Introduction to role:
Are you ready to set the global standard for construction safety that safeguards individuals and keeps life‑changing medicines moving? This is a chance to shape how we build the next generation of advanced manufacturing and R&D facilities that bring therapies to patients faster and more reliably.
AstraZeneca has a large and exciting portfolio of capital investments across our manufacturing network and our Global Engineering team is leading the delivery of these projects. Working with the Head of Capital Projects, you will lead construction health and safety strategy and performance across a diverse, multinational capital portfolio. You will partner with Global Engineering Project Delivery teams, Global Operations Safety Health and Environment (SHE), Procurement, Site Leadership and our design and construction partners to embed safe-by-design thinking and provide construction SHE leadership from concept through handover.
You will create the framework, capability and culture that enable our projects to deliver safely, compliantly and at pace—so patients receive the medicines they need without disruption.
Strategy and Governance: Lead the global construction health and safety strategy across the capital portfolio, aligning with corporate Safety, Health & Environment expectations and business objectives to protect people and ensure continuity.
Standards and Critical Risk Control: Develop and maintain global standards for high-risk work, contractor management, assurance and incident management; drive consistent control of activities such as work at height, lifting operations, excavation, electrical safety, temporary works, confined space entry, hot work, traffic management and permit-to-work.
Safe-by-Design Integration: Partner with engineering and project teams to eliminate or reduce risk early through concept and design decisions, planning and procurement.
Contractor Safety Excellence: Set clear expectations for prequalification, selection support, onboarding, performance monitoring and intervention; improve on contractor safety performance worldwide.
Assurance and Continuous Improvement: Lead or oversee audits, inspections, maturity assessments and management reviews; use leading and lagging indicators, trends and lessons learned to improve controls and outcomes.
Incident Response and Learning: Provide timely, calm and measured escalation for incidents that happen. If necessary, provide support and guidance for project teams dealing with incidents. Lead serious incident reviews and investigations to root cause; ensure corrective actions are effective and learning is shared across regions and projects.
Leadership and Influence: Coach senior leaders and project teams to demonstrate visible safety leadership, make risk-based decisions and own construction safety outcomes.
Capability and Team Development: Recruit, develop and deploy a diverse group of construction safety professionals; define capability needs, build succession and enable consistent ways of working.
Regulatory Compliance and Pragmatic Risk Management: Ensure compliance across jurisdictions while maintaining a globally consistent, risk-based approach that works in the field.
Portfolio Oversight and Issue Management: Represent construction safety in governance forums and project evaluations; provide clear recommendations and raise concerns when standards are not met.
Emergency Preparedness: Contribute to planning and response for major construction projects and significant events.
Degree or equivalent experience in Occupational Health and Safety, Construction Management, Environmental Health and Safety, Engineering, or a related field.
A recognised advanced health and safety qualification such as NEBOSH International Diploma or equivalent international certification.
Significant experience in construction health and safety leadership, typically gained over 10 or more years, within large, complex, and multinational project environments.
Demonstrated success leading health and safety across major capital projects in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, industrial, process, or similarly regulated and high-hazard environments.
Strong experience in contractor health and safety management, including prequalification, mobilisation, governance, performance management, and assurance.
Deep practical knowledge of high-risk construction activities and critical control management, including work at height, lifting operations, excavation, electrical safety, temporary works, confined space entry, and permit-to-work systems.
Experience in developing and implementing global standards, governance frameworks, and assurance programmes for construction safety.
Demonstrated capability in incident investigation, root cause analysis, audit and inspection, and corrective action management.
Experience working in a highly regulated environment where quality, compliance, and operational continuity are critical.
Strong experience engaging and influencing senior leaders, project directors, engineering leaders, site leadership teams, procurement, and external contractors.
Experience recruiting, leading, and developing multidisciplinary or geographically dispersed health and safety teams, with the ability to build capability and align resources to business and project priorities.
Chartered, certified, or equivalent professional accreditation with a recognised professional body, such as Chartered Member IOSH, Certified Safety Professional, Senior Certified Safety Engineer, ChOHSP or equivalents that demonstrate comparable technical depth, professional credibility, and relevance to construction health and safety leadership.
Additional training or certification in areas such as ISO 45001 auditing, process safety, human and organisational performance, behavioural safety.
Experience within a global pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or life sciences organisation.
Experience supporting projects across the full lifecycle, from concept and design through construction, commissioning, qualification, and operational handover.
Experience in owner-side construction governance within a large corporate environment, in addition to any contractor-side background.
Experience working across multiple regions and jurisdictions, including EMEA, US, APAC, and other international settings.
Familiarity with integrating construction health and safety with broader EHS, quality, engineering, and operational excellence frameworks.
Experience contributing to sustainability, wellbeing, and broader ESG-related considerations in project delivery.
Experience building or leading a global construction safety function or centre of expertise, including organisational design, talent development, and capability building across a capital project portfolio.
When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.
Here you will help turn scientific breakthroughs into facilities and systems that deliver medicines at speed and scale, working with innovative design, digital tools and lean methods to remove risk before it reaches the site. You will collaborate across borders with specialists in engineering, science and delivery who value kindness alongside ambition, and who rally around a clear purpose to improve patients’ lives while advancing sustainability. Expect global scope, the chance to build a lasting safety capability, and the empowerment to make high-consequence decisions that keep our people safe and our supply reliable.
Call to Action:
Step in to lead a global safety agenda that protects people and accelerates how the world’s medicines are built—make your impact today!
Date Posted
13-Jul-2026
Closing Date
26-Jul-2026
Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.
