At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead Health, Safety and Environmental strategy in a fast-growing manufacturing environment.
- Company: Rapidly expanding manufacturer in Suffolk with a strong reputation for quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Join a leadership team with opportunities for career progression and influence.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a chance to build systems and culture from the ground up.
- Why this job: Shape safety culture and make a lasting impact on a growing business.
- Qualifications: NEBOSH General Certificate and experience in regulated manufacturing environments.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We're exclusively partnering with a rapidly expanding manufacturer in Suffolk that is entering an exciting phase of growth and operational scale. This is a business that has built a strong reputation for quality, operational excellence and innovation, and with significant investment underway, they are now strengthening their leadership team to support the next stage of expansion. At the heart of that journey is Health, Safety and Environmental leadership. They are looking for an HSE Manager who can shape safety culture, build robust systems and support sustainable growth across a busy manufacturing environment. This isn’t a purely advisory role - it’s an opportunity to lead from the front, influence the entire organisation and build frameworks that will scale as the business continues to grow.
You’ll join the Site Leadership Team, working closely with Operations and Quality leaders to ensure that safety, compliance and environmental responsibility remain central as production, people and processes evolve. For the right individual, this is a chance to build something meaningful and leave a lasting impact on a growing manufacturing business.
The Role
This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for leading Environmental, Health & Safety strategy at the company’s primary manufacturing site while developing systems that can support future site expansion. You will take ownership of compliance, risk management, cultural engagement and environmental performance, ensuring that HSE is embedded into the daily rhythm of the operation.
Key Responsibilities
- Site HSE Leadership
- Act as the competent person for Health & Safety under UK legislation
- Ensure compliance with all relevant HSE regulations and statutory requirements
- Lead risk assessments, COSHH assessments, PUWER compliance and safe systems of work
- Drive incident investigations and root cause analysis, ensuring meaningful corrective actions
- Manage accident reporting, preventative measures and safety improvements
- Coordinate external inspections and regulatory audits
- Oversee environmental compliance including waste management and emissions control
- Develop and implement a structured HSE management framework aligned to ISO principles
- Establish a clear operational cadence for safety management across the site
- Build dashboards and data-led reporting for leadership visibility
- Create standardised documentation, templates and risk frameworks
- Implement audit programmes to support long-term compliance and scalability
- Champion a proactive, positive safety culture across the business
- Lead toolbox talks, safety briefings and workforce engagement activities
- Support managers in taking ownership of safety within their departments
- Develop training plans and competency frameworks to strengthen capability
- Work closely with Operations and Quality teams to embed HSE into production activities
- Support new equipment installations, process changes and layout improvements
- Participate in validation, change control and continuous improvement initiatives
- Ensure the site continues to grow safely and sustainably
- Drive initiatives to reduce waste, improve recycling and lower environmental impact
- Monitor energy usage and environmental performance
- Support sustainability targets and regulatory environmental requirements
What We're Looking For
This role would suit an experienced HSE professional who thrives in fast-paced manufacturing environments and enjoys building structure while remaining close to operations.
- NEBOSH General Certificate (minimum)
- Strong knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation
- Experience within regulated or complex manufacturing environments (such as medical, food, automotive, chemical or similar)
- Proven experience leading incident investigations and root cause analysis
- Experience building or improving structured HSE management systems
- Strong leadership and communication skills across shop floor to senior leadership
- Experience with ISO 14001 and/or ISO 45001 frameworks
- Exposure to multi-site operations or international businesses
- Experience within high-growth or scaling manufacturing organisations
Why This Role Stands Out
This is more than a typical HSE position. You’ll be joining a business that is scaling quickly, investing heavily in its operations and building leadership capability to support that growth.
- A seat at the leadership table within a growing manufacturing site
- The opportunity to build systems and culture from the ground up
- Genuine influence over how safety and environmental standards evolve as the company grows
- Strong career progression as the organisation continues to expand
If you’re an HSE professional who enjoys building structure, influencing culture and being close to the action on the manufacturing floor, this is an opportunity to play a key role in the next chapter of an ambitious business.
HSE Manager in England employer: Zest Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Zest Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HSE Manager in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the manufacturing and HSE sectors. Attend industry events or webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there. Remember, sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company thoroughly. Understand their safety culture, recent projects, and any challenges they might be facing. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their growth journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on experience! When discussing your past roles, highlight specific examples where you’ve led safety initiatives or improved compliance. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact – numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s make your next career move a great one!
We think you need these skills to ace HSE Manager in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the HSE Manager role. Highlight your leadership in health and safety, compliance, and any relevant frameworks you've worked with.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about health, safety, and environmental leadership. Share examples of how you've influenced safety culture and built systems in previous roles.
Showcase Your Achievements: Quantify your successes! Whether it's reducing incidents or improving compliance rates, we want to see how you've made a tangible impact in your past positions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zest Recruitment
✨Know Your HSE Legislation
Make sure you brush up on UK Health & Safety legislation before the interview. Being able to discuss specific regulations and how they apply to the manufacturing environment will show that you're not just knowledgeable but also ready to lead compliance efforts from day one.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Prepare examples of your past leadership roles, especially in HSE contexts. Think about times when you influenced safety culture or led incident investigations. This will help you illustrate your capability to shape the safety culture at the new company.
✨Showcase Your Systems Thinking
Since this role involves building scalable HSE management systems, be ready to discuss frameworks you've developed or improved in previous positions. Highlight your experience with ISO standards and how you've implemented structured approaches to HSE management.
✨Engage with Their Vision
Research the company's growth plans and sustainability initiatives. During the interview, express your enthusiasm for their vision and how you can contribute to their goals. This shows that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in being part of their journey.