Interim Quality, Environment, and H&S Director

Michael Page; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 83,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page is seeking an Interim Quality, Environment, and H&S Director to provide strategic QEHS leadership across multiple sites in Gloucestershire, UK. You will govern standards, drive continuous improvement, and ensure robust regulatory compliance while protecting consumers and brands.

The role demands senior leadership, cross-functional collaboration and a proven track record in complex FMCG environments, with availability for travel and immediate start possible on a 3-month contract.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in complex, multi-site FMCG environments with QEHS governance.
• Advanced expertise in Product Quality and Food Safety management systems and audits.
• Proven incident/crisis management capability and continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end QEHS governance ensuring compliance with standards and best practices.
• Deploy initiatives to safeguard product integrity, food defence and fraud prevention.
• Oversee QEHS management systems and certifications (ISO, FSSC, AIB) and audit readiness.
• Ensure robust traceability from raw materials to finished goods for rapid issue response.
• Lead teams for product industrialisation and incident management framework including CAPA.

Skills

QEHS governance

Food Safety

Incident management

Culture transformation

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Chemistry, Biology, Food Science, Engineering or related field

Tools

ISO standards

FSSC

AIB

Job description

As an Interim Quality, Environment, and Health & Safety Director, you will provide strategic leadership, governance and technical excellence across QEHS for the UK, ensuring robust deployment of company standards, protection of consumers and brands, and the advancement of a prevention-driven culture, while driving continuous improvement across sites and with partners.

Client Details

An FMCG manufacturer in Gloucestershire.

Description

This interim Quality, Environment, and H&S Director role is a strategic leadership position working with expert managers across the site in Gloucestershire and other locations. You will:

• Lead end-to-end Quality, Food Safety & Technical Governance ensuring full compliance with company standards, regulations and best practices.
• Deploy initiatives to safeguard product integrity, vulnerability assessments, food defence and fraud prevention.
• Own QEHS management systems and certifications (e.g., ISO, FSSC, AIB), sustaining operational excellence and audit readiness.
• Guarantee robust end-to-end traceability from raw materials to finished goods for rapid issue response.
• Lead technical and service teams for new product industrialisation and oversee incident management framework including escalation, root cause analysis, containment, CAPA and continuous improvement tools.
• Champion and lead full deployment of the EHS programme to build a proactive, prevention-driven culture focused on behaviours and risk elimination.
• Embed EHS principles into daily operations with site leaders and frontline teams to strengthen awareness, accountability and safe decision-making.
• Drive EHS strategy through structured cultural transformation including leadership visibility, safety conversations, observations and coaching.
• Ensure full compliance with environmental and safety regulations, managing waste, wastewater, recycling, emissions control and resource efficiency.
• Strengthen risk prevention, governance and performance tracking including hazard identification, risk assessments, near-miss reporting, safe systems of work and leading indicators.
• Shape and drive the QEHS strategy and roadmap for the UK business ensuring alignment with company direction and business needs.
• Provide financial leadership and oversight of QEHS variable spend including contracted services, laboratories and technical programmes.
• Build organisation capability through engagement, development, talent management and succession planning across QEHS and technical teams.
• Lead cross-functional and international projects ensuring capital investments meet QEHS requirements and are delivered safely, on time and within scope.

Profile

The successful Interim Quality, Environment, and H&S Director should have:

• Senior leadership experience in complex, multi-site FMCG environments, preferably beverage or bottling, covering QEHS governance and technical leadership.
• Advanced expertise in Product Quality and Food Safety management systems, audits and traceability.
• Strong incident and crisis management capability.
• Proven ability to deploy behavioural-based safety programmes and lead culture transformation aligned with EHS principles.
• Solid environmental management knowledge including legal compliance, wastewater, waste, emissions and resource efficiency.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across all organisational levels.
• Analytical, data-driven mindset with strong problem-solving and continuous improvement approach.
• Degree in Chemistry, Biology, Food Science, Engineering or related field.
• Availability for regular travel.
• Immediately available or on short notice.

Job Offer

• Competitive daily rate of 450 to 550, dependent on the level of experience.
• 3 month initial contract with potential for longer term
• Immediate start, site based role in Gloucestershire

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment. As an inclusive recruiter we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. If you require any adjustments or accommodations during the recruitment process, we'll work with you to ensure you can perform at your best.