QHSE Manager in Slough

Acorn Engineering is seeking a QHSE Manager to support the sustainable growth of the Acorn business, enabling excellent operational delivery through the support and implementation of Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental (QHSE) programmes, in line with group strategic requirements. The role is an active member of the management team and provides focussed support to operational teams for specific activity, such as mobilisations, bids or improvement programmes, across both maintenance contracts and small works.

The QHSE Manager is directly responsible for developing, implementing, enhancing and maintaining the organisation’s QHSE management systems, and for ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory and company requirements while promoting a strong QHSE culture across all operations. The role owns QHSE assurance across reactive and planned maintenance, statutory compliance activity, and small works delivered under CDM 2015.

Location: Slough, Berkshire

Salary: up to 60k - 65K depending on experience

Hours: 40 hours a week - Monday to Friday

Company Benefits:

• Life Assurance
• 360 Wellbeing App - 24/7 access to GP appointments
• Death in Service Insurance
• Scottish widow pension
• Fertility Treatment Support Leave
• Paid Maternity Leave
• Paid Paternity Leave
• Gym & fitness discounts and other lifestyle discounts
• Employee Recognition Scheme
• Salary sacrifice scheme

Responsibilities:

• Strategy, Reporting and Business Support: Support the Managing Director in the development and implementation of the QHSE strategy, in line with group requirements. Proactively participate in audit and assurance programmes. Support and develop QHSE training requirements. Build and foster relationships with client QHSE contacts. Monitor and review QHSE performance, in line with the QHSE strategy and broader requirements. Develop appropriate performance reports for Acorn, in line with the requirements and cadence of the wider business group. Support the achievement of legal compliance, good industry practice, business competitiveness and the development of a learning organisation. Support new business activity, e.g. through participation in bids and responses to relevant elements of RFPs/RFIs. Proactively participate in Group QHSE Function activity, including periodic reviews of templates, tools, policies and procedures. Partner with other SMEs (e.g. Technical, Transition and Procurement) to achieve wider objectives. Represent Acorn at both internal and external industry events. Adhere to Company and externally relevant health and safety laws and policies. Undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be determined by the Company.
• Quality Management: Develop, implement and maintain management systems and protocols in line with ISO 9001 or equivalent standards. Ensure services delivered meet customer and regulatory requirements. Conduct internal audits and manage corrective and preventive actions.
• Health and Safety: Establish and enforce occupational health and safety policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with UK health and safety legislation and international standards (e.g. ISO 45001). Conduct risk assessments, hazard identification and safety inspections. Investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, and implement preventive measures. Organise safety training, toolbox talks and emergency drills. Develop and maintain the environmental management system (EMS) in line with ISO 14001. Monitor environmental performance, waste management, emissions and resource usage. Ensure compliance with environmental legislation and permits. Promote environmental awareness and sustainability initiatives.
• Compliance and Reporting: Ensure compliance with all applicable legal, regulatory and customer requirements. Prepare and submit QHSE reports, KPIs and management review documentation. Liaise with regulatory authorities, certification bodies and external auditors. Manage QHSE documentation, records and procedures.
• Leadership and Culture: Promote a positive QHSE culture across the organisation. Provide guidance and coaching to managers, supervisors and employees. Lead QHSE meetings and participate in management reviews. Support contractor and supplier QHSE evaluations and audits. Support the development and implementation of effective measurement systems to accurately monitor health and safety performance. Promote company values in all dealings with employees, clients, sub-contractors and external contacts.
• Accreditation Management: Manage the annual renewal process for all company accreditations. Track and manage all items related to company accreditations. Actively pursue and obtain new accreditations as required to support business growth and compliance.

What We Are Looking For: We are seeking an experienced QHSE professional with the credibility to influence at management level and the practical experience to work alongside engineers and supervisors on site. The successful candidate will combine a sound understanding of quality, health, safety and environmental compliance with the commercial awareness to support bids, mobilisations and improvement programmes. They will be a self-starter, comfortable working across multiple locations, and able to balance assurance and audit activity with hands-on support to operational teams delivering maintenance and small works.

Personal Background and Interpersonal Skills:

• Formal qualification in occupational health and safety management ('Level 3' or higher)
• Membership of the IIRSM or IOSH at 'Specialist' level or higher
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Managerial experience in health, safety, quality and environmental management, with a track record of managing adverse events
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; numerate with a high degree of computer literacy
• Excellent motivational and influencing skills, able to contribute effectively and on equal terms across all business activities
• Politically astute, with a sound understanding of current issues
• Confident self-starter, able to prioritise and work across a range of activities within a high-pressure environment
• Willing to travel widely across the UK, support new business development and participate in training and strategic reviews, including occasional overnight stays (typically 1–2 nights at a time)
• NEBOSH qualification accompanied by IOSH, ISO Lead Auditor or equivalent
• Minimum experience: the sister JD requires a minimum of five years in a QHSE or HSE management role.
• Standards knowledge: working knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, and applicable regulations
• Competencies: strong leadership, excellent analytical and problem-solving ability, ability to influence and engage at all levels, strong organisational and reporting skills, and high attention to detail with a compliance mindset
• Full UK driving licence
• Experience within building services maintenance, FM or M&E contracting, including small works or projects
• Internal auditor training for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and/or ISO 45001
• Formal management qualifications in environmental or safety management system auditing
• Formal qualifications in engineering disciplines, i.e. electrical or electronic engineering, and/or FM
• Membership of relevant environmental and/or quality industry professional bodies
• Working knowledge of varying business sectors
• Managerial experience within other functional disciplines
• Familiarity with CAFM or compliance tracking systems
• Progression towards Chartered Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) or NEBOSH Diploma
• Experience of ISO certification transitions or new accreditation application