Safety & Operations Manager in Crawley

A well-established manufacturing and supply chain solutions business is seeking an experienced SHEQ Manager to lead Quality, Safety, Health and Environmental performance across its UK and European operations. This is a senior leadership role combining strategic improvement, compliance management, people leadership, and operational excellence.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the Integrated Management System (IMS), oversee quality and SHEQ compliance across multiple sites, and drive a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational performance. This opportunity is suited to an individual who can balance hands-on management with strategic business improvement initiatives.

Job Overview

• Lead and develop the company's SHEQ strategy, aligning performance with business objectives and customer expectations
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across quality, safety, environmental and operational performance
• Act as the senior point of contact for SHEQ matters with customers, suppliers and regulatory bodies
• Manage and develop Quality Engineers, providing coaching, support and performance management
• Promote a positive quality and safety culture through strong leadership and engagement
• Identify business training requirements and oversee delivery of SHEQ-related training programmes
• Own, maintain and continuously improve the Integrated Management System (IMS)
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 22301 and other applicable standards
• Lead internal audit programmes, management reviews, corrective actions and certification activities
• Prepare and present management review reports to senior leadership teams
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental legislation across multiple sites
• Oversee risk assessments, COSHH assessments and safe systems of work
• Monitor legal compliance registers and ensure ongoing regulatory compliance
• Provide leadership on product, process and manufacturing quality activities
• Manage non-conformance processes, root cause investigations and corrective actions
• Analyse quality metrics and KPIs to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Support implementation of quality control plans, inspection processes and manufacturing controls
• Manage supplier quality performance, audits and development activities
• Lead customer quality investigations, complaints management and resolution activities
• Conduct risk assessments and support business continuity planning activities
• Work collaboratively with operations, engineering, procurement and commercial teams to drive performance improvements
• Support business growth through robust SHEQ governance and operational excellence

Requirements

• Proven experience in a senior Quality or SHEQ Management position within a manufacturing or engineering environment
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22301 standards
• Experience leading audits, management reviews and customer/regulatory interactions
• Strong understanding of quality management systems and compliance requirements
• Knowledge of health, safety and environmental legislation within manufacturing environments
• Experience implementing continuous improvement initiatives and driving operational change
• Strong leadership and people management skills with experience developing technical teams
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and root cause analysis abilities
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational involvement
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• NEBOSH NGC and/or IEMA qualifications advantageous
• Knowledge of Czech or wider European regulatory requirements would be beneficial
• Willingness to travel between UK and European sites as required

Salary & Benefits

• Full-time permanent position
• Hybrid working options may be considered depending on business requirements
• Travel between UK and European facilities required
• Competitive salary dependent on experience likely Circa £50k
• Opportunity to join a well-established and growing international business
• Senior leadership position with significant influence on operational performance and business improvement
• Opportunity to shape quality, safety and environmental culture across multiple sites
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities
• Collaborative and supportive working environment