Group Health And Safety Manager

Zest; Wytham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in the UK is seeking a Group Head of Health & Safety to lead their safety agenda across a UK-wide manufacturing network. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in enhancing safety culture, supporting Site Managers, and ensuring robust risk management. This role requires strong leadership in safety standards, teamwork, and a proven track record in food manufacturing safety. Join at a time of significant growth, making an operational impact and shaping the future of the company.

Qualifications

• Seasoned leader in Health & Safety within food manufacturing.
• Experience shaping strategy and driving operational impact.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and lead teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Position Health & Safety as a core business value.
• Support and coach Site H&S Managers for consistent performance.
• Maintain KPI performance across multiple sites.
• Ensure statutory compliance and manage safety plans.
• Build organisational H&S capability and inspire teams.
• Lead continuous improvement projects enhancing safety.

Skills

Health & Safety leadership

Behavioural safety

Risk management

Team development

Continuous improvement

Education

NEBOSH Diploma

IOSH membership

Job description

Imagine stepping into a business at a moment when everything is moving forward – new investments, expanding capability, ambitious plans and a senior team genuinely committed to doing things the right way. A business proud of its heritage in food manufacturing, but even more excited about its future.

Now imagine that you're the person they're looking for to help shape that future by elevating safety to something more than a requirement.

If you’re a seasoned Health & Safety leader within the food manufacturing sector – someone who thrives on both shaping strategy and delivering real operational impact – this could be the role where you genuinely make your mark.

I’m partnering with a highly respected, rapidly growing food manufacturer that is investing heavily in their people, sites and future capability. As part of this growth, they are looking to appoint a Group Head of Health & Safety to lead the H&S agenda across their UK-wide manufacturing network.

Where you’ll make a difference

Strategy & Culture

• Positioning Health & Safety as a core business value – brought to life at every level.
• Championing behavioural safety and building a culture where people genuinely think and act safely.

Operational Leadership

• Supporting and coaching Site H&S Managers to deliver strong, consistent performance.
• Ensuring robust risk‑management frameworks are in place across all sites.
• Guiding interactions with regulatory bodies, insurers and auditors.

Governance & Performance

• Maintaining KPI performance across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Ensuring statutory compliance and managing group‑wide safety plans and documentation.

People & Capability

• Developing organisational H&S capability, from site teams to future leaders.
• Setting bold goals that inspire, motivate and shape team development.

Continuous Improvement

• Regularly reviewing group H&S and emergency preparedness frameworks.
• Leading and auditing improvement projects that genuinely enhance safety.

What you’ll bring

• You’re someone who has lived and breathed safety in food manufacturing.
• You know what great looks like – and what it takes to create it.
• You have the NEBOSH Diploma, the IOSH membership and the credibility that earns trust.
• Beyond the qualifications, you have something rarer: the ability to bring people with you, even when change is difficult. You’ve led teams, influenced senior stakeholders and turned safety from a procedure into a shared belief.

Why this role matters

This is more than policy writing or compliance management. It’s about driving culture, shaping behaviours, elevating standards and helping a high‑performing business become even better.

You’ll be the go‑to expert for the Group Board, Factory GMs and H&S Leads – setting the tone, the pace and the direction for safety across all sites. Your work will influence both day‑to‑day safety performance and long‑term strategic planning.

If you want a role where you can genuinely shape culture, elevate standards and leave a legacy – this is a brilliant time to join.

If you’d like to know more details about the business, the scope of the role and long‑term objectives of the business – please do get in touch.