Global Head Safety & Health

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections,  where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

 This role sits within the Group SHE (Safety, Health & Environment) department, a critical global function dedicated to safeguarding our people and operations. The team operates as a center of expertise, collaborating cross-functionally with divisions such as Pharma Technical Operations, Global Diagnostic Operations, People & Culture, and Global Engineering to integrate safety and wellbeing into the core of the business. By promoting a culture of psychological safety and environmental stewardship, the department ensures that safety is not just a policy, but a primary organizational value. 

As the Global Head – Safety & Health, you will serve as a visionary leader and trusted advisor to senior leadership, responsible for the strategic development of a comprehensive global safety, health, and wellbeing framework. You will lead a high-impact team in a complex matrix environment, ensuring that our global operations align with international standards like ISO 45001 while fostering an inclusive culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The Opportunity

• Strategic Leadership: Lead the development and implementation of a global safety, health, and wellbeing strategy, defining KPIs and annual objectives to align with international standards and local regulations.

• Technical Governance: Oversee the maintenance of robust technical directives and procedures, providing expert guidance on risk assessments, hazard identification, and control measures across the Roche Group.

• Cultural Advocacy: Design and coordinate global safety campaigns and training programs (e.g., awareness weeks) to establish core safety principles across diverse cultural and operational contexts.

• Data-Driven Insights: Utilize digital platforms and data analytics to transform safety data into actionable strategies that enhance workplace safety and proactive environmental stewardship.

• Incident & Risk Management: Lead thorough evaluations of incident investigations, ensuring the implementation of corrective actions while staying updated on evolving industry trends and regulatory changes.

• People & Team Development: Strategically scale and deploy the safety team, managing recruitment, retention, and coaching for high-potential individuals while fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment.

• Matrix Collaboration: Navigate complex organizational structures to lead cross-functional projects, ensuring seamless collaboration between site specialists and Group SHE to deliver value-adding business solutions.

Who You Are

• Educational Foundation: Holds a Master’s degree or equivalent in safety, occupational health, or engineering; professional qualifications such as ASGS, NEBOSH, CSP, or CIH are highly preferred.

• Extensive Experience: Minimum of 10 years in a Global Head or Senior Management role within a large multinational, with a proven track record in driving change through dispersed global organizations.

• Technical Subject Matter Expert: Deep expertise in global safety regulations (ISO 45001/14001) and core areas like machinery safety, explosion protection, process safety, and occupational hygiene (including biosafety and ergonomics).

• Proven People Leader: 10+ years of leadership experience focusing on growth mindsets, stakeholder management, and building psychological safety within multicultural, matrixed teams.

• Strategic Communicator: Exceptional proficiency in English with the diplomacy and influencing skills necessary to advise senior leaders and act as a global point of expertise.

Ready for the next step? We look forward to hearing from you. Apply now to discover this exciting opportunity!

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.