HSE Lead in Bridgwater

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Lead HSE Manager to join a major engineering and infrastructure project operating within the UK nuclear sector. This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving health, safety, environmental and quality excellence across a large-scale, highly regulated project environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping HSEQ strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance, promoting a positive safety culture and leading a team of HSE professionals to support safe and efficient project delivery.

The Role

As Lead HSE Manager, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all HSEQ activities across the project. Working closely with senior stakeholders, clients and delivery teams, you will ensure that the highest standards of safety, quality and compliance are maintained throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of HSE strategies, policies, programmes and initiatives aligned to business and project objectives.
• Ensure HSEQ systems, standards and behaviours remain compliant with regulatory, client and corporate requirements.
• Develop and oversee audit programmes, management plans and assurance activities to ensure safe and quality-driven project delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation across all aspects of HSEQ performance.
• Champion a strong safety culture through engagement, coaching and visible leadership.
• Lead the development and deployment of quality management systems, H&S procedures and best practice initiatives.
• Promote positive health, safety and quality behaviours across all levels of the organisation.
• Act as the primary HSEQ representative with clients, regulators and key stakeholders.
• Provide technical expertise and assurance on all HSEQ matters.
• Influence and engage senior leadership teams to embed a culture of health, safety, environmental responsibility and quality excellence.
• Develop and enhance the HSE function to meet current and future business requirements.
• Recruit, lead, coach and develop HSEQ personnel, ensuring high levels of performance and succession planning.
• Build strong working relationships across operational, commercial and project teams to support successful project delivery.

Essential Experience

• Significant senior-level HSEQ leadership experience within a high-hazard, highly regulated industrial environment.
• Experience working within sectors such as nuclear, energy, chemicals, petrochemicals, oil & gas, utilities, pharmaceutical manufacturing or other major infrastructure projects.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable HSEQ improvements and driving cultural change.
• Strong experience managing and developing Health, Safety and Quality teams.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence and engage employees, clients and senior leadership teams.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified or equivalent relevant experience.
• IOSH Diploma (or equivalent).
• Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH).
• Lead Auditor qualification (ISO standards or equivalent).
• CCNSG Safety Passport (or willingness to obtain).

What's on Offer?

• Opportunity to work on one of the UK's most significant infrastructure and engineering programmes.
• Strategic leadership role with significant influence across the project.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Long-term career development within a growing and highly respected engineering environment.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and be eligible to obtain any required security clearance or site access approvals associated with working in a regulated industry environment.