Safety Department Manager

Are you ready to contribute to a global industrial group shaping sustainable solutions for tomorrow?

Driven since 1817 by the entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for innovation of its founder, the John Cockerill Group develops large-scale technological solutions to meet the needs of its time: facilitating access to low-carbon energies, enabling sustainable industrial production, preserving natural resources, contributing to greener mobility, enhancing security, and installing critical infrastructures.

Its offer to companies, States and communities consists of services and associated equipment for the sectors of energy, defence, industry, the environment, transports, and infrastructures.

With over 8,000 employees, John Cockerill achieved a turnover of €1.417 billion in 2024, operating in 28 countries across 5 continents.

Why join John Cockerill?

Group-level impact: contribute to strategic, transversal or support functions with a direct impact on business performance.

International reach: collaborate with teams and stakeholders across regions, businesses and cultures. 👉 Discover our international talent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvUiEakGcsQ&t=72s

Purpose-driven environment: be part of a Group committed to sustainability, innovation and long-term value creation.

Autonomy & trust: evolve in a culture that values responsibility, initiative and work-life balance.

To support its continued growth and transformation, John Cockerill invests in strong corporate expertise, combining strategic vision, operational excellence and human values.

Your role

As Safety Department Manager, you will lead the governance of Safety at Group level, acting as the direct link between the Corporate Safety function and the Businesses. You will define, promote and deploy the Group Safety strategy, and drive its consistent application across all sectors — without substituting yourself for local organizations, but ensuring alignment, coordination and a shared safety culture.

You will act as the right hand and potential successor to the Director of Group Safety, deputizing for him during his missions abroad, including representation on employee-relation bodies (CPPT and others) and, occasionally, presentations to the Management Board.

This position is exclusively dedicated to Safety. Environmental matters are managed by the separate Corporate Environment function, with which you will maintain close coordination.

Your key responsibilities

• Define, promote and deploy the Group Safety strategy
• Lead and coordinate the network of Business Safety representatives (SHEES network), currently ~15-20 people Group-wide, with the ambition to grow it to around 30
• Harmonize safety standards, methodologies and best practices at Group level
• Ensure ethics, compliance and the correct application of Group safety requirements across the Businesses
• Steer Group safety KPIs, analyze trends, and share lessons learned/return on experience
• Support the Businesses in their continuous improvement and safety maturity growth
• Develop the Group's safety culture and reinforce the accountability of line management on safety topics
• Develop the skills of the Safety network, identify talent, and prepare future Business Safety leaders to ensure continuity of the function
• Oversee, with IT, the rollout and reporting of the Group's safety data through the tool
• Review and challenge field-level safety procedures, applying a pragmatic 80/20 approach (clear, actionable procedures rather than bureaucratic ones)

Your team

You will report directly to the Director of Group Safety, within a small, close-knit Corporate team. You will work in a culture based on trust, autonomy and direct communication, with regular feedback and a strong focus on transparency. You will also interact closely — though without hierarchical authority — with Business Safety representatives across all sectors, requiring influence, credibility and a collaborative mindset rather than command-and-control management.

Your profile

Experience & technical skills

• Minimum 10 years of experience, including significant experience in a transversal / cross-functional role
• Ideally a background in an industrial environment, with genuine field/site exposure
• Solid knowledge of safety regulations and standards; a "Conseiller en Prévention" certification (niveau 1 or 2) is an asset but not mandatory
• Ability to write and review procedures clearly and effectively (action-oriented, adapted to shop-floor / site users)
• Comfortable analyzing Group-level data and identifying trends

Personal & behavioral skills

• Strong communication skills and genuine field presence — a "doer" rather than a pure policy expert
• Charisma and ability to influence without formal hierarchical authority over the Business Safety network
• Pragmatic and structured, without being overly bureaucratic
• Direct, transparent, trustworthy — comfortable giving and receiving straightforward feedback
• Able to say "stop" on safety matters when needed, and to do so diplomatically
• A good sense of internal politics
• Autonomous, with a genuine appetite for Health & Safety topics
• Willingness to travel: approx. ~20% on average — mainly short trips (1–3 days) to France and Belgium, plus 1–2 trips per year to India and China
• Fluent in English and French

What we offer

At John Cockerill, we deeply value your contribution:

• Attractive salary package with many extra-legal benefits: company car, meal vouchers, flat-rate expenses, hospitalization/life/death/guaranteed income insurance, variable remuneration ranging from 0–25% of your gross annual salary, profit-sharing scheme based on progress and results
• Flexible work arrangements, with 1–2 days of remote work per week after training
• Comprehensive onboarding: a 6-month training with plenty of learning opportunities
• Career development: regular reviews, large catalogue of training, and career progression — with a genuine perspective of succession to the Director of Group Safety role
• International opportunities across businesses and regions
• 31 days off

The recruitment process

Ready to take on this exciting challenge and contribute to the Group's future?

What are the next steps?

1. First interview with Talent Acquisition
2. On-site or virtual meeting with Denis, Director of Group Safety (Hiring Manager)
3. Final interview / shortlist step with the COO & HRBP

Is it a match between you and John Cockerill? May this collaboration begin!

👉 Discover our 2024 highlights and Group journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw1eUarVzoQ

This is not the opportunity you're looking for? Explore all opportunities and join our talent pool via the Group career site: 👉 www.johncockerill.com/jobs