HSE & Sustainability Director, UK & Europe

Newly Weds Foods; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Newly Weds Foods in the UK is seeking a Senior leader to direct Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability across UK & Europe.

You will create a world-class safety culture, ensure regulatory compliance, reduce risk and drive environmental and sustainability objectives across all sites.

Qualifications

• NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety or equivalent Level 6 qualification.
• Degree level qualification or significant relevant experience in HSE, environmental management, engineering, manufacturing or sustainability.
• Chartered IOSH (CMIOSH) or equivalent professional standing.
• Proven ongoing professional development in HSE, environmental and sustainability disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead HSE strategy across UK & Europe with accountability for safety culture and regulatory compliance.
• Drive environmental and sustainability objectives, carbon reduction and resource efficiency.
• Oversee HSE policies, systems, audits and corrective actions across multiple sites.
• Provide regular executive reports on HSE performance, risks and sustainability progress.
• Develop governance processes to ensure compliance and risk mitigation.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Auditing & compliance

Education

NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety

Degree qualified or significant relevant experience

CMIOSH

ISO 45001 & ISO 14001 management systems experience

Job description

About Us

Newly Weds® Foods is a leading, privately owned global food ingredients business and has been innovating since 1932. The European division is a market leader in the manufacture of coatings, seasonings and functional ingredient systems.

Newly Weds® Foods is a leading, privately owned global food ingredients business and has been innovating since 1932. The European division is a market leader in the manufacture of coatings, seasonings and functional ingredient systems. Today, Newly Weds® Foods is a world leader in food ingredient technology. A network of R&D, manufacturing and service facilities around the globe allows us to serve our customers’ needs in more than 68 countries. But despite our size and scope, we’ve continued to be an independent, family-owned business answerable only to the demands of our customers. That’s why we continue to invest in infrastructure, human resources and capacity to keep pace with our customers’ needs and expectations.

The Role

Part of the UK & Europe Senior Leadership Team, the HSE & Sustainability Director will lead the organisation's strategy for Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability across all UK and European operations. The role is accountable for creating a world-class safety culture, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, reducing operational risk, and delivering the organisation's environmental and sustainability objectives. The position provides strategic leadership for employee wellbeing, environmental stewardship, carbon reduction, resource efficiency, and sustainability performance, ensuring these areas are embedded into business operations and decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Health, Safety & Wellbeing
• Develop and implement a proactive health, safety, and wellbeing strategy across all manufacturing and support sites.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant UK, European, and local HSE legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of HSE policies, standards, systems, and procedures.
• Drive a positive safety culture through leadership engagement, behavioural safety programmes, and accountability.
• Oversee the investigation of significant incidents, identifying root causes and implementing preventative actions.
• Ensure robust contractor management, risk assessment processes, and safe systems of work.
• Lead occupational health and wellbeing initiatives that support employee health, attendance, and engagement.
• Environmental & Sustainability Leadership
• Develop and deliver the sustainability strategy aligned with business objectives and customer expectations.
• Lead environmental compliance, permitting, and management activities across all sites.
• Establish and monitor carbon reduction, waste reduction, water usage, and energy efficiency programmes.
• Drive initiatives that improve environmental performance and reduce the organisation's operational footprint.
• Support sustainable packaging, waste minimisation, and responsible resource management initiatives.
• Lead the organisation's environmental and sustainability reporting requirements.
• Risk, Compliance & Governance
• Maintain and continuously improve management systems including ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
• Monitor emerging legislation, regulatory changes, and industry best practice.
• Lead internal and external audits and ensure effective corrective action plans are implemented.
• Provide regular reports to the Executive Team on HSE performance, sustainability progress, and key business risks.
• Develop robust governance processes to ensure compliance and risk mitigation throughout the organisation.
• Leadership & Capability
• Lead and develop the HSE and Sustainability team, creating high levels of capability, accountability, and performance.
• Build organisational understanding of HSE and sustainability responsibilities through effective training and communication.
• Partner with Operational, Technical, Engineering, HR, and Supply Chain teams to embed safe and sustainable ways of working.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on risk management, safety culture, environmental performance, and sustainability priorities.
• Continuous Improvement
• Use data and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency through sustainability and environmental programmes.
• Benchmark performance against industry standards and best practice.
• Ensure lessons learned are shared across all locations to improve performance and reduce risk.

Key Measures of Success

• Reduction in Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) and Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR).
• Improved safety culture and employee engagement in HSE initiatives.
• Full compliance with HSE and environmental legislation.
• Successful external audit outcomes and maintenance of ISO certifications.
• Achievement of carbon, waste, energy, and water reduction targets.
• Reduction in environmental incidents and compliance breaches.
• Delivery of sustainability objectives and customer requirements.
• Improved operational efficiency through sustainability initiatives.
• Effective management of business risk and regulatory obligations.
• High-performing and capable HSE & Sustainability team.

Person Specification

Essential

• NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety (or equivalent Level 6 Occupational Safety qualification).
• Degree qualified or qualified through significant relevant experience in Health & Safety, Environmental Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Sustainability, or a related discipline.
• Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH) or able to demonstrate equivalent professional standing.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in Health, Safety, Environmental and Sustainability disciplines.
• Significant senior leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading HSE strategy across multiple sites.
• Experience maintaining ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 management systems.

Desirable

• Experience within food manufacturing, ingredients, food processing, or consumer products manufacturing.
• Experience supporting retailer, customer and third‑party audit requirements.
• Experience leading sustainability, carbon reduction, energy management and environmental improvement programmes.
• Multi‑site and/or international leadership experience.
• IEMA Practitioner, Full Member or Chartered Environmentalist status.
• ISO 45001 and/or ISO 14001 Lead Auditor qualification.
• Sustainability, Environmental Management, Carbon Management or Energy Management qualification.