Head of Health and Safety

This role ensures compliance with EU and national occupational safety regulations, mitigates risks associated with IBA handling and processing, and drives continuous improvement in safety performance. The position is essential to protecting employees and contractors while supporting operational excellence and risk reduction in a complex industrial environment. This role reports to the Chief Operating Officer. This role requires frequent travel to various sites across Europe, including the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and the UK, with the head office based in Rotterdam.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Develop and implement a unified health and safety strategy across all IBA recycling and recovery facilities.
• Align safety goals with operational priorities and risk management objectives.

Compliance and Governance 

• Ensure compliance with relevant EU and national occupational safety regulations, including:
• Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC)
  Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU)
• REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006)
• Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC)
• EU Occupational Safety and Health Framework Directive (89/391/EEC)
• Lead audits, inspections, and regulatory reporting across all jurisdictions.

Operational Risk Management 

• Oversee risk assessments and controls for:
• Handling of heavy metals and contaminants
• Use of mobile plant and heavy machinery
• Dust suppression and air quality
• Confined space entry and working at height
• Implement emergency response, fire prevention, and accident investigation protocols.

Continuous Improvement 

• Promote innovation in safety practices and technologies (e.g., automated sorting, remote monitoring).
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for incidents and near misses.

Stakeholder Engagement 

• Collaborate with plant managers, operations, and engineering to embed safety into daily workflows.
• Engage with regulators, contractors, and internal teams to ensure consistent safety standards.

Reporting and Analytics 

• Maintain centralized safety data systems and dashboards.
• Provide executive-level reporting on safety performance, trends, and risk indicators.

Benefits

• A challenging role within an internationally operating organization. You will join a motivated team in an informal and dynamic work culture.
• An attractive salary with a 13th month.
• 8% holiday allowance based on the gross annual salary.
• 27 vacation days per year.
• Extensive opportunities for personal development and training.
• A solid pension scheme.
• Mobility options.

Qualifications and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Industrial Safety, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Professional certifications (e.g., NEBOSH, CSP, CIH).
• 10+ years in health and safety leadership, with at least 5 waste management, recycling, or heavy industrial sectors.
• Strong understanding of EU occupational safety regulations and risk management practices.
• Experience with ISO 45001 and safety management systems.
• Proven ability to lead cross-border teams and manage complex compliance landscapes.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally and work in industrial environments.

Start Date

To be agreed upon.

Please note: providing a certificate of good conduct (VOG) is also part of our recruitment process.

Application deadline: 31 December 2025

Blue Phoenix does not accept resumes from staffing, search, or recruitment firms without a signed agreement. If you send us a resume without such an agreement, we may contact the candidate directly without any obligation whatsoever and no fee of any kind will be paid should we hire the candidate.

How to Apply

Apply for this position via this channel or by sending your CV to nl.recruitment@blue-phoenix.com, mentioning “Head of Health and Safety” in the subject line.

About Blue Phoenix

Blue Phoenix is a global resource company. Every day, we recover value from materials others discard. From incinerator bottom ash and construction waste to contaminated soil and tar-containing asphalt. We specialise in transforming complex materials into renewed resources for construction and infrastructure. Operating on four continents, Blue Phoenix teams are on a daily mission to shift the world’s mindset from seeing waste as a problem to recognising it as potential. Through smart sorting, recycling and recovery, we give materials new life - with safety as our core value and guiding principle. We partner with clients, plant operators, contractors, regulators and the wider society to create a truly circular economy. Working together towards our mission of nothing wasted, every resource reborn.

Do you want to contribute to a reliable organisation and a sustainable future? Then we would love to meet you!