At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead health and safety initiatives, ensuring a safe work environment across multiple sites.
- Company: Join Panda, a leading resource recovery business focused on sustainability and safety.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a supportive team culture.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth in a forward-thinking company committed to innovation and excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in safety while working with passionate teams in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in health and safety, strong data analysis skills, and confidence in stakeholder engagement.
At Panda, we value waste. That means finding smarter, safer and more sustainable ways to recover value from materials, protect our people, and keep essential operations running safely and efficiently. We are looking for an experienced H&S Lead to join our Safety, Health, Environment and Quality team. This is a specialist role focused on some of our key critical risk areas, including fleet safety, traffic management, contractor management and work at height.
As H&S Lead, you will act as a subject matter expert across the business, providing technical guidance, using data to identify risk trends, supporting operational teams and helping Panda stay ahead of safety, regulatory and industry expectations. This is a visible, operational role where you will work closely with sites, leaders and SHEQ colleagues to strengthen safety standards, improve controls and support a proactive safety culture.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Act as Panda’s technical lead for fleet safety, traffic management, contractor management and work at height.
- Develop, maintain and improve safety standards, procedures and practical guidance across specialist areas.
- Provide expert advice and support to operational teams, engineering teams and project functions.
- Lead specialist risk reviews, audits and assurance activity across sites.
- Keep up to date with emerging risks, legislation, technology and best practice across the recycling and waste sector.
- Represent Panda through industry conferences, workshops and specialist forums, bringing learning back into the business.
- Own and analyse specialist safety data to identify trends, themes and improvement opportunities.
- Produce dashboards, reports and insight papers to support decision-making.
- Present safety performance, risk themes and recommendations to senior leadership and board-level forums.
- Lead or support investigations relating to incidents, near misses and high-potential events.
- Share learning across the business and help embed improvements into standards, controls and ways of working.
- Carry out regular site visits to provide visible support, coaching and practical guidance.
- Work closely with H&S Business Partners and operational leaders to build frontline safety capability.
About You
We are looking for someone who brings strong technical health and safety expertise, but who can also work practically with operational teams. You will be confident using data, comfortable influencing senior stakeholders and able to turn technical requirements into workable site-level solutions. You will bring:
- Significant experience in a health and safety role within an industrial, recycling, manufacturing, engineering or similar operational environment.
- Strong knowledge of specialist risk areas such as fleet safety, traffic management, contractor management and work at height.
- Experience leading or supporting incident investigations and identifying root causes.
- Experience analysing safety data and producing clear management-level reporting.
- Strong understanding of relevant legislation, standards and industry best practice.
- Confidence presenting information, risk themes and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- The ability to challenge constructively, influence decisions and build trusted working relationships.
- A visible, hands-on approach with credibility across operational environments.
- NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent, or working towards this.
- IOSH membership or membership of an equivalent professional body.
It Would Be Great If You Also Have
- Formal training or qualifications in fleet safety, traffic management, contractor management or work at height.
- Experience developing organisational safety standards, procedures or technical guidance.
- Experience presenting to executive or board-level audiences.
- Chartered IOSH status, or working towards this.
What We’re Looking For
The right H&S Lead will be forward-thinking, practical and confident working across multiple sites and stakeholder groups. You will be someone who takes ownership, spots risk early and helps turn safety insight into meaningful action. You will be:
- Visible and approachable across sites.
- Confident in coaching, supporting and challenging operational teams.
- Data-led, with the ability to identify themes and drive improvement.
- Proactive, curious and committed to continuous improvement.
- Collaborative, working with others to find practical safety solutions.
- Focused on learning, prevention and building long-term safety capability.
This H&S Lead role is a great opportunity for someone who wants to take ownership of specialist safety risk areas and make a real impact across a fast-paced, operational business.
About The Company
We are Panda. We value waste. We’re in the business of waste management but that doesn’t just mean collecting bins. Behind every collection is a passionate team of people finding smarter, safer, and more sustainable ways to recycle and repurpose materials that would otherwise go to waste. Over the past 30 years, Panda has grown into a leading resource recovery business, bringing together almost 3,000 people across multiple brands, united by a shared vision and strong values. While our operations are diverse, our purpose is clear: to protect our people, support our customers, and create positive impact for the communities and environments we serve.
At Panda, people are at the heart of everything we do. We work as one team, combining different skills, experiences, and perspectives to achieve shared goals. We care for each other’s wellbeing, encourage development, and support growth because we know we’re stronger together. We expect excellence in how we operate. High standards, bold thinking, and continuous improvement drive our passion for innovation. We challenge the ordinary, put safety first, and embrace new ideas while delivering practical, cost-effective solutions that move our business forward. We own what we do. From day-to-day tasks to major projects, we take pride in our work and responsibility for the outcome. We don’t walk past problems we address them together. Our expertise, reliability, and care reflect who we are and the difference we make. And above all, we act with trust and integrity. Trust is built through open communication, honesty, and accountability. It allows us to move quickly, make confident decisions, and deliver results — knowing our people are empowered to do the right thing. Our journey depends on talented, committed people who want to make an impact. Take the first step and join us on the journey.
Panda is committed to attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate and the people we serve.
Health and Safety Lead (Collections) employer: Panda
At Panda, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises safety, innovation, and employee development. As a Health and Safety Lead, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact across our operations while benefiting from a supportive environment that encourages collaboration and continuous improvement. With a commitment to your professional growth and a focus on creating a positive impact in the communities we serve, joining our team means being part of a forward-thinking organisation that values its people and their contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Health and Safety Lead (Collections)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in fleet safety and contractor management. Use real examples to demonstrate how you've tackled challenges in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a job that fits your skills, apply through our website. Don’t wait for the perfect moment; take the initiative to showcase your passion for health and safety and how you can contribute to Panda’s mission.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your data analysis skills. Be ready to discuss how you’ve used data to identify trends and improve safety standards. This will show that you’re not just knowledgeable but also data-driven, which is key for the H&S Lead role.
We think you need these skills to ace Health and Safety Lead (Collections)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the H&S Lead role. Highlight your experience in fleet safety, traffic management, and other key areas mentioned in the job description. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role involves analysing safety data, don’t forget to mention any relevant experience you have with data analysis. Share examples of how you've used data to identify trends or improve safety standards. We love a data-driven approach!
Be Yourself:Let your personality shine through in your application! We value authenticity and want to know who you are beyond your qualifications. Share your passion for health and safety and how you can contribute to our proactive safety culture at Panda.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us that you're keen on joining our team at Panda!
How to prepare for a job interview at Panda
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your health and safety knowledge, especially around fleet safety, traffic management, and contractor management. Familiarise yourself with the latest legislation and best practices in the recycling and waste sector, as this will show that you're not just a candidate, but a potential expert who can bring real value to the team.
✨Data is Your Friend
Since the role involves analysing safety data, be prepared to discuss how you've used data in past roles to identify trends or improve safety standards. Bring examples of dashboards or reports you've created, and be ready to explain how they influenced decision-making. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and your ability to turn data into actionable insights.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
This position requires someone who can influence senior stakeholders and lead teams. Think of specific instances where you've successfully led safety initiatives or investigations. Be ready to share these stories during your interview, highlighting your hands-on approach and how you’ve built trusted relationships across different teams.
✨Be Proactive and Curious
Panda values a proactive mindset, so come prepared with questions about their current safety challenges and how you could help address them. Show your curiosity by discussing emerging risks or technologies in the industry. This will not only demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role but also your commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
