Rank: Forum user 
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Any ideas/advice please:
With my company restructuring its management levels I’m being asked where I think I should fit within the structure.
I’m an H & S Advisor/Trainer [CIEH H & S courses]
I’ve a wide remit ensuring company wide H & S compliance and best practice.
Advising management and working with line managers on risk assessment/accident investigation/H & S training etc.
Where to others who may have similar roles fit in their company?
e.g. do you report to HR or Senior managers
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Rank: Super forum user 
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It's essential that you report to a real decision maker in the company; that could be a HR director just as much as a production director; that's probably the most important bit.
I spent my first two years in my present post reporting to a Head of HR who then reported to a Director; I pointed out that this was wrong in terms of HSE expectations, it was also wrong for me for other reasons. H&S is employment law, innit? So it goes in with HR, right? Not for me it doesn't. I speak a different language to HR people, and even though I respect what they do, and certainly feel a need to work very closely with them, I never felt that HR was the right berth for H&S. In previous posts I had been in HR and had the same feelings.
Two years ago I moved to the Company Secretary; in my post that's ideal for a number of reasons. Firstly, the Co Secy exists to keep the company legal and compliant. Second she is a lawyer, and we both speak law. Finally, in the pecular circumstances of a Charity, she's the only 'Director' who is actually a member of the Board of Trustees; even the CEO is only an attendee.
So if you want a voice ingoverance, corporte risk management and compliance, I would suggest Co Secy or CEO.Otherwise, if it has to be HR, it has to be straight into the Director. If your HR function doesn't have board representation, then don't go there,
John
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Rank: Forum user
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My personal thoughts are that you should report directly to the highest levels possible. I think you should sit alongside the directors, reporting to the managing director. not a position i am blessed with at present, but one i think is the eutopia.
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Rank: Guest
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...iniitally I would 'bang the ball back' and ask the same question of the most senior manager you have access to within your organisation and then make your decision accordingly. 'They' really should know the answer and if 'they' don't I would be concerned... if it is the latter maybe you can use this as an opportunity to further engage at the highest level and raise your profile further.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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In an ideal world you would have direct access to the responsible director. For functionality where I am though, for day to day routine I am 'managed' by the site general manager, however I have direct access to the H&S Responsible Director as and when required. Also to the group chair through a 'dotted line' route. My level is equated to department heads for 'bun fighting'.
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Rank: Forum user
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Within my organisation I report to the Operations manager who also manages SHE.
I work on the same level as the hygiene, shift and maintenance managers in order to advise them on how best to manage their departments.
If you are the sole H&S advisor I would say you should be on the same level at least as shift/site managers and reporting to director level. If you have any kind of enforcement duties, perhaps you should be placed above shift/site managers.
It best depends on what your role is and who would provide the best support to that.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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