HSE Manager Resume Example & Writing Guide for GCC Jobs

Why Your HSE Manager Resume Needs a GCC Focus

The Gulf Cooperation Council's oil and gas sector represents one of the world's most safety-critical industrial environments, creating exceptional demand for qualified HSE managers. Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, QatarEnergy, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, and PDO maintain vast upstream, midstream, and downstream operations requiring comprehensive health, safety, and environmental management systems. The region's industrial expansion, coupled with increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks and zero-tolerance safety cultures, positions HSE managers as essential leaders protecting personnel, assets, and corporate reputations.

HSE management in the GCC oil and gas sector differs from other industries and regions due to the integration of process safety management, operational discipline in high-hazard environments, regulatory frameworks specific to national oil companies (Saudi Aramco HSE requirements, ADNOC HSE-MS), and cultural dynamics of managing safety across diverse multinational workforces. Understanding of OSHA regulations, ISO 45001, ISO 14001, process safety fundamentals (HAZOP, SIL, LOPA), and region-specific approaches to safety leadership is essential for success.

Your resume must demonstrate not just safety management competence, but oil and gas industry expertise including understanding of upstream/downstream hazards, experience with process safety management systems, familiarity with national oil company HSE frameworks, proven leadership in safety culture transformation, and track record of maintaining exceptional safety performance in high-consequence environments. Employers seek HSE managers who can balance regulatory compliance with operational efficiency, build safety culture across diverse teams, and provide strategic HSE leadership at senior organizational levels.

Key Sections Every HSE Manager Resume Must Include

Personal Information

Include nationality, visa status, and availability. Oil and gas companies assess hiring feasibility and security clearance requirements.

Professional Summary

Lead with HSE management specialization (upstream, downstream, construction, operations), years of oil and gas experience, and scope of responsibility. Quantify through workforce sizes, facility types, or safety performance (TRIR, LTIFR). Mention key certifications (NEBOSH Diploma, CSP, CRSP) and specific industry expertise (process safety, offshore safety, refinery operations).

Technical Skills and Certifications

Feature HSE credentials prominently: NEBOSH International Diploma, Certified Safety Professional (CSP), CRSP, ISO 45001/14001 Lead Auditor. List process safety competencies (HAZOP facilitation, SIL determination, incident investigation), environmental management capabilities, emergency response expertise, and regulatory knowledge (OSHA PSM, Saudi Aramco standards, ADNOC HSE-MS).

Professional Experience

Emphasize facility types (refineries, platforms, plants), workforce sizes, HSE program development, safety performance metrics achieved, incident investigations led, and regulatory compliance. Use strong KPIs: TRIR/LTIFR improvements, man-hours LTI-free, zero fatalities, audit scores, or regulatory inspection results.

Education

List engineering or safety-related degree. Advanced safety degrees or certifications carry significant weight in oil and gas HSE management.

Professional Memberships

Include memberships in professional safety organizations (ASSE/ASSP, IOSH, SOS) demonstrating ongoing professional development and industry engagement.

