At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a proactive safety and environmental culture at our Devizes site.
- Company: Join DS Smith, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension scheme, 25 days holiday, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and sustainability.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on safety and sustainability while driving positive change.
- Qualifications: Experience in Health & Safety, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 47250 - 57750 £ per year.
Launceston (with occasional travel to Newport, Wales)
At DS Smith, safety and sustainability are fundamental to how we operate. We are committed to maintaining a zero-accident culture while protecting our people, our environment, and our communities. As HSER Manager at our Devizes site, you will play a critical leadership role in embedding a proactive safety and environmental culture that supports operational excellence.
You will lead and develop the site’s Health, Safety, Environmental and Risk (HSER) function, ensuring robust systems, processes, and behaviours are in place to meet legislative requirements, customer expectations, and internationally recognised management standards (ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001). Through your expertise and influence, you will position HSER at the forefront of decision-making and daily operations.
Working closely with the site leadership team, you will develop and deliver the annual HSER plan, setting measurable objectives and driving continuous improvement. You will act as the management representative for HSER systems, maintaining compliance and serving as the key liaison with regulators and insurers. Beyond the site, you will contribute to the wider central HSER network, helping shape strategy, policy, and best practice across the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Champion a strong safety and environmental culture where employees are engaged, accountable, and actively involved
- Build trusted relationships across all levels of the organisation to coach and influence safe behaviours
- Support the leadership team in developing and delivering the annual HSER improvement plan
- Deliver HSER training and develop organisational competence in roles and responsibilities
- Monitor, analyse, and report HSER performance metrics to drive informed decision-making
- Act as Management Representative for HSER systems, ensuring effectiveness and compliance
- Manage internal and external audit programmes and coordinate improvement actions
- Lead technical risk assessments including PUWER and COSHH compliance
- Serve as the primary HSER contact for external stakeholders, including regulators and insurers
We are looking for a confident HSER professional with strong leadership capability, a strategic mindset, and the ability to influence positive change. You will be passionate about developing a culture where safety and environmental responsibility are embedded in everything we do.
What we would like our candidate to have
- Experienced in delivering a Health & Safety culture across a large business
- Experience with CDM
- Excellent persuasion skills, with the ability to communicate at all levels
- Leadership characteristics, and the ability to drive change in challenging environments
- An understanding of ISO standards, eg: 14001 / ISO 5001 / ISO 45001
- Experience providing hands-on training
- Experience in Management Systems
- Excellent presentation skills
- Strong numerical & verbal skills, and experience in handling information
- Fully IT literate
- The ability to travel to other sites when needed
What we can offer you
- Competitive salary
- Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
- Pension scheme & Life insurance
- Share Save scheme
- Income Protection
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
- Cycle to Work and shopping discounts
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.
HSER Manager (12-month FTC) employer: DS Smith
At DS Smith, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture. Our Global Governance Assistant Secretary role offers not only competitive benefits but also ample opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic international environment. Join us in our commitment to sustainability and innovation, where your contributions will make a meaningful impact across our global operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HSER Manager (12-month FTC)
✨Dive into Industry Groups
Join compliance and risk management groups on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. These communities often share temp job postings and insights. You’d be surprised at how many temporary gigs float around through word of mouth!
✨Showcase Your Expertise
Consider creating content on compliance topics that get you noticed—think LinkedIn articles or even a blog. This not only shows off your knowledge but can grab the attention of companies like DS Smith when they’re searching for someone to fill a temporary position.
✨Tap into Recruitment Agencies
Reach out to recruitment agencies that specialise in compliance and risk roles. They’re usually in touch with companies looking to fill temporary roles, which can save us a lot of time in our job search.
✨Go Local with Networking
Attend local compliance and risk seminars or workshops. Meeting professionals in our area can open up temp opportunities, and it’s a great way to make your face known in the industry—plus, you might even meet someone from DS Smith!
We think you need these skills to ace HSER Manager (12-month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Compliance Know-How:When you’re applying for a compliance-risk role like HSER Manager (12-month FTC), make sure to highlight your understanding of industry regulations and risk management principles. Mention any relevant coursework, certifications, or projects that showcase your expertise in these areas—it's what sets you apart!
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the compliance-risk field, strong analytical skills are essential. Talk about your experiences that required critical thinking and data analysis, whether in past roles, internships, or academic projects. Show us how you've identified risks and implemented solutions in the past.
Tailor Your CV for the Temporary Role:Since this is a temporary role, focus on your availability and flexibility in your CV. Highlight any previous short-term roles or projects that demonstrate your ability to adapt quickly and deliver results in a fast-paced environment. This helps employers see you as an easy fit in their team!
A Concise Cover Letter is Key:Keep your cover letter short and focused! Explain why you're interested in the compliance-risk area specifically for this temporary position at DS Smith. Mention what you hope to learn and achieve, showing your enthusiasm and motivation to contribute positively during your time there.
How to prepare for a job interview at DS Smith
✨Know Your Compliance Basics
Make sure you're clued up on the key compliance and risk regulations pertinent to the industry you're applying to. Understanding frameworks like GDPR or AML will not only impress but also show that you’re ready to hit the ground running in your temporary role at DS Smith.
✨Prepare for Scenarios
Expect scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving skills. They might ask how you'd handle a specific compliance issue. Think through real situations you’ve encountered in past roles or study hypothetical cases to showcase your analytical skills and practical judgement during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to adapt quickly to new environments and team dynamics. Share examples of how you’ve successfully adjusted to changes in past roles and how this flexibility can benefit DS Smith in the short term.
✨Gather Your Technical Tools
Familiarise yourself with commonly used compliance tools or software, as they might come up in the interview. If you've used tools for risk assessments or compliance tracking, mention those and be ready to discuss how they can streamline processes at DS Smith.
