At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HSE initiatives, shape safety culture, and ensure compliance in a food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Growing food manufacturing business in Oxfordshire with a focus on safety and sustainability.
- Benefits: Autonomy, leadership support, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Opportunity for continuous improvement and career growth in a standalone role.
- Why this job: Redefine safety standards and influence a positive culture in a dynamic setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in food manufacturing, NEBOSH certification, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Manager in Food Manufacturing. This is an opportunity to step into a true site leadership role, where you’ll shape not just systems and compliance — but the behaviours, mindset, and culture of an entire manufacturing operation. We’re exclusively supporting a well-invested and growing food manufacturing business in Oxfordshire to appoint a Health, Safety & Environmental Manager. This is a standalone position, reporting directly into the Site Director, where you’ll partner closely with the Senior Leadership Team to drive a progressive and engaging HSE agenda.
If you’re someone who believes safety is built through people, not paperwork — this could be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
The Opportunity
This is a role with visibility, autonomy, and impact. You’ll take ownership of all things HSE on site — from leading management systems and ensuring compliance, to coaching teams and embedding a behavioural safety culture that genuinely sticks. You’ll be the voice of HSE at leadership level, while remaining present and influential on the factory floor — building trust, challenging where needed, and inspiring change.
Key Responsibilities
- Engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, from operators to senior leadership
- Lead safety conversations, observations, and coaching to embed best practice
- Act as a trusted partner to operational teams, ensuring safe systems of work are practical and effective
- Develop, implement and maintain HSE management systems aligned to ISO 45001 and ISO 14001
- Own the site risk assessment process, ensuring quality, consistency, and completion of actions
- Manage environmental aspects and impacts, identifying opportunities for improvement
- Benchmark externally to bring fresh thinking and continuous improvement to site
- Lead the site’s incident management process — from initial response through to root cause analysis
- Ensure corrective and preventative actions are meaningful and embedded
- Maintain full compliance with all relevant HSE legislation and standards
- Act as the primary contact for regulatory bodies and external stakeholders
- Lead internal and external audits, ensuring site readiness at all times
- Ensure non-conformances are addressed thoroughly and sustainably
Supporting Site Development
- Provide HSE input into site projects and continuous improvement initiatives
- Ensure safety and environmental considerations are embedded in operational decisions
About You
You’ll be a confident, credible HSE professional who thrives in a standalone role — someone who can balance technical expertise with strong influencing skills. We’re looking for:
- Experience within food, beverage, or FMCG manufacturing
- Strong working knowledge of ISO 45001 and ISO 14001
- NEBOSH General Certificate (essential)
- NEBOSH Diploma (or working towards / willing to achieve)
- Environmental qualification such as IEMA (or willingness to obtain)
And equally important:
- A hands-on, visible approach — comfortable on the factory floor
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage at all levels
- The confidence to challenge, coach, and drive behavioural change
- Highly organised, with a strong attention to detail
- A mindset focused on improvement, not just compliance
Why This Role?
This is more than a compliance role — it’s a chance to shape the future of HSE on site. You’ll have the autonomy to lead, the support of an engaged leadership team, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact in a business that values safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement. If you’re ready to take ownership, influence culture, and build something meaningful — we’d love to hear from you.
Environment, Health and Safety Manager in Warrington employer: Zest Food Jobs
Join a forward-thinking food manufacturing business in Oxfordshire, where you will have the unique opportunity to redefine health, safety, and environmental standards. With a strong emphasis on employee engagement and a culture that prioritises safety and sustainability, this role offers significant autonomy and the chance to make a real impact. The company is committed to your professional growth, providing a supportive leadership team and opportunities for continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Environment, Health and Safety Manager in Warrington
✨Get Involved in Local Environmental Initiatives
Dive into your local environmental scenes, like community clean-up projects or eco-focused events. Not only will you meet like-minded people, but it's a surefire way to showcase your passion and skills in environmental engineering tech.
✨Join Industry-Specific Organisations
Check out organisations like the Institution of Environmental Engineers for networking opportunities and resources. They often host events and seminars that can help us connect with key players in the industry, including potential employers like Zest Food Jobs.
✨Show Off Your Projects and Passion
Create a portfolio that highlights any relevant projects, whether it's coursework, internships, or personal initiatives. Share this online, perhaps even on platforms like GitHub or your own website, to grab the attention of hiring managers looking for talent like us.
✨Utilise Environmental Job Boards
Take advantage of niche job boards dedicated to environmental careers. Sites like Green Jobs, Environmental Career and EcoJobs often feature openings from companies like Zest Food Jobs and can help us land that full-time gig.
We think you need these skills to ace Environment, Health and Safety Manager in Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at Zest Food Jobs.
Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability:In this field, showcasing your passion for sustainability and environmental protection can set you apart. Include any relevant projects, volunteer experience, or courses that underline your commitment to these causes. Zest Food Jobs will appreciate candidates who genuinely care about making a difference.
Tailor Your Application to the Role:Don't just send a generic CV and cover letter. Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Zest Food Jobs. Highlight experiences that align directly with the job description and give concrete examples of your work to demonstrate that you’re the right fit for a full-time position.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have certifications related to environmental engineering or technology, like LEED Accreditation or any relevant software certifications, make sure to mention them. These qualifications can boost your application and show that you’re serious about your professional development in this competitive field.
How to prepare for a job interview at Zest Food Jobs
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest environmental regulations and standards. In an environmental engineering tech role at Zest Food Jobs, you might be asked specific questions about compliance measures, so understanding these will definitely give you an edge.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your proficiency with relevant tools and software, such as AutoCAD or GIS. You might be given a practical problem to solve during the interview, so it’s a great idea to brush up on these skills and perhaps even bring a portfolio of your projects to showcase your technical prowess.
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sustainability
In a full-time role, employers are looking for commitment and enthusiasm. Share your experiences, studies, or projects that reflect your passion for environmental sustainability. This will show Zest Food Jobs that you're not just qualified but genuinely invested in the field.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Be ready for behavioural questions that assess how you handle teamwork, conflict, and project management. Think of examples from your studies or practical experiences where you tackled challenges effectively, showcasing both your technical and interpersonal skills.