Director - HSE (Heavylifting) MBS Stadium (SPA2)

Qiddiya Investment Company is seeking a Director – HSE, Heavy Lifting to lead health, safety, and environmental assurance across all crane and lifting operations at the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) Stadium, one of Qiddiya City's flagship venues and a confirmed host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Perched on the 200-metre Tuwaiq cliff, the stadium is being built with a fleet of over 20 tower cranes, among the tallest freestanding tower cranes deployed in the Kingdom, operating in close sequence across a constrained, cliffside footprint. This presents a lifting risk profile few projects in the region can match, and the role exists to keep it under rigorous control.

The successful candidate will own the HSE strategy for all heavy lifting activity on site, working directly with the Management Contractor, specialist lifting subcontractors, and crane suppliers to ensure every lift, from tower crane erection through to major structural and façade element placement, is planned, permitted, and executed to the highest safety standard. This is a hands-on leadership role for an HSE professional with deep, specific expertise in heavy lifting and crane operations on complex, large-scale construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the site-wide HSE strategy for heavy lifting operations, covering tower cranes, mobile cranes, and specialist lifting equipment across the stadium site.
• Review and approve lift plans, method statements, and risk assessments for critical and non-standard lifts, ensuring compliance with project HSE standards and international best practice.
• Provide technical oversight of crane erection, climbing, and dismantling operations, working closely with lifting contractors and equipment suppliers.
• Lead incident investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action for any lifting-related safety events.
• Establish and monitor competency, certification, and training requirements for riggers, banksmen, crane operators, and lifting supervisors across all contractors on site.
• Conduct regular site audits and inspections of lifting equipment, exclusion zones, and lifting operations, driving close-out of findings.
• Liaise with the Management Contractor and design teams on lifting sequencing and logistics, particularly given the site's cliffside access constraints.
• Report lifting-specific HSE performance, leading and lagging indicators, and risk exposure to senior project leadership.
• Champion a strong safety culture across all contractors and subcontractors engaged in lifting operations on the project.Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, or a related discipline; relevant HSE qualifications (NEBOSH, IOSH, or equivalent) required.
• Minimum 12+ years of HSE experience, with a significant proportion dedicated specifically to heavy lifting and crane operations on major construction or infrastructure projects.
• Proven track record managing lifting safety on complex, large-scale sites, with stadia, high-rise, or major infrastructure experience strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of lifting equipment standards, crane certification requirements, and lift planning methodologies.
• Experience managing HSE compliance across multiple contractors and subcontractors on a single site.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Familiarity with international lifting and HSE standards as applied to Saudi/GCC construction environments.