HSE Manager

Vertical Aerospace; West of England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday

Company pension

Performance bonus

Share scheme

Help@Hand wellbeing

Job summary

Vertical Aerospace is seeking an experienced HSE leader to drive health, safety and environmental performance across our high-hazard, aerospace operations. You will lead the HSE team, shape risk-based assurance programmes and work with engineering, manufacturing and operations to embed safety across the business.

Successful candidates will have NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent, strong UK H&S knowledge, and a track record of delivering improvements in HSE management systems and culture within complex

Qualifications

• Experience leading HSE programmes in a complex environment.
• Influence senior stakeholders and drive risk management accountability.
• Track record of improving HSE performance and management systems.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation.
• Experience implementing ISO 45001-aligned systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead HSE team and set the annual plan and risk-based assurance.
• Advise senior stakeholders on HSE risks, trends and priorities.
• Embed HSE in business planning and change initiatives.
• Develop and maintain ISO 45001-aligned management system.
• Lead investigations, audits, and regulatory engagement.
• Champion safety culture and Golden Rules across the org.
• Oversee environmental compliance and continuous improvement.
• Coach and develop HSE professionals within the org.

Skills

HSE leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

ISO 45001

Regulatory engagement

HSE investigations

Environmental compliance

Coaching/mentoring

Education

NEBOSH Diploma

NVQ Level 6 in OHS

Job description

Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky.

Our Mission

At Vertical Aerospace, we are pioneering the way for electric aviation. The Valo, our eVTOL (electric, vertical, take-off and landing), 'zero emissions' aircraft will set a new safety standard for how we will navigate the sky. We won't realise our mission following the same legacy processes and traditions our predecessors followed, instead, we want to 'redefine' aerospace best practices. We are growing quickly from a prototype business to a scaling SME, and the next few years will be critical to our success and delivering on our ambitious goals. Valo is targeting airliner-level safety certification in 2029 ahead of entering service with our airline and operator customers. Reporting to the VP Operations and Manufacturing, this role supports the continued development of Health, Safety and Environment across Vertical's operations. You'll work closely with leaders across engineering, test, manufacturing and operations to strengthen our HSE management systems, build capability across teams and help drive a positive, proactive safety culture. You'll lead our HSE team, support effective risk management and ensure the right systems, processes and behaviours are in place to enable safe and sustainable operations. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a fast-growing organisation, helping to embed HSE excellence across the business while supporting the next phase of Vertical's growth.

What You'll Do

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

What You'll Bring

• Experience leading HSE programmes, projects or teams within a complex, safety-critical or high-hazard environment.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and driving accountability for effective risk management.
• A track record of delivering improvements in HSE performance, culture and management systems.
• NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ Level 6 in Occupational Health and Safety, or equivalent qualification.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation within engineering, manufacturing or operational environments.
• Experience developing and maintaining an ISO 45001-aligned management system.
• Experience leading investigations, audits, assurance activities and regulatory engagement.
• Practical environmental compliance and risk management experience.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence positive HSE outcomes across the organisation.
• Experience coaching, developing or mentoring HSE professionals within a growing or changing environment.

Nice to Have

• Chartered IOSH membership, or working towards it.
• ISO 45001 Lead Auditor qualification or equivalent.
• ISO 14001 or IEMA qualification.
• Experience in high-voltage systems, batteries, flight test, prototype development or manufacturing.
• Experience supporting organisational growth, operational improvement programmes or transformational change.

What can you expect from us?

We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career.

Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.

Our Benefits

• 26 days holiday, plus bank holiday
• 5 extra days per year to buy (or sell)
• 5 extra days holiday when you get married or enter a civil partnership
• Additional 4% of your salary to spend on extra benefits
• Award-winning digital health and wellbeing service (Help@Hand)
• Company performance based bonus - rewarding company and individual performance
• Company Share Scheme - open to every Vertical employee
• Company Pension Scheme - 5% and we match it
• Breakfast on us, every day

We may just be the hardest job you've ever had, but we're confident it will be the most rewarding.

Disclaimer Statement

We encourage you to apply even if you may not have all the experience listed in the advert. We recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to providing opportunities that create an environment of growth, diversity, and inclusion for everyone. As part of our desire to review and make our processes fair, we may ask you questions related to these aspects during the application process. For more information on how we will use your data, see our Legal section.