At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead health and safety initiatives across all itsu locations, ensuring compliance and a positive safety culture.
- Company: Join a leading Asian-inspired quick-service brand with over 80 restaurants in Europe.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous time off, free meals, and a range of wellbeing benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with exciting career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on safety standards in a fast-growing, innovative food brand.
- Qualifications: Experience in safety management, preferably in multi-site QSR or hospitality environments.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Company Overview
We are the leading Asian‑inspired quick‑service retail and grocery brand with over 80 restaurants across the UK, Belgium, and a growing wholesale business across Europe and beyond. Our renowned delicious food made fresh in every restaurant, every day, has made itsu a top choice for healthy eating. In addition to our restaurants, itsu [grocery] offers a range of high‑quality Asian‑inspired foods available online and in supermarkets. We are excited to be one of the leading brands in this specific group and have ambitious plans for continued growth both domestically and globally. With its best‑in‑class food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.
Job Description
The Senior Safety Manager will lead all aspects of health and safety, food safety and fire safety across all levels of itsu within shops and academy. Partnering with all departments, they will build, implement and maintain a safety management system that complies with safety standards and legislation while also driving a positive safety culture of best practice ensuring itsu remains a leader of safety in the industry. They will support the Head of Safety in all matters of compliance and will be required to have an excellent understanding of safety standards and legislation. Providing a safe, clean + legally compliant environment for everyone in our shops and ensuring the brand is protected through the delivery and monitoring of high standards.
Responsibilities
- Hold overall accountability for Health & Safety, Food Safety, and Fire Safety across the business, ensuring full legal compliance.
- Act as the technical subject matter expert and guardian of standards, policies, and procedures, driving consistent review, improvement, and implementation.
- Lead and monitor strategic safety programmes (e.g., First Aid, Fire Marshals, Safety Legends), setting clear compliance standards across the estate.
- Oversee internal audits, shop visits, and the “safe, clean and legal” programme, creating SMART action plans and tracking statutory compliance reporting.
- Manage incident and accident reporting, investigations, trend analysis, RIDDOR submissions, and the online safety portal, ensuring timely resolution and continuous improvement.
- Monitor existing and emerging legislation, liaise with Primary Authority and Environmental Health Officers, and ensure assured advice is embedded into business practices.
- Partner cross‑functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Construction, Customer Services, partnership teams, and senior leadership (including board reporting) to maintain safe, legally compliant shops and strong stakeholder relationships.
Qualifications
- Level 4 food safety qualification holder is desirable.
- Desirable NEBOSH National General Certificate.
- Experience liaising with local authority enforcement officers.
- Strong experience of designing, delivering and managing cross‑departmental projects.
- Highly conscientious and diligent.
- Experience in safety within a multi‑site QSR or hospitality environment.
Perks & Benefits
- A competitive salary.
- Flexible working, including 1 day a week from home, and up to 2 weeks a year working from abroad.
- Generous time off allowances [including bank holidays].
- Free breakfast and snacks available every day.
- A free itsu lunch whenever you are in the office and 50% off in all stores, for when you are not.
- We cover a variety of different benefits such as physical, mental, financial, environmental and social wellbeing.
- An array of business events and socials throughout the year.
Senior Safety Manager employer: itsu
itsu [grocery] is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its employees, offering a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, it fosters a vibrant work culture where innovation thrives, and employees are encouraged to grow through substantial training budgets and opportunities for international collaboration. Located in a dynamic environment, this role not only allows you to make a meaningful impact on food safety and quality but also offers unique perks like employee discounts and the chance to work from home abroad.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Safety Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at itsu. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching itsu’s safety culture and recent initiatives. Show us you’re genuinely interested in how we operate and how you can contribute to our mission of maintaining high safety standards.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, especially those related to health and safety. We want to see your expertise shine through, so be ready to discuss your experience and how it aligns with our goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on being part of the itsu family right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Safety Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Safety:When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for health and safety! Share specific examples of how you've implemented safety measures in previous roles. This will help us understand your commitment to creating a safe environment.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Safety Manager role. Highlight relevant experience and qualifications that align with our job description. We want to see how your skills can contribute to our safety culture!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to your experience and achievements in safety management.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about itsu and what we stand for.
How to prepare for a job interview at itsu
✨Know Your Safety Standards
Make sure you brush up on the latest health and safety regulations relevant to the food industry. Being able to discuss specific legislation and how it applies to itsu will show that you're not just familiar with the basics, but that you’re ready to lead the charge in maintaining compliance.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Departmental Experience
Prepare examples of past projects where you've successfully collaborated with different departments. Highlighting your ability to partner with operations, maintenance, and customer services will demonstrate that you can effectively drive a positive safety culture across the business.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to be asked how you would handle specific safety incidents or compliance challenges. Think through potential scenarios and prepare your responses, focusing on your problem-solving skills and how you would implement action plans to ensure safety standards are met.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Discuss your approach to monitoring and improving safety practices. Share any experiences where you've led audits or implemented new safety programmes, as this will show your commitment to not just maintaining standards, but also enhancing them for the future.
