Health and Safety Manager

Irwin and Colton; Penrith; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Irwin and Colton are recruiting a Health & Safety Manager for a busy on-site role in Penrith, Cumbria. You will own the H&S strategy for the site, working closely with operations, engineering and contractors to strengthen compliance and drive continuous improvement across high-risk activities.

The successful candidate will hold a NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) and bring strong industrial H&S experience, with proven ability to influence leaders and frontline teams and manage contractor safety.

Qualifications

• Lead the site Health & Safety strategy and influence senior leaders.
• Maintain and improve the Health & Safety management system with audits and legal compliance.
• Oversee risk assessments and safe systems of work for maintenance, contractors and high‑risk operations.
• Lead incident and near-miss investigations with corrective actions to closure.
• Drive engagement through toolbox talks, safety committees and targeted campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site Health & Safety strategy and advise senior leaders on risk and improvement plans.
• Maintain the site Health & Safety management system including audits and legal compliance.
• Oversee risk assessments and safe systems of work for maintenance, contractors and high-risk operations.
• Lead investigations into incidents and near misses, ensuring actions are completed.
• Promote safety culture through toolbox talks, committees and campaigns.

Skills

Health & Safety leadership

Risk assessment

Incident investigation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (or equivalent)

Job description

Job Title: Health & Safety Manager

Salary: £45,000

Location: Penrith, Cumbria (On-site)

Are you a visible, credible Health & Safety leader who enjoys being on site and influencing safety culture day to day?

Do you want to take ownership of Health & Safety across a busy industrial manufacturing / processing facility, working closely with operations, engineering and contractors?

We're supporting an organisation operating within the FMCG manufacturing sector to recruit a Health & Safety Manager for a key site in Cumbria. This is an excellent opportunity to lead the site Health & Safety strategy, strengthen compliance and drive continuous improvement across high-risk activities and non-routine work.

The successful Health & Safety Manager will:

• Lead the site Health & Safety strategy, advising senior leaders on risk, compliance priorities and improvement plans.
• Maintain and improve the site Health & Safety management system, including audits, inspections and legal compliance.
• Oversee risk assessments and safe systems of work across maintenance, contractors and high-risk operations (e.g. LOTO, confined space, hot work, work at height and lifting).
• Lead incident and near-miss investigations, ensuring appropriate reporting and corrective actions through to close-out.
• Drive engagement and competence through coaching, toolbox talks, safety committees and targeted campaigns.

The successful candidate will have:

• NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (or equivalent recognised qualification).
• Strong Health & Safety experience within industrial, manufacturing, processing or heavy engineering environments.
• Confidence influencing leaders and frontline teams, with a practical, proactive approach to risk control.
• Experience managing contractors and improving controls for high-risk work.

Irwin and Colton is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion please let us know if we can do anything to make the process more accessible to you.