Job description

Overview of the Role

The HSSE Manager will lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Health, Safety, Security, and Environment programs across all Al-Futtaim Automotive – BYD operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The role ensures full compliance with KSA regulatory frameworks (Saudi Civil Defense, MHRSD, HCIS where applicable, SASO, and Environmental Authorities) and aligns operational practices with Al-Futtaim Group HSSE governance standards. Reporting into the Head of Government Relations & HSSE, the position carries direct accountability for protecting the workforce, customers, assets, and brand reputation across BYD showrooms, workshops, parts warehouses, and corporate sites in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and the wider KSA dealer network. The role is critical to enabling business growth by ensuring uninterrupted operations, securing all statutory certifications, and embedding a strong safety-first culture across the BYD KSA footprint.

What You Will Do

Loss Prevention & Risk Management

• Drive hazard identification and gap reporting across all assigned BYD KSA sites through scheduled inspections, risk assessments, and field walkthroughs.
• Reduce preventable incidents through structured corrective and preventive action plans, ensuring all findings are tracked to closure on the Site Compliance & Hazard Tracker.
• Conduct full-cycle incident investigations for all medium and high-severity events within 24 hours of occurrence and ensure root-cause analysis is documented in the HSSE IMS.
• Maintain the Automotive Risk Register with up-to-date hazard observations, control measures, and residual risk ratings.
• Achieve and sustain a minimum 80% compliance score across all HSSE Compliance Audits for assigned sites.

Regulatory & Statutory Compliance

• Ensure full alignment with all KSA HSSE legislation including Saudi Civil Defense regulations, MHRSD Occupational Safety & Health requirements, HCIS standards where applicable, SASO, and Environmental requirements set by the National Centre for Environmental Compliance.
• Secure and renew all statutory permits including Civil Defense Safety Certificates, Environmental Clearance, and Municipal HSSE clearances for trade license renewal.
• Stay current with KSA regulatory developments and proactively implement operational adjustments to safeguard the business from violations, financial penalties, and operational disruption.
• Ensure zero notices of violation across all assigned sites and no pending high-risk audit recommendations beyond 90 days.
• Represent Al-Futtaim Automotive – BYD in regulatory inspections, OEM HSSE audits, and third-party assessments.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

• Develop and maintain site-specific emergency response plans covering fire, structural collapse, chemical and gas exposure, sandstorms, flooding, medical emergencies, and pandemic events.
• Plan and supervise a minimum of two emergency evacuation drills per site per year, ensuring all findings drive procedural improvement.
• Ensure all sites comply with Civil Defense requirements for trained First Aiders and Fire Wardens, proportionate to headcount and license category.
• Maintain full operational readiness of fire alarm, suppression, and life-safety systems through continuous monitoring, vendor coordination, and escalation.
• Lead the HSSE response for major business events, product launches, ceremonies, and customer activations across the KSA network.

Safety Culture & Behavioral Standards

• Lead structured monthly Safety Committee meetings at every assigned site, ensuring documented minutes, agreed actions, and audit-ready evidence.
• Embed visible safety standards across all facilities including signage, PPE compliance, LOTO procedures, safe pathways, evacuation maps, and emergency communication boards.
• Champion continuous workforce awareness through toolbox talks, safety alerts, behavioral observation programs, and structured campaigns in partnership with HR and Training.
• Develop and maintain Safe Work Procedures (SWPs) for all hazardous tasks, machinery, and operations — reviewed annually and visibly displayed at each workstation.

ISO & Management System Accreditation

• Lead BYD KSA operations through ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and other relevant international certifications.
• Maintain documented HSSE management systems aligned with Al-Futtaim Group standards, OEM (BYD) HSSE requirements, and international benchmarks.
• Coordinate with internal compliance teams and external certification bodies to ensure successful certification, surveillance, and re-certification audits.
• Drive continuous improvement of HSSE policies, procedures, and standard operating practices in line with evolving global and local standards.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, develop, and supervise HSSE Officers and the field HSSE team across the BYD KSA dealer network.
• Set clear performance objectives, conduct structured monthly performance reviews, and manage gaps through formal improvement frameworks.
• Build technical capability across the team through structured training, certification pathways, and exposure to operational HSSE challenges.
• Maintain audit-ready records of team coverage, site visit frequency, attendance, and operational deployment.
• Drive Saudization of the HSSE function in line with MHRSD requirements and Al-Futtaim workforce planning targets.

Reporting, Analytics & Stakeholder Management

• Deliver regular HSSE performance dashboards, audit summaries, leading and lagging indicators, and incident trend analysis to senior leadership and HRBP.
• Partner with Aftersales, Sales, Logistics, Facilities, HR, and Government Relations leadership to integrate HSSE priorities into operational decision-making.
• Provide executive-level visibility on HSSE risk exposure, mitigation progress, and statutory certification status.
• Support business strategy reviews with credible HSSE intelligence on regulatory shifts, market practices, and operational risk.

Skills

Required Skills to Be Successful

• Strong technical command of HSSE management systems, risk assessment methodology, and incident investigation.
• Proven leadership and team development capability across multi-site distributed operations.
• Clear working knowledge of the KSA HSSE regulatory landscape — Saudi Civil Defense, MHRSD, HCIS, SASO, and Environmental Authorities.
• Confident stakeholder management with senior business leaders, OEM principals, and government authorities.
• Excellent reporting, documentation, and audit-readiness discipline.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root-cause investigation capability.
• High personal presence and field credibility — comfortable spending significant time on the shop floor and at site.
• Effective communication in English and Arabic, with the ability to engage workforces of mixed nationalities.
• Composure under pressure and strong decision-making during emergency events.
• Proactive, self-driven, and committed to building a visible safety-first culture.

What Qualifies You for the Role

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Sciences, or a related discipline.
• NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) is mandatory; NEBOSH International Diploma is strongly preferred.
• IOSH Managing Safely certification is mandatory.
• Additional certifications such as ISO 45001 / ISO 14001 Lead Auditor, OSHA 30, or NFPA equivalents are highly preferred.
• Minimum 6 to 12 years of progressive HSSE experience, including at least 3 to 5 years in a managerial capacity.
• Demonstrable experience in automotive retail, dealer operations, large-scale workshops, parts/logistics warehousing, or comparable multi-site industries.
• Direct working exposure to KSA regulatory frameworks — Saudi Civil Defense, MHRSD, HCIS (where applicable), SASO, and Environmental Authorities.
• Proven track record of leading ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 certification and surveillance audits to successful outcomes.
• Strong working knowledge of HSSE management systems, incident reporting platforms, and analytics tools.
• Bilingual proficiency in Arabic and English (mandatory).
• Valid KSA driving license and willingness to travel across all KSA regions on a regular basis, including weekends when required.