Safety Leadership Specialist, Safety, Health & Wellbeing 1

The Safety Leadership Specialist will work within the Safety Culture & Leadership team to deliver programmes that challenge leaders in ESBN to raise the standard of direction, accountability, and visible commitment to safety. The role supports the business to strengthen leadership presence and consistency, providing frameworks and coaching to enable decisive action on safety and reliable follow-through on commitments. 

The Safety Culture & Leadership team is responsible for driving the implementation of the Safety Culture Improvement plan, and the safety leadership specialist’s role in this is to build a proactive and engaged safety leadership mindset throughout the organisation. This includes partnering with stakeholders to identify and address cultural barriers to safety, championing safety leadership programmes that promote open communication and psychological safety and supporting the continuous improvement of safety systems and practices. 

The role will also coordinate efforts to measure and report on safety culture progress, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s strategic objectives and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities 

• Deliver and sustain programmes that strengthen leadership capability and embed accountability for safety across all levels of the organisation.
• Provide structured coaching and feedback that challenges leaders to reflect on their behaviours, increase visibility, and act decisively on safety issues.
• Develop and issue practical tools, checklists, and routines that integrate safety into everyday leadership conversations and decision-making.
• Facilitate peer forums and cross-functional sessions that allow leaders to share challenges, exchange good practice, and commit to collective improvement.
• Enable senior leaders to conduct effective safety site engagements that build trust, demonstrate commitment, and provide visible follow-through on staff feedback.
• Monitor and reinforce accountability by ensuring that leadership actions and commitments are tracked to closure and communicated transparently.

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline
• 3 years+ experience in leadership development, coaching, or organisational change delivery in a complex environment.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and managers to embed safety into their leadership practice and daily routines.
• Skilled in delivering feedback and facilitating constructive challenge with credibility and authority.
• Strong communication, engagement, and facilitation skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and functions.

Desirable 

• Experience delivering leadership programmes within safety-critical or high-reliability industries.
• Familiarity with safety reporting, intervention systems, and organisational accountability frameworks.
• Third-level qualification in a discipline related to Leadership and/or Safety.

Location 

The role will be based in a Networks office, with the specific location to be agreed with the successful candidate. Travel will also form a regular component of the role.

Smart Working at ESB is designed to make ‘in-person’ time together as purposeful as possible while also enabling the effective use of digital tools and hybrid arrangements to preserve our commitment to flexibility. The successful candidate may work flexibly within the jurisdiction where they have been employed, with attendance at the workplace for in-person collaboration at least two days per week. All Smart Working arrangements are subject to regular review based on the operational requirements of the role, the team, and the business.

Reporting to

Safety Culture & Leadership Lead

Why Work with Us?

• Opportunity to lead Ireland’s transition to net zero carbon future
• Career development through mentoring and training 
• Corporate Social Responsibility Opportunities
• Sports and Social Clubs
• Networking opportunities
• Credit Union
• Generous Pension
• Access to staff well-being programmes
• Generous parental leave entitlements
• Strong values-based and inclusive culture
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Great team environment working to our Core Values: Courageous, Caring, Driven and Trusted

Salary

€49,830 - €58,622

Closing Date

29th September 2026

• Accountable and Ethical
• Collaborative
• Growing and Adaptive
• Proactive
• Respectful and Supportive

 More information available on Our People Promise  

Notes

Your application will be held in reserve for 6 months should you be suitable for the role.

The successful candidate will be required to evidence their right to work in the Republic of Ireland prior to commencement of employment.