Senior HSE Manager (m-f-d)

The Scope

At FSC, we protect forests to protect the future. As a global, multi-stakeholder organization operating in more than 80 countries, we are committed to responsible forest management that safeguards biodiversity, supports communities, and combats climate change.
Delivering this mission requires not only strong strategy - but safe, resilient, and well-managed workplaces worldwide.

We are now seeking a hands-on, strategically minded HSE Manager who will both lead operational excellence at our Bonn headquarters and build a global Health, Safety & Environment governance framework that strengthens prevention, compliance, and employee wellbeing across FSC International in an intercultural environment.

This is a unique opportunity to combine operational leadership with international system design.

The Opportunity:
The HSE Manager plays a dual-impact role:

1. Leading day-to-day HSE operations at FSC’s Bonn site, ensuring full compliance with German regulatory requirements and driving a visible culture of prevention.
2. Designing and implementing FSC’s global HSE governance model, creating standards, tools, and assurance processes that enable FSC locations worldwide to meet legal obligations, protect employee wellbeing, and prevent incidents proactively.

This role offers the rare opportunity to shape HSE both locally and globally within a purpose-driven international organization.

Main Roles & Responsibilities

Why This Role Matters

This is not a maintenance role—it is a build-and-lead mandate.

You will establish the foundation for FSC’s global HSE governance while ensuring operational excellence in Bonn. Your work will directly contribute to employee wellbeing, regulatory integrity, and organizational resilience across FSC International.

A) Operational HSE Leadership – Bonn (Core Daily Business) Regulatory Compliance & Authorities

• Ensure full compliance with German HSE legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as primary interface to authorities, inspectors, building management, and external experts.
• Maintain documentation, compliance registers, and corrective action tracking.

Workplace Safety & Incident Prevention

• Lead local hazard identification and risk assessments (e.g., ergonomics, contractor activities).
• Own incident and near-miss reporting, investigations, and root-cause analysis.
• Drive a visible prevention culture through campaigns and targeted interventions.

Training & Employee Participation


• Deliver local HSE inductions and role-based training.
• Ensure contractors and visitors meet site safety standards.
• Establish effective employee participation mechanisms and feedback loops.

Building Safety & Health Protection
• Coordinate fire safety, emergency preparedness, first aid, and evacuation drills.
• Manage occupational health topics relevant to office environments, including ergonomics and psychosocial risk considerations.
Operational Governance & Performance
• Define local KPIs and report clearly to leadership.
• Manage local HSE budgets and external providers.

B) Global HSE Framework, Governance & Assurance – FSC International Global Policy Architecture & Standards

• Design FSC’s global HSE governance model, including roles, responsibilities, and escalation pathways.
• Develop a pragmatic Global HSE Framework aligned with recognized OH&S management principles.
Core Global Programs (Minimum Scope)
• Incident management and global learning systems.
• Risk assessment methodology and control libraries.
• Training and competence frameworks.
• Contractor/supplier HSE requirements.
• Business travel and travel risk management (Duty of Care).
• Site/facility safety baselines and emergency preparedness standards.
• Health protection and wellbeing fundamentals.

Audit, Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Build internal assurance approaches including audits and management reviews.
• Conduct and coordinate audits for Bonn and selected FSC locations.
• Develop maturity models and remediation plans.

Stakeholder Engagement & Change Enablement
• Partner with People & Culture, Facilities, Travel, IT, Legal/Compliance, and international site leads.
• Drive adoption through training, communication, and culturally adaptive implementation.

Your profile

• Strong experience in operational HSE management within a regulated environment (German compliance required).
• Proven ability to design and implement governance frameworks or management systems at scale.
• Deep understanding of occupational safety, health protection, and prevention culture.
• Experience interfacing with regulatory authorities and managing audits.
• Strategic thinking paired with hands-on execution capability.
• Strong stakeholder management and international coordination skills.
• Ability to balance regulatory rigor with pragmatic, scalable solutions.

Why us?

• Benefit from cross-cultural collaboration and networking opportunities by being part of FSC global community of 400+ forest stewards.
• Benefit from work-life balance with our hybrid working structure.
• 30 vacation days yearly.
• Regional transportation ticket.
• Celebrate together festivals from different cultures.
• Once a year in-person get together with the global FSC staff.

The Fine Print

Location: Bonn, Germany.
Working Hours: Full time - 40 hours per week.
Duration of Employment: Temporary contract - 2 years (extension possible, subject to satisfactory performance)
Starting Date: As soon as possible.


How to Apply
Ready to make a difference? Join FSC and help shape a sustainable future. Don't delay - apply now!

Please apply via our website by submitting your CV in English.
Please do not send any photos of yourself.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

For FSC, inclusiveness and diversity are important values. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds and are entirely committed to consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age and disability.


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We are looking forward to your application!

About us

Welcome to FSC!

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a globally recognized non-profit organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable forestry. With over 150 million hectares of certified forests and a trusted reputation among NGOs, consumers, and businesses, FSC is leading the way in ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the world’s forests.