Top 10 Skills for HSE Manager in the GCC

1. Process Safety Management: Deep expertise in PSM including Process Hazard Analysis (PHA/HAZOP), Management of Change (MOC), Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR), and Mechanical Integrity programs is essential for oil and gas HSE management. Understanding of API, OSHA PSM, and Seveso Directive requirements enables comprehensive process safety leadership.
2. NEBOSH Diploma and Advanced Safety Credentials: NEBOSH International Diploma represents professional-level safety qualification and is highly valued for senior HSE positions. Combined with CSP, CRSP, or equivalent credentials, advanced certifications demonstrate mastery-level safety expertise essential for HSE management roles.
3. Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis: Expertise in conducting comprehensive incident investigations using advanced methodologies (TapRooT, Apollo, Tripod Beta), identifying systemic failures, and implementing corrective actions preventing recurrence. Ability to investigate major incidents, interface with regulatory authorities, and lead investigations maintaining legal defensibility.
4. HSE Management Systems (ISO 45001/14001): Comprehensive knowledge of implementing, maintaining, and auditing integrated HSE management systems aligned with international standards. Experience achieving ISO certification, managing external audits, and driving continual improvement through systematic approaches.
5. Emergency Response and Crisis Management: Ability to develop emergency response plans for oil and gas facilities including fire, explosion, toxic release, and oil spill scenarios. Experience coordinating emergency drills, managing crisis response teams, interfacing with external emergency services, and leading crisis management during actual incidents.
6. Safety Leadership and Culture Transformation: Proven capability to build and transform safety cultures from compliance-based to value-based through visible safety leadership, behavior-based safety programs, employee engagement initiatives, and leadership development. Understanding of human factors, safety psychology, and organizational change management.
7. Saudi Aramco or ADNOC HSE Standards: Familiarity with national oil company HSE requirements, particularly Saudi Aramco HSE specifications or ADNOC HSE Management System, demonstrates regional expertise. Understanding of contractor HSE prequalification, audit protocols, and compliance verification processes used by major GCC operators.
8. Offshore HSE and Marine Operations: For roles involving offshore platforms or marine facilities, expertise in offshore safety including helicopter operations, permit-to-work for confined spaces, simultaneous operations (SIMOPS), and marine safety regulations. Understanding of OPITO standards, offshore emergency response, and platform safety management.
9. Environmental Management and Regulatory Compliance: Comprehensive environmental management including waste management, emissions monitoring, water treatment, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory compliance with local environmental authorities. Understanding of ISO 14001, waste hierarchy, and environmental incident response.
10. Contractor HSE Management: Ability to manage HSE performance across multiple contractors including prequalification processes, HSE bridging documents, site-specific safety plans, ongoing performance monitoring, and contractor accountability systems. Experience managing contractor safety in complex multi-contractor environments typical of oil and gas projects.

Professional Summary Examples

Mid-Career HSE Manager

HSE Manager with 8 years of progressive experience in oil and gas upstream and downstream operations across UAE and Oman. Successfully managed HSE programs for 1,200-worker refinery maintenance turnaround achieving zero LTIs across 850,000 man-hours. NEBOSH Diploma and CSP certified with proven expertise in process safety management, incident investigation, and contractor HSE coordination. Demonstrated ability to improve safety performance, having reduced facility TRIR from 2.1 to 0.6 over three-year period through systematic HSE program enhancement and safety culture development.

Senior HSE Manager

Senior HSE Manager with 15+ years of experience leading HSE functions for major oil and gas operators and EPC contractors across GCC region. Managed integrated HSE teams of 12-25 professionals supporting operations, projects, and maintenance activities for refineries, gas plants, and offshore facilities. Recognized expertise in process safety management, emergency response, and HSE management systems, having achieved ISO 45001/14001 certification for multiple organizations. Proven track record of exceptional safety performance including zero fatalities across $8B in managed project and operational values while maintaining LTIFR consistently below 0.15. NEBOSH Diploma, CSP, and CRSP certified with deep understanding of Saudi Aramco and ADNOC HSE frameworks.

Work Experience Examples

• Led HSE program for ADNOC downstream facility (2,400 employees + contractors) implementing comprehensive safety management system, achieving ISO 45001/14001 certification, and reducing TRIR from 1.8 to 0.5 over four-year period through behavior-based safety and process safety improvements
• Managed HSE function for $2.1B refinery expansion project coordinating 15 HSE professionals, overseeing 3,500-worker construction activities, implementing rigorous permit-to-work system, and achieving 6.2 million man-hours LTI-free through proactive hazard management
• Conducted process hazard analysis (HAZOP) for new gas processing unit, facilitating 12-day study with multidisciplinary team, identifying 180+ credible hazard scenarios, and developing safeguards preventing potential incidents during operations
• Led investigation of serious process safety incident (hydrocarbon release), preserving evidence, coordinating regulatory interface, conducting root cause analysis using TapRooT methodology, and implementing 25 corrective actions addressing systemic failures across organization
• Developed and executed emergency response plan for offshore platform including fire scenarios, personnel evacuation, helicopter operations, and marine emergencies, conducting quarterly drills with 95%+ participation and continuous improvement based on lessons learned
• Managed contractor HSE prequalification and performance monitoring for major turnaround involving 45 contractors, implementing bridging documents, conducting safety inductions for 800+ contractor personnel, and maintaining contractor safety performance aligned with facility standards
• Achieved significant environmental performance improvement reducing waste to landfill by 65% through waste segregation program, recycling initiatives, and contractor accountability, while maintaining full compliance with local environmental authority requirements
• Implemented Management of Change (MOC) system for refinery operations establishing formal review process for operational, equipment, and organizational changes, reducing change-related incidents by 80% and strengthening process safety barriers

Education & Certifications

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Safety, Environmental Science, or related technical field. Advanced safety degrees or professional certifications often substitute for academic credentials in senior HSE management roles.

