Construction Health & Safety Manager – Data Centers

Construction Health & Safety Manager – Data CentersType: Contract / FreelanceLocation: Eskilstuna, Sweden – Site BasedExperience: 6+ YearsSector: Data Center Construction; will consider large industrial projects, Pharma, Oil & Gas, petrochemicalFocus: Construction & Contractor Health and Safety Role OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Construction Health & Safety Manager to support the delivery of large-scale, mission-critical data center construction projects.This is a senior, site-focused role responsible for providing Health & Safety leadership across construction activities, with a particular emphasis on General Contractor and subcontractor safety performance.The successful candidate will work closely with Construction Managers, General Contractors, subcontractors, commissioning teams, project leadership and other Health & Safety professionals to ensure that projects are planned and delivered in accordance with applicable legislation, project safety requirements and industry best practice.The role will cover the construction lifecycle from pre-construction and contractor mobilisation through active construction, commissioning and handover.A key part of the position will be ensuring that contractors have appropriate safety management systems in place, identifying emerging project risks, challenging unsafe practices and driving continuous improvement across the contractor community.Key ResponsibilitiesContractor Health & Safety ManagementProvide Health & Safety leadership across General Contractors, subcontractors, vendors and specialist construction partners.Review contractor Health & Safety management systems, Construction Safety Management Plans and supporting project documentation.Support the onboarding and mobilisation of new General Contractors and subcontractors, ensuring appropriate H&S requirements are met before work begins.Set clear expectations for contractor H&S performance and ensure contractors understand project-specific safety requirements.Monitor contractor compliance through regular site inspections, audits, observations and management reviews.Challenge contractors where standards are not being achieved and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.Work with contractor leadership teams to improve safety culture, accountability and ownership throughout the supply chain.Construction SafetyProvide H&S oversight across complex data center construction activities including civil, structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical works.Identify, assess and support the management of construction risks throughout the project lifecycle.Review RAMS, risk assessments, method statements, permits and other safety documentation for higher-risk construction activities.Monitor high-risk activities including:Electrical works and energisationLifting operationsWorking at heightTemporary worksHot worksConfined spacesExcavationsMechanical installationHeavy plant and equipment movementsCommissioning and transition into live environmentsWork closely with Construction Managers to ensure H&S considerations are integrated into project planning and execution.Support safe coordination of simultaneous construction and commissioning activities.Audits, Inspections & Risk ManagementConduct regular Health & Safety inspections and formal audits across active construction projects.Identify unsafe conditions, behaviours and emerging risks and ensure appropriate corrective actions are established.Track corrective and preventative actions through to closure.Analyse findings across projects to identify recurring risks and opportunities for improvement.Participate in project safety reviews, contractor performance reviews and construction risk assessments.Ensure project activities comply with applicable local H&S legislation and project safety standards.Incident ManagementSupport and lead investigations following incidents, near misses and significant safety events.Ensure effective Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is completed and appropriate corrective actions are identified.Review contractor investigations to ensure sufficient depth, quality and accountability.Track actions through to completion and verify their effectiveness.Communicate lessons learned across contractors, construction teams and wider project stakeholders.Use incident trends and leading indicators to proactively reduce future risk.Safety Leadership & CultureAct as a visible Health & Safety leader across construction sites.Build strong working relationships with Project Managers, Construction Managers, General Contractors and senior contractor leadership.Influence stakeholders without relying solely on authority, encouraging project teams to take ownership of H&S.Lead contractor safety kick-off meetings, toolbox discussions, workshops and performance reviews where required.Provide guidance and coaching to construction teams and contractors on Health & Safety expectations.Promote a proactive safety culture focused on risk prevention rather than reactive compliance.Reporting & Continuous ImprovementMaintain accurate project H&S records, audit findings, incident data and contractor performance information.Monitor both leading and lagging safety indicators.Prepare clear H&S reports for project and regional leadership.Identify trends across safety observations, incidents and contractor performance.Develop recommendations and improvement initiatives based on project safety data.Support the development and implementation of H&S processes, standards, procedures and best practices.Share lessons learned and successful safety initiatives across projects.Basic Qualifications6+ years' Health & Safety experience within construction, engineering, infrastructure or another complex industrial environment.Strong experience managing Health & Safety across major construction projects.Demonstrable experience overseeing General Contractors, subcontractors and third-party vendors.Strong knowledge of contractor safety management and construction safety management systems.Experience conducting site H&S inspections, compliance audits and risk assessments.Experience reviewing contractor safety plans, RAMS, method statements and associated H&S documentation.Strong understanding of construction-related high-risk activities and appropriate control measures.Experience managing or supporting incident investigations and Root Cause Analysis.Working knowledge of applicable occupational Health & Safety legislation and regulatory requirements.Ability to analyse safety performance data and identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.Strong stakeholder-management skills with the ability to challenge and influence contractors and senior project stakeholders.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Comfortable working within a fast-paced construction environment with multiple contractors and concurrent workstreams.Degree, diploma or recognised professional qualification in Occupational Health & Safety, Construction Safety, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.Preferred QualificationsPrevious hyperscale data center or mission-critical construction experience.Experience supporting large-scale data center builds from construction through commissioning and handover.Experience working with Tier 1 General Contractors and large multi-contractor construction environments.Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical construction risks associated with data centers.Experience supporting safety activities during energisation, commissioning and transition into operational environments.Recognised professional Health & Safety certification such as NEBOSH Diploma, CMIOSH, CSP, ASP, CHST or equivalent regional qualification.Experience developing or improving contractor H&S management programmes.Experience delivering contractor onboarding, safety kick-offs and contractor performance reviews.Experience developing and monitoring leading and lagging H&S metrics.Experience working within global or multinational construction organisations.Experience working across multiple construction projects or sites.Strong understanding of continuous-improvement methodologies and the ability to convert safety-performance data into practical improvement programmes.