Health and Safety Manager in Gravesend

At The Collective Network, we build partnerships with people who take ownership, challenge the status quo, and raise the bar. We’re working with a fast-paced food manufacturing business that’s serious about standards. They need a Health & Safety Manager who doesn’t sit behind policy; they lead from the floor, set the tone, and make safety part of how the business thinks, not just what it does.

This is a role for someone who sees risk before it happens, drives accountability at every level, and ensures the site is always audit-ready, not just when someone’s watching.

• You’ll take full responsibility for health & safety across the site - strategy, compliance, culture, and performance.
• Lead and evolve the H&S strategy in line with operational demands.
• Ensure full compliance with legal, regulatory, and audit standards (BRC, ISO, COP).
• Create and embed a proactive, engaged safety culture across the workforce.
• Identify gaps through audits and observations - and fix them with clear, workable solutions.
• Own and manage the H&S budget effectively.
• Keep the site audit-ready at all times.

You’ll also take ownership of the crisis management framework - making sure plans are current, relevant, and actually workable when it matters.

This isn’t a desk job. You’ll be visible, vocal, and hands-on.

• Lead from the front - driving engagement and accountability across all teams.
• Challenge existing processes constructively and push for better.
• Deliver training and guidance that people actually understand and apply.
• Ensure all risk assessments (RA) and PUWER requirements are robust and up to date.
• Act as the key contact for external agencies and enforcement bodies.
• Lead H&S performance reviews, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with operational teams to tackle accident trends and risk hotspots.
• Support projects with clear, commercially sound H&S input.

• Own site-wide safety protocols, including new equipment sign-off.
• Ensure emergency preparedness - fire drills, trained teams, and clear procedures.
• Maintain strong contractor management and emergency cover.
• Be a reliable escalation point, including out-of-hours when needed.

• You’re credible on the ground and confident in the boardroom.
• Strong understanding of UK H&S legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Able to influence at all levels - from shop floor to senior leadership.
• Proactive mindset - you spot risk early and act decisively.
• Analytical - you can turn data into insight and action.
• Calm, pragmatic, and solutions-focused under pressure.

• NEBOSH qualification (or equivalent).
• Experience with ISO 45001 and audit standards (BRC/ISO Lead Auditor ideal).
• Proven track record of building a positive H&S culture in manufacturing (food experience highly advantageous).
• Strong stakeholder management and team leadership experience.
• Working knowledge of BRC, ISO45001, SMETA/SEDEX, and COP standards.

• Zero major non-conformities in audits.
• Strong audit performance across customer and ethical standards.
• Fully compliant, up-to-date risk assessments and equipment standards.
• Measurable reduction in accident frequency rates.
• A workforce that owns safety - not just follows it.

Why this role? Because this isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about building a culture where safety is second nature - where standards are high, people are engaged, and the operation runs smarter because of it. If you’re looking for a role where you can genuinely make an impact, drive change, and be recognised for it - we should talk.