Head of Health & Safety in Chatham

Location: London, Kent, South East (regular travel to manufacturing sites)

Salary: £60-£65,000 plus car allowance

It's rare to find a role that is such a key part of a manufacturing business with multisite management responsibility.

The Need:

We're looking for a manufacturing experienced Senior Health & Safety Manager or Head of HSE to join a large manufacturing Group, based in the South East, responsible for all UK site HSE.

The Role:

You will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Group’s Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) strategy across all UK manufacturing sites and play a critical role in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, safeguarding employee well-being, and embedding a proactive safety culture throughout the business. You will become a key member of the senior leadership team, working hand in hand with site Operational and Group leadership to drive continuous improvement in safety performance and operational excellence. You will be responsible for 2 site Health & Safety Managers, supporting them in their day to day duties.

The person:

For you, the role could be a step up from a Senior Health & Safety role or a move from a multi site HSE position. The business is Pan-European print & packaging manufacturer and you'd be responsible for all UK manufacturing site HSE, reporting into the UK Managing Director and Divisional General Managers.

You will be responsible for:

• Strategic Leadership: Define and implement the group-wide health, safety, and wellbeing strategy, tailored to the unique risks and challenges of a manufacturing environment. Lead the integration of HSE best practices into the manufacturing processes, ensuring alignment with business objectives. Provide high-level guidance and updates to the senior leadership team and Board of Directors on health and safety strategy, compliance, and performance.
• Compliance and Governance: Ensure all manufacturing sites comply with local, national, and international health and safety legislation. Regularly review and update health and safety policies, procedures, and systems to reflect changes in regulations and manufacturing standards. Oversee audits, inspections, and certification processes to maintain compliance and industry accreditation.
• Risk and Incident Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate risks unique to manufacturing processes, such as machinery operation, material handling, and ergonomics. Lead investigations into incidents, accidents, and near-misses, ensuring root causes are identified and corrective/preventive measures are implemented. Develop and oversee robust reporting systems for incidents and compliance, ensuring accurate data collection and analysis.
• Cultural Development: Drive the adoption of a safety-first culture across all manufacturing sites, empowering employees at all levels to take ownership of health and safety. Partner with site leadership teams to embed safety practices into daily operations and workflows. Promote employee engagement through awareness campaigns, workshops, and ongoing communication.
• Training and Development: Oversee the creation and delivery of health and safety training programs tailored to manufacturing roles, including machine operators, maintenance staff, and managers, with a hands-on approach. Ensure all employees and contractors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to perform their roles safely. Stay informed on emerging health and safety trends and technologies within the manufacturing sector, integrating them into training and operations.
• Performance Monitoring: Establish and track key health and safety performance metrics (e.g., accident rates, near-miss reporting, compliance audits) to monitor progress and identify improvement opportunities. Prepare and present detailed performance reports to senior leadership and external stakeholders. Drive continuous improvement by identifying and implementing innovative safety solutions suited to the manufacturing industry.
• Collaboration and External Engagement: Act as the primary point of contact for regulators, auditors, and industry bodies on health and safety matters. Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Operations, Engineering, HR) to align safety goals with broader business priorities.

To be successful, we would like you to have:

• Qualifications: NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent in Occupational Health and Safety (essential). Chartered Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) (essential). Experience or certification in environmental management (e.g., IEMA or ISO 14001, 45001) is desirable.
• Experience: Significant experience in a senior health and safety leadership role within the manufacturing industry, ideally with multi-site responsibilities. Proven track record of implementing health and safety strategies that deliver measurable improvements. In-depth knowledge of manufacturing risks, including machinery safety, hazardous materials, noise, and ergonomics. Strong experience in conducting risk assessments, audits, and compliance reviews in manufacturing settings.
• Skills and Attributes: Strategic thinker with the ability to influence and inspire teams at all organizational levels. Strong communication skills, with experience engaging with senior stakeholders, boards, and external regulators. Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with a results-driven approach. Proficient in health and safety management systems and reporting tools. Flexibility and willingness to travel to multiple manufacturing sites.

This is a dynamic role, very actively working with internal stakeholders and leadership teams to ensure the business is meeting requirements across HSE and Compliance and helping lead the business to continue being a world-class manufacturing business. You will, of course, be a confident manager and proactive problem solver, used to working in a complex and fast moving production environment, potentially with experience in the Print or Packaging sectors in a Health & Safety operational leadership role.

We'd love to hear from you if this sounds like a role for you.