Head of HSE, Safety & Compliance

vertical-aerospace; North Common; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday

5 extra days per year to buy

5 extra days holiday when you get marr

Additional 4% of salary for benefits

Help@Hand digital health service

Company performance bonus

Company Share Scheme

Company Pension Scheme - 5% matched

Breakfast daily

Job summary

Vertical Aerospace seeks a senior HSE leader to set the direction for Health, Safety and Environment across operations. You will lead the HSE team, strengthen the management system and drive a culture of speaking up, learning and continuous improvement.

This is a chance to shape HSE at a critical growth phase. You will advise executives on risks, embed HSE into business planning and ensure effective control across engineering, labs, testing, facilities and production, while delivering training

Qualifications

• Proven HSE leadership in a complex, safety-critical or high-hazard environment.
• Experience influencing senior leaders and improving accountability for risk management.
• A track record of improving HSE performance, culture and governance.
• NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ Level 6 in Occupational Health and Safety, or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation within engineering or operational environments.
• Experience developing and managing an ISO 45001-aligned management system.
• Experience leading investigations, audits, assurance and regulatory engagement.
• Practical environmental compliance and risk management experience.
• Credibility to partner with executive leaders and influence business decisions.
• Experience leading and developing HSE teams through growth or change.

Responsibilities

• Lead Vertical's HSE strategy, annual plan and risk-based assurance programme.
• Advise executive and operational leaders on key HSE risks, trends and priorities, encouraging ownership and accountability for HSE.
• Embed HSE into business planning, operational decision-making and organisational change.
• Ensure risks across engineering, laboratories, test, prototype, facilities and operations are effectively managed.
• Lead significant incident investigations, ensuring learning drives lasting improvement.
• Maintain and continuously improve our ISO 45001-aligned HSE management system.
• Lead assurance activities, including audits, inspections and regulatory engagement.
• Use data and insight to improve HSE performance and focus on the highest risks.
• Lead environmental compliance and continuous improvement across operational activities.
• Define HSE training and competency requirements.
• Champion Vertical's Golden Safety Rules, Visible Felt Leadership and Zero Harm ambition.
• Lead, develop and prioritise the HSE team.

Skills

HSE leadership

Influence executive leaders

Accountability for risk

Governance improvement

ISO 45001 knowledge

Environmental risk mgmt

Investigation leadership

Change leadership

Education

NEBOSH Diploma

NVQ Level 6 in OH&S

Equivalent qualification

Job description

Vertical Aerospace seeks a senior HSE leader to set the direction for Health, Safety and Environment across operations. You will lead the HSE team, strengthen the management system and drive a culture of speaking up, learning and continuous improvement.

This is a chance to shape HSE at a critical growth phase. You will advise executives on risks, embed HSE into business planning and ensure effective control across engineering, labs, testing, facilities and production, while delivering training