Data Center Health & Safety Lead - Operations

Job Title: Operations Health & Safety Lead Location: London Job Summary: Join a team defining the future of safe, sustainable, high-performance data infrastructure. As our Operations EHS Manager, you will oversee health and safety programs from early design through full facility operations. Your primary mission is simple: eliminate risk, maintain flawless compliance, and ensure our critical infrastructure runs entirely incident-free. Acting as a true strategic partner, you will bridge global corporate EHS policies with local regulations across the UK and Nordic regions. Policy/Program Development and Risk Management: Develop and implement local policies and procedures to ensure compliance with global Verne standards. Conduct hazard analyses, risk assessments, and site inspections to identify potential safety concerns. Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies specific to operational risks such as high-voltage equipment, battery storage systems, working at heights, and confined space work. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to all local Icelandic, EU, and international EHS regulations, where applicable. Oversee the acquisition and maintenance of all essential EHS permits, licenses, and compliance documentation. Serve as the main point of contact for external regulatory agencies (such as Vinnueftirlitið ) during site inspections and official inquiries. Incident Management & Prevention: End-to-End Incident Management by assisting local management carry out comprehensive investigations for all workplace accidents, near-misses, and safety observations across the business, ensuring timely reporting to leadership and regulatory agencies when required . Conduct thorough Root Cause Analyses and partner with cross-functional departments to develop, implement, and track Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPA) through to full closure. Training & Safety Culture: Develop, deliver, and periodically evaluate site H&S induction and safety training programs to meet the evolving needs of our data centres. Assess the effectiveness of existing safety education protocols, specifically regarding hazardous materials and safe work practices and implement strategic upgrades as required . Contractor & Vendor Safety: Lead the review and approval of contractor safety plans, risk assessments, method statements and permits to work via local teams. Ensure contractor training and competency requirements are met prior to works commencing . Emergency Preparedness Ensure successful coordination of fire safety, evacuation drills, and emergency response exercises Collaborate with facilities and physical security teams. Monitoring, Audits & Reporting Conduct regularly scheduled safety inspections and internal audits of facilities to proactively identify and rectify non-conformances. Execute workplace surveys and specialized risk assessments to ensure all sites meet or exceed local occupational health legislation. Coordinate and support all internal and external EHS audits, safeguarding the integrity of our ISO 45001 management systems. Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in occupational health & safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent senior-level field experience). Relevant regional safety certifications (e.g., NEBOSH General or Diploma, NVQ Level 6, NCRQ, or recognized European equivalents like Työsuojelupäällikkö in the Nordics or Préventeur in France) are highly desirable. 5+ years of progressive EHS experience, with a proven track record in a managerial or leadership capacity within data centres, critical infrastructure, high-tech manufacturing, or large-scale industrial construction. Sound technical expertise in high-risk operational hazards, specifically Electrical Safety (Arc Flash/HV), Confined Spaces, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), and specialized Fire Suppression Systems.