Head of Health & Safety in Stretford

Halecroft Recruitment is delighted to recruit a Head of Health & Safety to join a growing UK-wide organisation with multiple operational sites.

This is a high-profile leadership opportunity for an experienced Health & Safety professional to own the Group H&S agenda and drive consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the business.

Based in Trafford Park, the role involves regular travel to sites across the UK and will play a pivotal role in developing a unified, proactive, safety-first culture.

Reporting to the Head of Operations and working closely with Site Managers and senior stakeholders, you will provide strategic leadership for Health & Safety across the Group, combining strategic vision with hands-on operational delivery.

You will develop and implement a cohesive H&S strategy, ensure legislative compliance, strengthen systems and processes, and support sites in achieving consistently high standards.

This is an ideal opportunity for a confident senior H&S professional who enjoys influencing at all levels, challenging constructively, and making a tangible difference within a growing and changing organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and deliver a Group Health & Safety strategy aligned with wider business objectives.
• Provide expert advice to senior leadership on legislation, risk, and strategic H&S opportunities.
• Act as a visible champion for behavioural safety throughout the organisation.
• Influence and support Site Managers and key stakeholders to improve H&S accountability.

Systems & Compliance

• Lead the centralisation and standardisation of H&S systems across multiple sites.
• Ensure compliance with UK H&S legislation and internal policies.
• Ensure robust risk assessments and appropriate control measures are implemented and maintained.
• Drive continuous improvement and share best practice across the Group.

Incident Management & Claims

• Oversee the investigation of serious incidents and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented.
• Identify trends and ensure learning is communicated across the business.
• Manage relationships with insurance brokers and claims handlers in relation to Employers' Liability claims.

Training, Auditing & Reporting

• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure appropriate H&S training and occupational health provision.
• Lead the internal H&S audit programme across all sites.
• Develop and report key H&S KPIs to senior leadership.
• Identify and elevate significant risks where required.

Engagement & Culture

• Lead Group-wide H&S campaigns and monthly engagement initiatives.
• Develop and embed a consistent H&S identity and safety culture across the business.
• Mentor and support duty holders and responsible persons, helping to develop capability and accountability.

About You

We are looking for an energetic, collaborative, and commercially minded Health & Safety leader who can operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels. You will have excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence, challenge and build strong relationships across all levels of an organisation. Ideally, you will have experience in a manufacturing, distribution, or similar operational environment, including supporting multiple sites.

Skills & Experience

• NEBOSH qualification or equivalent.
• Degree qualified.
• Proven experience in a senior Health & Safety leadership position, ideally within a multi-site environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK HSE legislation and Health & Safety best practice.
• Experience managing liability claims and relationships with insurers/brokers.
• Demonstrable experience developing and embedding H&S systems and processes.
• Strong auditing, risk management, and compliance experience.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Strong data analysis, KPI and reporting capability.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the UK.
• Environmental qualification or combined HSE experience would be advantageous.
• Experience within manufacturing, distribution or another operational environment is desirable.
• Experience working within organisations experiencing growth, transformation or change would be highly beneficial.

What's on Offer?

• £65,000 – £80,000 salary + bonus
• Pension and life assurance.
• 24 days' holiday + 1 day for your birthday + 8 bank holidays.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• A senior leadership role with genuine influence across a growing UK business.
• The opportunity to develop and shape Group-wide Health & Safety strategy and culture.
• A varied role combining strategic leadership with operational impact.

We will only consider candidates with the right to work in the UK for this role.