Health and Safety Manager - long term contract

Health & Safety Risk Assessment and Safe Systems Specialist - Engineering (18-Month Fixed Term Contract or Specialist Contractor)

Purpose of the Role
To lead and facilitate the development, review and implementation of operational Risk Assessments (RAs) and Safe Working Procedures (SWPs) across engineering and manufacturing operations. The role will work closely with operational teams to capture practical knowledge, translate this into compliant documentation, and develop engaging training materials to support safe working practices.

The successful candidate will act as the focal point for the end-to-end risk assessment and safe system development process, ensuring operational ownership and formal approval of all outputs.

Key Responsibilities
Risk Assessment Facilitation

• Plan, organise and facilitate structured risk assessment workshops involving personnel from operational areas.
• Engage operators, supervisors, maintenance personnel and subject matter experts to capture operational hazards, controls and best practices.
• Ensure all relevant stakeholders contribute to the risk assessment process.
• Challenge assumptions and ensure assessments are practical, robust and proportionate to the risks involved.

Risk Assessment Documentation

• Produce formal risk assessment documentation following workshop sessions.
• Ensure documentation is clear, accurate and compliant with company and legislative requirements.
• Maintain version control and document tracking throughout the review process.

Review and Validation

• Arrange and facilitate review meetings with operational teams to validate risk assessment content.
• Incorporate feedback and amendments arising from review sessions.
• Drive consensus and obtain final approval from operational management and relevant stakeholders.

Safe Working Procedure Development

• Develop detailed Safe Working Procedures in collaboration with operational teams.
• Ensure procedures accurately reflect agreed controls and actual working practices.
• Obtain formal sign-off and approval from the relevant operational and management representatives.

Visual and Training Material Development

• Produce concise two-page pictorial summaries of approved Safe Working Procedures for shop floor use.
• Develop visual communication materials to improve understanding and compliance.
• Create animated training videos based on approved Safe Working Procedures to support workforce training and competence requirements.
• Coordinate with internal or external media providers where necessary.

Stakeholder Management

• Build effective working relationships with production, engineering, maintenance and management teams.
• Maintain regular communication regarding progress, priorities and deliverables.
• Promote operational ownership of risk controls and safe systems of work.

Essential Experience and Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience as a Health & Safety professional within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Significant experience facilitating operational risk assessments and developing safe systems of work.
• Experience writing formal risk assessments, method statements and safe working procedures.
• Strong workshop facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent written communication and document production capabilities.
• Experience producing visual safety communications and training materials.
• NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
• Strong working knowledge of UK Health and Safety legislation and risk management principles.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within heavy engineering environments.
• Experience within machine shops, forging operations, foundries, steel production or similar heavy manufacturing industries.
• Experience working with high-energy processes, heavy machinery and lifting operations.
• Experience developing digital training content or animated safety videos.
• Membership of a recognised professional Health & Safety body.
• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent higher-level qualification.

Personal Attributes

• Strong facilitator capable of engaging operators and technical specialists.
• Pragmatic and operationally focused approach to risk management.
• Able to convert technical discussions into clear and usable documentation.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Able to influence and gain buy-in across all organisational levels.

Deliverables
The role will be expected to deliver:

• Facilitated risk assessment workshops.
• Completed and approved risk assessments.
• Reviewed and signed-off Safe Working Procedures.
• Two-page pictorial summaries for operational use.
• Animated training videos for workforce training and awareness.
• A documented and auditable approval trail for all outputs.

Reporting Line
The position will report to the relevant Health & Safety Manager or Operational Improvement Lead and will work closely with production, engineering and operational management teams.

Location
Predominantly site-based to ensure effective engagement with operational teams and direct observation of working practices.

Please apply for immediate consideration

Shillito Group is a specialist recruitment and executive search partner, working with ambitious businesses to secure high-impact talent across commercial and engineering markets. Our reputation is built on deep expertise, trusted relationships and delivering results that go beyond the brief.