Group SHEQ Manager in Darwen

The SHEQ Manager will take overall responsibility for leading and developing Safety, Health, Environment and Quality standards across the Flavour Warehouse Group, ensuring the business operates safely, meets its regulatory obligations and maintains high standards of product quality and operational compliance. The role will lead the Group's ISO management systems and certification requirements, oversee health and safety, environmental and quality compliance, and drive a culture of continuous improvement and accountability across the business. Working closely with operational teams and senior management, the SHEQ Manager will provide practical leadership, identify and manage risks, strengthen processes and ensure consistent standards are maintained across manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, retail and office operations. As the Group continues to grow, the role will also play a key part in assessing and integrating newly acquired businesses, harmonising SHEQ policies and procedures, and ensuring the Group has robust, effective and scalable systems in place to support its future development.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Act as the business lead and advisor on SHEQ, providing practical guidance and appropriate challenge to operational management.
• Implement, maintain and improve health & safety and quality management systems, including SOPs, risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Drive proactive risk prevention, including manual handling, workplace inspections, training and effective implementation of operational controls.
• Lead accident, incident and near-miss investigations, including RIDDOR reporting where required, identifying root causes and monitoring corrective and preventative actions.
• Oversee product quality and regulatory compliance, including applicable vaping product requirements, testing, certification, labelling, traceability, supplier quality, complaints and recalls.
• Oversee environmental compliance, including waste management, recycling obligations and practical environmental improvements.
• Act as Group lead for ISO compliance and certification, with overall responsibility for maintaining and improving relevant ISO management systems, leading certification and surveillance audits, managing certification body relationships and ensuring non-conformances and corrective actions are closed out.
• Lead and develop teams across compliance, laboratory, certification and H&S, with clear objectives and accountability.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, HR and Product teams, ensuring operational managers own and implement SHEQ standards.
• Support SHEQ reviews and integration of acquired businesses, identifying gaps and aligning Group policies, processes and reporting.
• Provide regular management reporting on incidents, audit findings, complaints, compliance risks, trends and progress on improvement actions.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• You’ll be confident, credible and comfortable operating in a regulated, hands-on environment.
• Proven experience in a senior SHEQ, H&S or compliance role, ideally in manufacturing, warehousing or distribution.
• Experience in FMCG or another regulated industry, such as food, pharma or chemicals.
• Strong practical knowledge of risk management, incident investigations, audits and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Experience leading teams and influencing operational managers across multiple functions or sites.
• NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent; NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent higher qualification desirable.
• Proven experience managing ISO management systems and leading certification and surveillance audits; familiarity with relevant standards such as ISO 9001, 14001.
• Experience of vaping product regulations, TPD/TRPR, CLP, HACCP and product certification desirable where relevant.
• Excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Visible, hands-on leadership: comfortable working across operational sites and challenging unsafe practices or poor standards.
• Accountability: takes ownership, follows issues through to resolution and ensures agreed actions are implemented.
• Commercial judgement: balances operational needs with safety, quality and legal requirements.
• Problem-solving: identifies root causes and delivers practical, sustainable improvements.
• Influencing and collaboration: communicates effectively with frontline colleagues, managers and senior leaders.
• Change management: supports business growth and embeds consistent standards across the Group.