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.
As a diversified international Group, John Cockerill relies on strong corporate functions to support its businesses, drive performance, ensure governance, and foster sustainable growth across all activities.
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. ð Discover our international talent: 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 roleAs 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 strategyLead and coordinate the network of Business Safety representatives (SHEES network), currently ~15-20 people Group-wide, with the ambition to grow it to around 30Harmonize safety standards, methodologies and best practices at Group levelEnsure ethics, compliance and the correct application of Group safety requirements across the BusinessesSteer Group safety KPIs, analyze trends, and share lessons learned/return on experienceSupport the Businesses in their continuous improvement and safety maturity growthDevelop the Group's safety culture and reinforce the accountability of line management on safety topicsDevelop the skills of the Safety network, identify talent, and prepare future Business Safety leaders to ensure continuity of the functionOversee, with IT, the rollout and reporting of the Group's safety data through the toolReview and challenge field-level safety procedures, applying a pragmatic 80/20 approach (clear, actionable procedures rather than bureaucratic ones)Your teamYou 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 skillsMinimum 10 years of experience, including significant experience in a transversal / cross-functional roleIdeally a background in an industrial environment, with genuine field/site exposureSolid knowledge of safety regulations and standards; a "Conseiller en Prévention" certification (niveau 1 or 2) is an asset but not mandatoryAbility to write and review procedures clearly and effectively (action-oriented, adapted to shop-floor / site users)Comfortable analyzing Group-level data and identifying trendsPersonal & behavioral skillsStrong communication skills and genuine field presence — a "doer" rather than a pure policy expertCharisma and ability to influence without formal hierarchical authority over the Business Safety networkPragmatic and structured, without being overly bureaucraticDirect, transparent, trustworthy — comfortable giving