HSE Coordinator - Food Safety

Empact Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 450 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading safety management company is seeking a Health and Safety professional in Cape Town, South Africa. In this role, you will ensure compliance with HSE policies, conduct inspections, and train teams to foster a safety culture. Applicants must have at least 5 years of experience in food production and hold relevant diplomas in Environmental Health or Food Science. This position involves liaising with regulatory bodies and preparing HSE reports, making strong communication and organizational skills essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in food production or auditing food safety management systems.
• Valid driver’s licence and own car.
• Willingness to travel to remote sites.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and monitor HSE policies and procedures.
• Conduct pre-mobilisation risk assessments for new sites.
• Investigate incidents and support Root Cause Analysis (RCA).

Skills

HSE compliance

Risk assessment

Training development

Strong organizational skills

Stakeholder management

Education

B-Tech / National Diploma in Environmental Health

National Diploma in Food Technology / Food Science

Job description

Purpose Of The Role

We are seeking a diligent, proactive Health and Safety professional to join our dynamic team. In this role, you’ll ensure full compliance with HSE policies and procedures across Empact-managed sites, conduct site inspections, lead training, and support our teams in building a strong safety culture. If you’re highly engaged, detail-oriented, and confident communicating across all levels of an organisation — we’d love to hear from you. Experience in a food production environment is essential.

Education And Experience Required

• B-Tech / National Diploma in Environmental Health
• OR National Diploma in Food Technology / Food Science with additional safety, environmental, health, or risk management training (NEBOSH advantageous)
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in food production, food manufacturing, or auditing food safety management systems
• Ability to collaborate across all levels and work within a multi-disciplinary team
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage a heavy workload
• Experience handling challenging situations and stakeholders
• Valid driver’s licence, own car, and willingness to travel to remote sites

Key Areas Of Responsibility

• Develop, implement, and monitor HSE policies, procedures, and reporting across the business
• Maintain and update Integrated Risk Management Systems and documentation
• Conduct pre-mobilisation risk assessments for new sites and support sales and operations with risk mitigation strategies
• Perform scheduled food unit audits and compile detailed reports, including non-conformances and corrective actions
• Contribute to training material development and conduct on-site HSE training for operational teams
• Work closely with the Incident Management Controller to ensure accurate reporting and classification of incidents
• Investigate incidents, verify classifications, and support Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Recommend policy improvements based on incidents, near misses, and site findings
• Support units in maintaining COFPA and other legal compliance requirements
• Stay updated on legislation changes and communicate impacts to the business
• Liaise with government and regulatory bodies (EHPs, Department of Health, fire department, etc.)
• Prepare and present HSE reports, statistics, and trend analyses
• Participate in regional management meetings and provide insights on compliance and improvement opportunities
• Plan travel efficiently and manage expenses within budget
• Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and adherence to the company’s Code of Ethics
• Ensure clear communication with internal teams on updates or operational changes