Essential Certifications

NEBOSH International Diploma represents professional-level qualification. Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) demonstrate advanced competency. ISO 45001/14001 Lead Auditor enables management system expertise. Process safety certifications (HAZOP Leader, SIL Practitioner) valuable for oil and gas roles.

ATS Optimization Tips for Oil & Gas

Include oil and gas specific keywords: process safety, HAZOP, refinery, upstream, downstream, offshore, PSM, SIL. Reference operators: Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, QatarEnergy, PDO. List certifications with acronyms and full names: NEBOSH Diploma, CSP, CRSP. Quantify safety performance: TRIR, LTIFR, man-hours LTI-free.

Common Resume Mistakes for HSE Manager

Omitting safety performance metrics critical for assessing track record. Failing to specify oil and gas experience versus general industrial or construction safety. Neglecting process safety expertise increasingly important in GCC oil and gas. Not quantifying scope (workforce sizes, facility types, budget responsibility). Vague leadership descriptions without demonstrating safety culture transformation capabilities.

GCC Market Insights for HSE Manager

HSE Managers in GCC oil and gas typically earn AED 25,000-50,000 for mid-level positions, AED 45,000-80,000 for senior HSE managers, with HSE Directors exceeding AED 100,000. National oil companies (Aramco, ADNOC, QatarEnergy) offer comprehensive packages. International operators (Shell, BP, ExxonMobil) and EPC contractors (Petrofac, Worley, Wood Group) provide strong opportunities. Visa sponsorship common for qualified HSE professionals. Career paths: HSE Manager → Senior HSE Manager → HSE Director.

HSE Manager Resume Sample

Robert Williams
British National | UAE Residence Visa
+971 50 345 6789 | [email protected] | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Professional Summary

Senior HSE Manager with 12 years of experience leading health, safety, and environmental programs for oil and gas upstream and downstream operations across GCC region. Proven track record managing HSE for refineries, gas plants, and offshore facilities maintaining exceptional safety performance including zero fatalities and LTIFR consistently below 0.2. NEBOSH Diploma and CSP certified with expertise in process safety management, incident investigation, and HSE management systems. Successfully achieved ISO 45001/14001 certification for two organizations and led safety culture transformation reducing TRIR by 70% through systematic program enhancement.

Professional Certifications

• NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) - Board of Certified Safety Professionals
• ISO 45001:2018 Lead Auditor
• ISO 14001:2015 Lead Auditor
• HAZOP Leader Certification
• IOSH Managing Safely

Technical Skills

Process Safety: HAZOP facilitation, SIL determination, LOPA, MOC, PSSR, Mechanical Integrity
HSE Management: ISO 45001/14001 implementation, Incident investigation (TapRooT), Emergency response, Contractor HSE management, Safety culture development, Risk assessment
Oil & Gas: Upstream operations, Downstream/refinery safety, Offshore platforms, Pipeline operations
Regulatory: OSHA PSM, Saudi Aramco HSE standards, ADNOC HSE-MS, API standards
Software: MS Office Suite, SAP EHS, incident management systems

Professional Experience

Senior HSE Manager | ADNOC Refining | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 2017 - Present

• Lead integrated HSE function for refinery facility (2,800 employees + contractors, 180,000 BPD capacity) managing team of 18 HSE professionals and maintaining world-class safety performance with zero fatalities and LTIFR 0.18
• Implemented comprehensive process safety management program including HAZOP reviews for major modifications, MOC system, PSSR protocols, and mechanical integrity achieving 45% reduction in process safety events
• Achieved ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 certification for facility, leading gap assessment, system implementation, management review, and successful certification audit with zero non-conformances
• Managed HSE program for $850M refinery turnaround involving 2,200 additional contractor personnel, achieving 3.2 million man-hours LTI-free through comprehensive planning and rigorous execution

HSE Manager | Petrofac | Dubai, UAE | 2013 - 2017

• Managed project HSE for $1.2B gas processing facility construction coordinating 12 HSE professionals and 1,800-worker construction site achieving zero fatalities and TRIR 0.8
• Conducted incident investigations for recordable injuries and near-misses using TapRooT methodology, implementing corrective actions preventing recurrence across project portfolio

Education

Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health and Safety
University of Portsmouth | Portsmouth, UK | 2011