Health and Safety Manager in Ballymena

TST Group is a market-leading transport, warehousing, and logistics provider headquartered in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, with more than 1.5 million square feet of warehousing capacity, delivering end-to-end supply chain solutions to a diverse client base across the UK and Ireland. The business is experiencing significant growth and is investing in its infrastructure, people, and processes to support its continued expansion.

About the Role

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced H&S professional to make a tangible impact within a large-scale, fast-paced logistics environment at a time of exciting business growth. The Health & Safety Manager will be responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving the health, safety, and environmental management framework across all TST Group operations in Northern Ireland and the UK. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this is a senior, business-critical role that works cross-functionally with Compliance, Operations, HR, Transport, and Warehousing teams to embed a safety-first culture and ensure full regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic H&S Leadership
  • Develop and execute the Group H&S strategy in alignment with business objectives and growth plans, reporting progress directly to the Managing Director.
  • Act as the competent person for health and safety across the organisation, providing expert guidance to all levels of management.
  • Lead the continuous improvement of the H&S management system, working towards and maintaining accreditations such as ISO 45001.
  • Set and monitor KPIs for health and safety performance across all sites and operations.
  • Prepare and present regular H&S reports, trend analyses, and recommendations to the Managing Director and senior leadership team.
• Operational Safety Management
  • Oversee health and safety across 1.5 million sq ft of warehousing operations, including MHE safety, racking inspections, fire safety, manual handling, and working at height.
  • Manage transport safety across the 500+ vehicle fleet, including driver safety, load security, vehicle compliance, and on-road risk management, working closely with the Transport team.
  • Conduct and oversee risk assessments, method statements, and safe systems of work across all operational activities.
  • Lead the investigation of all accidents, incidents, and near-misses, ensuring root cause analysis is completed, and corrective actions are implemented and tracked.
  • Manage contractor and visitor safety, including permit-to-work systems and site induction programmes.
• Compliance & Regulatory
  • Ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, RIDDOR, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, CDM, and the Road Traffic Act.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and other regulatory bodies.
  • Maintain and manage all statutory documentation, records, and registers.
  • Work collaboratively with the Compliance team to ensure alignment between H&S, quality, and environmental management systems.
  • Stay abreast of legislative changes and emerging best practices, translating these into operational policies and procedures.
• Culture, Training & Engagement
  • Champion a positive health and safety culture across the business, engaging the 420+ workforce through effective communication and visible leadership.
  • Work with HR to develop and deliver a comprehensive H&S training programme, including inductions, toolbox talks, management training, and role-specific competency development.
  • Establish and lead site safety committees and employee engagement forums.
  • Drive behavioural safety initiatives to reduce incidents and promote proactive hazard reporting.
  • Manage occupational health programmes, including health surveillance, DSE assessments, and wellbeing initiatives.
• Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity
  • Develop and maintain emergency response plans, fire evacuation procedures, and business continuity arrangements across all sites.
  • Coordinate and lead emergency drills and exercises, evaluating effectiveness and implementing improvements.
  • Manage relationships with emergency services, insurers, and relevant third-party agencies.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (or equivalent Level 6 qualification).
• Chartered membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) or working towards.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in a senior H&S management role, ideally within transport, warehousing, logistics, or a similarly complex multi-site industrial environment.
• Proven track record of managing H&S in large-scale operations with significant workforce numbers (300+ employees).
• Demonstrable experience in managing transport safety and fleet compliance.
• Strong knowledge of UK/NI health and safety legislation, codes of practice, and industry standards.
• Experience in leading incident investigations using structured methodologies.
• Experience in developing and delivering H&S training programmes at all levels.
• Experience in managing H&S management systems and working towards or maintaining ISO 45001 or equivalent accreditation.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management.
• Transport Manager CPC or equivalent transport safety qualification.
• IEMA membership or an environmental management qualification.
• Experience in a business experiencing rapid growth or transformation.
• Experience of working with HSENI and managing regulatory inspections.

Key Competencies & Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate H&S requirements into practical, business-aligned solutions.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to influence and engage at all levels, from warehouse operatives and drivers to the Managing Director and senior leadership.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with a collaborative, coaching approach.
• Analytical and data-driven, with the ability to interpret trends and drive evidence-based improvements.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage competing priorities across a complex, multi-disciplinary operation.
• Resilient, self-motivated, and comfortable operating with autonomy in a fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on and visible, with a genuine commitment to keeping people safe.

Skills: Health & Safety, H&S

Benefits: Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme, Training and development opportunities, Employee Benefits