Health & Safety Manager

Found Recruitment Solutions Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Found Recruitment Solutions Ltd is seeking an experienced Health & Safety Manager to strengthen standards across a growing food manufacturing operation in Kent. The role involves leading safety improvement plans, developing policies, and driving risk assessments in Manufacturing, Engineering and Warehousing.

You will report to the Head of SHEQ and ensure compliance with UK legislation, COSHH, DSEAR and PUWER, while supporting site development and equipment installations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Health & Safety Manager or similar in food manufacturing.
• NEBOSH qualification is essential.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and practical application.
• Experience with DSEAR, COSHH, and hazardous substances risk assessments.
• Machinery safety expertise including PUWER, guarding and safe isolation procedures.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of safety improvement plans with the Head of SHEQ.
• Maintain and improve health and safety policies, risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Own COSHH and DSEAR assessments and controls for hazards.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Production on machinery safety and PUWER compliance.
• Support equipment installations, site development and safety-focused project work.
• Manage contractor safety arrangements, RAMS, permits and inductions.
• Conduct site inspections, audits, investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor performance and report risks to the Head of SHEQ.
• Develop safety training programs for staff and managers.
• Foster proactive safety culture and ownership of standards.

Skills

UK health and safety legislation

DSEAR

COSHH

PUWER

RAMS

ISO 45001

ISO 14001

Food manufacturing experience

Leadership

Education

NEBOSH certificate

Job description

Starting Salary: GBP50,000 GBP55,000 per annum

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday 8:30am 5:00pm Site–based Kent

A growing food manufacturing business is looking to appoint an experienced Health & Safety Manager to play a key role in strengthening its health and safety standards during an exciting period of growth and investment.

With significant investment in new manufacturing facilities, production equipment and operational capabilities, this is a fantastic opportunity for a hands–on Health & Safety professional who enjoys building strong systems, improving standards and making a real difference across a busy manufacturing environment.

Reporting directly to the Head of SHEQ, you'll take responsibility for driving health and safety improvements across Manufacturing, Engineering, Warehousing and wider operational departments, ensuring that safety remains a priority as the business continues to expand.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the development and implementation of health and safety improvement plans, working closely with the Head of SHEQ to strengthen standards across the business
• Maintain and continuously improve health and safety policies, procedures, risk assessments and safe systems of work, ensuring compliance with UK legislation
• Take ownership of COSHH and DSEAR assessments, ensuring appropriate controls are in place for hazardous substances, combustible dusts, ignition sources and fire and explosion risks
• Work closely with Engineering and Production teams to ensure machinery safety, including PUWER assessments, guarding, isolation procedures and safe operating practices
• Provide health and safety input into the installation, modification and commissioning of new manufacturing equipment and processes
• Play a key role in supporting site development and operational expansion projects, ensuring health and safety requirements are considered throughout planning and implementation
• Manage contractor safety arrangements, including risk assessments, method statements, inductions, permits to work and compliance checks
• Conduct regular site inspections, audits and risk assessments, identifying opportunities for improvement and ensuring corrective actions are completed
• Lead accident, incident and near–miss investigations, identifying root causes and implementing effective preventative measures
• Monitor health and safety performance, reporting key risks, trends and improvement priorities to the Head of SHEQ
• Develop and coordinate health and safety training programmes, ensuring employees and managers understand their responsibilities
• Support managers and supervisors in building a proactive safety culture, encouraging employee engagement and ownership of health and safety standards
• Review emergency procedures, fire safety arrangements and occupational health requirements, ensuring appropriate systems and controls are maintained
• Support environmental compliance and improvement activities relating to chemicals, waste management and wider manufacturing operations

What's In It for You

• Join a growing food manufacturing business investing significantly in its facilities, equipment and manufacturing capabilities
• The opportunity to play a key role in shaping and improving health and safety standards during an exciting period of business growth
• A varied position combining operational health and safety management with strategic improvement and development projects
• Work closely with the Head of SHEQ and senior operational leaders, with the opportunity to influence safety standards across the business
• Be involved in new equipment installations, manufacturing developments and operational improvement projects
• The opportunity to introduce improvements, strengthen existing systems and make a visible impact on the business's health and safety culture

Your Background

• Proven experience as a Health & Safety Manager, HSE Manager or within a similar position in food manufacturing
• A NEBOSH qualification is essential
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and its practical application within a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrable experience of DSEAR assessments, including managing combustible dusts, fire and explosion risks
• Strong understanding of COSHH requirements, hazardous substances, chemical handling and associated risk assessments
• Practical experience of machinery safety, including PUWER, machine guarding, safe isolation procedures and safe systems of work
• Experience managing contractor safety, including RAMS, permits to work and contractor compliance
• Experience supporting equipment installations, site development or manufacturing expansion projects would be advantageous
• Knowledge of ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 management systems would be beneficial

Join a Business That Invests in You

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Health & Safety Manager to join an ambitious food manufacturing business at an important stage of its development.

With continued investment in manufacturing facilities, equipment and operational capabilities, you'll have the opportunity to play a central role in strengthening health and safety systems, supporting new projects and helping to shape a positive safety culture across the business.

If you're a confident, hands–on Health & Safety professional with strong food manufacturing experience, particularly within DSEAR, COSHH and machinery safety, and you're looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.