Head of Health, Safety & Environment

Salary: Competitive
Benefits: Bonus + Health package + Product Discount

A major UK food manufacturing organisation is seeking an exceptional Head of Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) to lead its HSE strategy and support its transition into a new state‑of‑the‑art facility. This is a senior leadership role with significant influence, strategic scope and the opportunity to shape the future HSE landscape of a rapidly growing business, however, is very much a hands on role until the business reach its ambitious goals.

The Opportunity

The Head of HSE will provide strategic leadership, governance oversight and expert guidance across all health, safety and environmental matters. You will lead the development and implementation of the HSE strategy, ensure full compliance with UK legislation and industry standards, and embed a proactive, prevention‑led safety culture across all sites. A major focus of this role will be leading the HSE programme for the new facility, ensuring safe design, commissioning, environmental compliance and operational readiness.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the enterprise-wide HSE strategy, policy framework and management systems (HACCP, BRCGS, ISO 45001, ISO 14001).
• Ensure full compliance with UK legislation, regulatory requirements, insurance standards and customer audits.
• Oversee risk management, strategic risk registers, audit programmes and major incident prevention.
• Serve as the primary HSE representative with regulators, auditors, insurers, fire authorities and environmental bodies.
• Drive a high‑performing safety culture across leadership and operational teams.
• Provide authoritative HSE advice to the Executive Team and Senior Leadership.
• Lead all HSE aspects of the new facility
• Own the HSE budget, resource planning and strategic investment in HSE capability.
• Drive environmental sustainability initiatives across energy, carbon, waste, emissions and ESG commitments.
• Provide leadership in crisis management, emergency response and business continuity planning.

Essential Skills & Experience

• NEBOSH Diploma (mandatory). IEMA Diploma or equivalent environmental qualification would be great, but don't worry if not.
• Chartered IOSH (CMIOSH) or ability to achieve within 12 months.
• Senior HSE leadership experience within large-scale food manufacturing or a similar high‑risk environment, with ability to deliver organisation-wide HSE strategy.
• Strong stakeholder influence and ability to challenge at senior levels.
• Experience leading HSE aspects of major projects (e.g., new builds, capital expansions).
• Strong knowledge of BRCGS, HACCP, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply via the link, or please email me, via lawrence@morepeople.co.uk and we can arrange an initial confidential chat.