About Al-Futtaim Group

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand, responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity, Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview of the role

The Health & Safety Group Leader is responsible for ensuring a safe, clean, functional, and compliant environment for customers and co-workers. This role requires expert guidance in health and safety standards, supporting the Country Manager and Management Team to promote a strong safety-first culture, ensure compliance with legislation and IKEA policies, and continuously improve preventive measures and operational performance. The role also supports facilities management activities to ensure business continuity and provides an excellent customer and co-worker experience. Key success factors include risk management, team leadership, expertise in safety standards, and effective communication.

What you will do

Safety management

• Drive the safety agenda using the operational risk management process, including root cause analysis and influencing factors.
• Work with appropriate managers to reduce future occurrences of safety issues and escalate when necessary.
• Ensure a proactive approach to safety risk management by integrating risk considerations early in business processes.
• Initiate and perform risk assessments on safety and security matters and lead the health and safety training calendar.
• Ensure building fire protection systems and equipment are safe and well maintained.
• Ensure the waste management program is healthy and meets local regulations.
• Ensure adequate training for first aiders and fire marshals.
• Ensure third parties are aware of IKEA health and safety rules.
• Manage the fire protection program.
• Develop and update health and safety standard operating procedures regularly.

Team development

• Coach, develop, and educate co-workers and external partners to comply with OSHA, Group Risk Manual, and IKEA health and safety policy.
• Plan the emergency response group to minimize the effects of major incidents on business.
• Investigate internal and external incidents, recommend solutions, and revise routines.
• Develop and communicate an annual action plan and monitor its success.
• Effectively utilize risk tools, including the incident reporting system, to analyze business risks.
• Manage costs under the risk team and maximize efficiency of spend while maintaining safety standards.
• Ensure the first aid facility is fully ready to support needs with accurate inventory and regular follow-ups.
• Effectively manage and inspire the team, with emphasis on selection, training, and development.
• Contribute to IKEA's national expansion projects and build relationships with external bodies.

Operational support

• Manage safety of all in-house activities with overall responsibility.
• Prepare safety technical and progress review reports.
• Monitor safety through site inspections, creating documented minutes of meetings.
• Provide feedback and report to management on safety work improvements and cost considerations.
• Check and approve health and safety drawings and give expert advice.
• Upload safety data, codes, and incident reports to regional share folders.
• Participate in operations department annual budget reviews and setting.
• Respond to and cooperate with government requirements to ensure compliance.
• Manage major fire safety tests, including generator full load test and blackout test.
• Perform safety and maintenance inspections and plan actions to address comments.
• Collect quotations from subcontractors and choose based on quality and price.
• Work with the maintenance team on health and safety systems fully operational in store and fire pump room with mall team.

Required skills to be successful

• Proficient in risk management and operational safety procedures.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to build key relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

What qualifies you for the role

• Bachelor of Engineering or Science degree in health and safety or occupational safety.
• NEBOSH, IOSH, or NASP certification preferred.
• At least 3-5 years of experience in the field of health, safety, and environment.
• Familiarity with TBT (Safety Talk), OSHA and HSE codes, and with local and international standards such as NFPA, IEC, and others.

About Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate

The real estate development and operations arm of Al-Futtaim, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate is responsible for a multi-billion-dollar portfolio across MENA. With high-quality residential, business, retail, tourism, educational and healthcare developments, the master developer caters to the diverse needs of cities and communities in the region. From origination, conception, development, sales, procurement and construction of mega-projects and the leasing, operation and management of these projects after completion, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate (AFGRE) has been developing and managing owned landbanks, unlocking the economic potential of the region and contributing to future development for more than 40 years.

Our focus is to enable and invest in meaningful relationships to make our properties the best places to live and work, build additional products and services and enable partnerships to create true value to our customers throughout their entire experience with us.

AFGRE is responsible for master planning of all projects in its portfolio, including two large scale mixed use destinations: Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City.

About Al-Futtaim Malls

Al-Futtaim Malls provides development and asset management expertise, specializing in building retail-led super regional malls in prime locations across MENA and beyond. With a proven track record of creating both sustainable revenue growth and value enhancement for tenants, Al-Futtaim Malls delivers exceptional experiences and exciting shopping environments for customers.

Part of the Al-Futtaim Group, Al-Futtaim Malls leadership team brings more than 30 years of experience and a deep understanding and knowledge of the retail sector, both from a shopper’s point of view but as curators of space or landlords to other brands. The company has a directly managed portfolio including over 9 million sqft of retail space across four malls in the MENA region and two under development. Malls under the Al-Futtaim Malls portfolio include Dubai Festival City Mall and Festival Plaza in the UAE, Cairo Festival City Mall in Egypt, Doha Festival City in Qatar and Zenata Mall, Morocco.

Leveraging on the expertise of its parent company, Al-Futtaim Malls established PLEX Management Services offering a full array of services including asset management and development, leasing, and brand experience expertise to shopping mall landlords and retail organizations globally. Implementing global best practice and deploying Al-Futtaim Mall’s deep understanding of mall management and retail dynamics, PLEX promises to deliver continuous growth and long-term value for its partners.

About Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies

Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies offers customers complete engineering and systems integration solutions.

The Engineering arm operates in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt providing a wide variety of products and services from air conditioning, scaffolding and access solutions, elevators and escalators, control and life safety, facilities management, building products, MEP, energy management, technology infrastructure and digital transformation.

The Technologies division provides complete business solutions to large, medium and small customers that include contact centre solutions, business applications, business intelligence, data management, advanced analytics amongst others. The IT infrastructure portfolio comprises IP telephony, ELV systems, networking solutions, professional audio-visual solutions and managed services.

These solutions are further complemented by services that include project management, installation, testing, commissioning and after-sales maintenance contracts.