use real numbers, values and examples if possible)

How many, if any, people does the job holder manage / supervise? Please provide their job titles. (if none, please state None)

SHE Manager and SHE Support assistant

If applicable, describe at what level this management / supervision is undertaken (e.g. do they deal with quality control, work allocation and planning, coaching, recruitment, ‘hard’ people management issues such as sickness absence, conduct, capability etc.?) (if none, please state None)

All of the above

What value budget does the job holder set, manage or spend? (if none, please state £0)

Static people budget only

What assets / equipment does the job holder manage or control? (if none, please state None)

None
What level of projects does the job holder manage or control? (if none, please state None)

The Senior SHE Manager (Safety Management System – Governance) typically manages or controls medium- to high-level strategic projects that affect safety governance