Health and Safety Manager

Lead the Health, Safety & Environmental Strategy

Join one of Europe's leading precision forging companies, recognized as the only single-sited forge in the world with open-die radial, press, hammer, and ring rolling capabilities alongside closed-die extrusion, drop stamp, and blade forging. As a fully integrated metals service centre supplying critical components to aerospace, defence, energy, and other highly regulated industries, we are seeking an experienced and influential leader to drive the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of our site's HSE strategy.

Role Overview

Reporting to the Engineering Director, you will lead the HSE function, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, maintaining ISO 14001 and 45001 standards, and driving best practice across a complex manufacturing operation. You will act as the company's lead competent person for Health, Safety, and Environmental matters, providing expert support to senior leadership and operational teams. This role is ideally suited to a proactive leader who has developed their career within a heavy manufacturing, engineering, forging, steel, aerospace, or similarly high-risk industrial environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Health & Safety Leadership
  • Develop and deliver the company's Health & Safety strategy, aligning safety objectives with business goals.
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant UK Health & Safety legislation, including PUWER, LOLER, COSHH, RIDDOR, and Working at Height regulations.
  • Develop, review, and improve policies, procedures, and safe systems of work.
  • Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action programmes.
  • Monitor and report HSE performance through KPI measurement and management reporting.
  • Manage site emergency preparedness arrangements and response plans.
• Environmental Management
  • Maintain and improve the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.
  • Ensure compliance with environmental legislation, permits, and reporting requirements.
  • Lead environmental risk assessments and sustainability improvement initiatives.
  • Manage waste, recycling, and environmental performance programmes.
  • Drive reductions in environmental impact, emissions, and resource consumption.
  • Liaise with external regulatory bodies, including the Environment Agency where required.
• Auditing & Compliance
  • Develop and deliver comprehensive programmes of HSE audits, inspections, and behavioural observations.
  • Support customer, third-party, and regulatory audits.
  • Manage corrective action tracking and ensure timely closure of findings.
  • Conduct legal compliance reviews and provide recommendations to senior leadership.
• Operational Support & Training
  • Partner with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality teams to support safe operational practices.
  • Provide guidance on occupational health risks including noise, vibration, dust, fumes, and manual handling.
  • Support contractor management and permit-to-work systems.
  • Identify and deliver HSE training requirements across the business.
  • Coach managers and supervisors to strengthen safety leadership capability.
  • Promote employee engagement and behavioural safety initiatives.

Role Requirements

• A NEBOSH National Diploma or equivalent Level 6 Health & Safety qualification is preferred, alongside proven HSE management experience, ideally within a heavy manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of UK Health & Safety and Environmental legislation, with demonstrable experience leading HSE audits, compliance reviews, and accident investigations.
• Chartered IOSH membership (CMIOSH) and a Lead Auditor qualification in ISO 45001 and/or ISO 14001 are required.
• Experience within forging, steel, aerospace, or engineering environments would be advantageous, as would a proven track record of improving safety culture and employee engagement.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills are essential.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• The chance to shape and influence the Health, Safety, and Environmental agenda across the site.
• An opportunity to work for a business going through a large expansion and capital investment plan.
• To be truly accountable for the safety change within a business.