QESH Adviser - Project in Salisbury

We are recruiting a QESH Advisor to support the delivery of a major bakery automation project at Nicholas & Harris. This is a high-profile, fixed-term position within the project team, providing Quality, Environment, Safety and Health (QESH) expertise across the full project lifecycle — from design and procurement through installation, commissioning, validation and handover.

Finsbury Food Group is a leading speciality bakery manufacturer. We constantly raise quality and efficiency standards, and build long-term relationships with major multiple retailers and the foodservice channel. Nicholas & Harris has over 180 years of heritage in craft baking methods.

Acting as the QESH integrator, you will work closely with engineering, operations, contractors, suppliers and assurance functions to ensure health & safety, food safety, quality and environmental standards are embedded from the earliest design stages through to successful handover. The focus of the role will evolve as the project progresses, with a strong SHE emphasis during construction and installation phases, transitioning towards food safety, quality and compliance as commissioning and first production approaches.

This is what you’ll actually do!

• As QESH Advisor, you’ll be a key member of the project team, providing Quality, Environment, Safety and Health (QESH) support across the full lifecycle of a major bakery automation project.
• During the construction and installation phases, you’ll take a strong lead on safety and contractor governance.
• You’ll coordinate and oversee contractor activities, ensure compliance with CDM requirements, and deploy safe systems of work including PUWER, risk assessments, SSOWs and SOPs.
• You’ll maintain clear control of the project area, managing access for employees, visitors and contractors, and you’ll confidently challenge unsafe behaviours or non-compliance, using stop-work authority where required.
• As the project progresses towards commissioning and start-up, your focus will increasingly shift to food safety, quality and compliance.
• You’ll coordinate and facilitate HACCP activities, support hygienic design reviews, and work closely with Technical and Compliance teams to ensure regulatory and customer standards are met.
• You’ll help ensure new equipment, processes and layouts are validated and fit for safe, compliant first production.
• You’ll also play a key role in training and capability building, organising and supporting project-specific training such as HACCP, LOTO, allergen management, sanitation and ATEX awareness for both operators and contractors.
• You’ll coordinate environmental activities linked to the project, including waste management and assessing the energy, water and waste impacts of new automation equipment.
• Working closely with engineering, operations, suppliers, Technical, Quality, Site Excellence and leadership teams, you’ll act as the QESH integrator—balancing governance and assurance with the practical realities of delivering a live project to time and plan.

Your success will be measured by safe and compliant project delivery, including zero RIDDOR or food safety incidents, 100% completion of FAT/SAT with QESH approval, full training completion, and a successful transition to first production meeting all QESH requirements.

Ideally this is you!

• Experienced QESH professional, comfortable working in fast-paced, live project environments.
• NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent) and HACCP Level 3+.
• Strong knowledge of BRCGS, ISO standards, DSEAR / ATEX and food manufacturing requirements.
• Solid understanding of health & safety legislation, COSHH, HACCP, TACCP and GMP.
• Experience within FMCG / food manufacturing (bakery experience desirable).
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• Well organised, resilient and able to deliver at pace.
• Collaborative, pragmatic and solution-focused.

What’s in it for you?

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
• Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees.
• Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families).
• Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
• Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – T&C’s dependent).
• Employee Recognition Awards.
• Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in-house development course!).
• An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation.

Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK, and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals.

If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!