Head of Health and Safety, Fire in Manchester

The roleWe’re looking for a Head of Health and Safety to join our Supply Chain team!You will establish, lead and continuously improve N Brown Group’s UK health and safety management system and culture across all sites and functions, with a strong operational focus on warehousing and mechanical/material handling equipment safety. The role ensures legal compliance, protects colleagues and third parties from harm, and enables safe, efficient business delivery.This is a strategic leadership position accountable for Health & Safety governance, performance, assurance and cultural change, working closely with operational leaders and senior governance forums.What will you do as Head of Health and Safety at N Brown?Strategy, Governance and Leadership Develop and deliver the UK Health & Safety strategy and annual plan aligned to business priorities and ISO 45001 principles.Provide insight-led reporting to senior forums, including Audit & Risk, covering performance, trends, emerging risks and corrective action progress.2) Operational Risk Management and Assurance Own and oversee effective risk assessment governance (including RAMS) and safe systems of work across all UK operations.Lead incident, near-miss and accident management, including investigation standards, root cause analysis and corrective action closure.Set and maintain audit/inspection expectations and ensure actions are prioritised, owned, tracked and closed.3) Warehouse Safety and MHE/FLT Safety (Core Operational Focus) Set and enforce standards for MHE/FLT selection, operation, maintenance, inspection and competence management in line with UK requirements (e.g. Ensure training and competence frameworks are in place for employees, contractors and agency colleagues operating MHE/FLT.Drive warehouse safety KPIs (leading/lagging) and continuous improvement plans in partnership with operational leadership.4) Fire Safety Management Lead the UK approach to fire safety management and compliance, including fire risk assessments, emergency arrangements and assurance.Partner with Facilities/Property and site leaders to manage fire risk during building works, projects and contractor activity.5) Data, Reporting and Systems Define and maintain a clear KPI/KRI framework with consistent definitions, governance thresholds and trend reporting.Ensure Health & Safety records and data are accurate, controlled and accessible; support continued development of Health & Safety systems and reporting capability.6) Regulatory Compliance and External Stakeholder Management Maintain oversight of compliance with relevant UK health and safety and fire safety legislation and guidance (including RIDDOR reporting where applicable).Lead relationships with regulators and external bodies as required (HSE, Local Authority, Fire Authority), including incident reporting and follow-up.7) Culture, Engagement and Capability Building Act as the face of H&S for the organisation, confidence in driving a culture of safety performance, understanding and shared responsibility across the organisation.Coach and influence leaders across the organisation, building ownership for safety at every level.8) Budget and Resource Planning Manage the UK Health & Safety budget and resource plan, including training and safety-critical programmes.Qualifications * NEBOSH General Certificate (minimum) or higher / degree-level Health & Safety qualification.* Fire safety qualification (e.g. NEBOSH/IOSH Fire Safety) desirable.Experience * Significant Health & Safety leadership experience in complex UK operational environments (multi-site preferred), warehousing/logistics/distribution essential.* Strong working knowledge of warehouse hazards and MHE/FLT safety, including competence management, assurance and maintenance governance.* Proven track record of developing and embedding management systems, risk assessment governance and measurable safety improvement.* Confident presenting to senior stakeholders (Executive/Board/Audit & Risk), using data to drive prioritisation and decision-making.* Experience implementing or improving Health & Safety systems/tools (e.g. Hybrid working (3 days in the office at a minimum)24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays)Annual bonus schemeEnhanced maternity and adoption leaveCompany pension with up to 8% N Brown contributionMental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling servicesA range of financial wellbeing supportStream - a financial wellbeing tool that helps you track your pay, access earnings early and manage your money with confidenceColleague discount across all N Brown brandsOnsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!Life Assurance and Private Medical InsurancePaid volunteer time - all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choiceN Brown - who we are and why work for us? N Brown is a leading UK digital retail platform for clothing, footwear, home and technology, headquartered in Manchester and employing over 1,000 people nationwide. Through our strategic retail brands JD Williams, Jacamo and Simply Be and our unique payments offering, we exist to champion inclusivity and serve the underserved. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by ‘By championing inclusion, N Brown will become the UK’s most loved and trusted consumer platform, shaping the future of financial empowerment and personal expression’. ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.Ways of WorkingWe offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you’re in. This role will be based in our Logistics site in Shaw but you will also travel to our Head Office in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre.We are therefore looking for individuals who are open to learning, testing, and responsibly adopting AI tools to improve efficiency, insight, and impact in their role.We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.We always aim to come back to you as soon as possible with an update and we really appreciate you taking the time to apply for a role with us.