HSE Manager

Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Manager

Food Manufacturing | Oxfordshire | Standalone Role with Real Influence

Some roles ask you to maintain standards.
Others give you the platform to redefine them.

This is an opportunity to step into a true site leadership role, where you''ll shape not just systems and compliance - but the behaviours, mindset, and culture of an entire manufacturing operation.

We''re exclusively supporting a well-invested and growing food manufacturing business in Oxfordshire to appoint a Health, Safety & Environmental Manager. This is a standalone position, reporting directly into the Site Director, where you''ll partner closely with the Senior Leadership Team to drive a progressive and engaging HSE agenda.

If you''re someone who believes safety is built through people, not paperwork - this could be exactly what you''ve been looking for.

The Opportunity

This is a role with visibility, autonomy, and impact.

You''ll take ownership of all things HSE on site - from leading management systems and ensuring compliance, to coaching teams and embedding a behavioural safety culture that genuinely sticks.

You''ll be the voice of HSE at leadership level, while remaining present and influential on the factory floor - building trust, challenging where needed, and inspiring change.

Key Responsibilities
Shaping Culture & Engagement
Drive a proactive, behavioural safety culture across site
Engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, from operators to senior leadership
Lead safety conversations, observations, and coaching to embed best practice
Act as a trusted partner to operational teams, ensuring safe systems of work are practical and effective
Systems, Standards & Best Practice
Develop, implement and maintain HSE management systems aligned to ISO 45001 and ISO 14001
Own the site risk assessment process, ensuring quality, consistency, and completion of actions
Manage environmental aspects and impacts, identifying opportunities for improvement
Benchmark externally to bring fresh thinking and continuous improvement to site
Incident Management & Compliance
Lead the site''s incident management process - from initial response through to root cause analysis
Ensure corrective and preventative actions are meaningful and embedded
Maintain full compliance with all relevant HSE legislation and standards
Act as the primary contact for regulatory bodies and external stakeholders
Audits, Reporting & Performance
Lead internal and external audits, ensuring site readiness at all times
Track and report on HSE KPIs, driving accountability and continuous improvement
Ensure non-conformances are addressed thoroughly and sustainably
Provide clear, insightful reporting to the Senior Leadership Team
Training & Capability Building
Identify HSE training needs across the site and ensure compliance
Deliver engaging and practical training, including inductions
Build confidence and capability within teams to take ownership of safety
Supporting Site Development
Provide HSE input into site projects and continuous improvement initiatives
Ensure safety and environmental considerations are embedded in operational decisions
About You

You''ll be a confident, credible HSE professional who thrives in a standalone role - someone who can balance technical expertise with strong influencing skills.

We''re looking for:

Experience within food, beverage, or FMCG manufacturing
Strong working knowledge of ISO 45001 and ISO 14001
NEBOSH General Certificate (essential)
NEBOSH Diploma (or working towards / willing to achieve)
Environmental qualification such as IEMA (or willingness to obtain)

And equally important:

A hands-on, visible approach - comfortable on the factory floor
Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage at all levels
The confidence to challenge, coach, and drive behavioural change
Highly organised, with a strong attention to detail
A mindset focused on improvement, not just compliance
Why This Role?

This is more than a compliance role - it''s a chance to shape the future of HSE on site.

You''ll have the autonomy to lead, the support of an engaged leadership team, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact in a business that values safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

If you''re ready to take ownership, influence culture, and build something meaningful - we''d love to hear from you.

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