HSE Lead - Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany — Full-time on-site

Contract Duration: 18 months + extension

Start Date: ASAP / July 2026

Day Rate: €800–€950/day (negotiable DOE)

Contract Type: Freelance / Dienstleistungsvertrag

The Project

G2 Recruitment is partnering with a Tier 1 international general contractor on a major hyperscale data centre construction programme in Frankfurt. The project involves a multi-building campus across several phases with a total construction value exceeding €300M. This is a high-profile, fast-paced environment with multiple subcontractors operating simultaneously across civil, structural, MEP, and fit-out scopes.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced freelance HSE Lead to take full ownership of health, safety and environmental performance across the project. This is a senior, site-facing role with direct reporting to the Project Director. You will be the primary HSE authority on site, responsible for driving a proactive safety culture and ensuring compliance with German statutory requirements, client HSE standards, and international best practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all HSE activities across the full project lifecycle — from mobilisation through construction, commissioning and handover

• Develop, implement and maintain the project-specific HSE Management Plan, RAMS framework and Emergency Response Plan

• Conduct and oversee site inductions, toolbox talks, safety walks and formal audits across all subcontractors

• Manage incident reporting, investigation and root cause analysis; implement corrective actions and close-out

• Ensure full compliance with German statutory requirements including ArbSchG, DGUV regulations, BaustellV (Construction Site Ordinance) and BetrSichV

• Act as the SiGeKo (Sicherheits- und Gesundheitsschutzkoordinator) or work directly alongside the appointed SiGeKo — prior qualification is a strong advantage

• Interface with the client HSE team, GC management, trade contractors, and regulatory authorities (Berufsgenossenschaft, local Arbeitsschutz)

• Manage and mentor HSE Advisors / Officers embedded within subcontractor teams

• Produce and present weekly and monthly HSE performance reports to senior leadership

• Drive permit-to-work systems, hot work, confined space entry, working at height, and energy isolation programmes

• Lead pre-task planning (PTP) and last-planner safety integration across busy MEP and civil work fronts

Requirements

• Minimum 8 years' HSE experience in construction, with at least 3 years in mission-critical, data centre, or large-scale industrial EPC environments

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, or Engineering

• NEBOSH International Diploma or equivalent (NEBOSH IGC as a minimum)

• SCC** (Veiligheids Checklist Aannemers) or German equivalent — strong preference

• Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit (Sifa) qualification — highly desirable

• SiGeKo qualification (RAB 30 / MLAR) — desirable

• ISO 45001 internal auditor qualification — advantageous

• Solid knowledge of German construction safety law: ArbSchG, BaustellV, DGUV, BetrSichV, GefStoffV

• Proven experience managing HSE across multi-subcontractor construction sites with 100+ personnel

• Competent with MS Office; experience with digital HSE management platforms (e.g. Intelex, Fieldwire, SafetyCulture/iAuditor)

• English essential; German language skills a significant advantage

• EU work authorisation required — must be eligible to work in Germany without sponsorship

Desirable

• Experience on hyperscale or colocation data centre builds (Digital Realty, Equinix, CyrusOne, NTT, AWS, Microsoft)

• Familiarity with DGUV Vorschrift 1, 3 and 38 in live construction environments

• Experience working under Irish, Dutch or UK HSE frameworks in addition to German — useful for interfacing with international subcontractors

• Previous G2/G3 safety passport holder or equivalent site induction certification

What's on Offer

• €800–€950/day — above-market rate reflecting the seniority, complexity and pace of this programme

• 18-month initial contract with strong extension prospects across the broader Frankfurt portfolio

• Direct engagement with a Tier 1 GC — strong CV profile and long-term pipeline opportunity

• Expenses and accommodation support available for non-Frankfurt-based candidates