Process Safety Manager

Location: South Liverpool
Salary: Up to £90,000 + 12% Bonus
Benefits: 10–13% Employer Pension Contribution, Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Income Protection, Long-Term Incentive Plan

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Process Safety Manager to join a major international manufacturer operating within the highly regulated chemical sector.

With an established manufacturing facility in South Liverpool, the business is entering a significant period of growth and transformation, supported by substantial investment in manufacturing capabilities, infrastructure and major engineering projects.

As part of this ongoing development, the business is looking to appoint a Process Safety Manager who will take technical ownership of process safety across the site, helping to shape engineering decisions, strengthen existing systems and ensure that process safety remains central to future investment and operational development.

Reporting directly to the Engineering Director, this is a highly influential position, offering the opportunity to combine technical leadership with strategic involvement in major engineering projects, while managing and developing a small team of specialist engineers.

The Role

As Process Safety Manager, you will act as the site's principal technical authority for process safety, providing leadership, expertise and assurance across both existing manufacturing operations and future engineering developments.

The role offers an interesting balance of strategic project involvement and operational process safety management, with approximately 40–50% of your time dedicated to engineering projects and capital investment.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of process safety standards, systems and governance across the manufacturing site.
• Act as the site's responsible person for Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (PSSR), ensuring the effective management, inspection and ongoing compliance of pressure systems.
• Provide technical leadership on ATEX and DSEAR, including the management of risks associated with flammable substances, chemical processing and combustible powders.
• Oversee process safety requirements associated with COMAH regulations, ensuring the effective identification, assessment and management of major accident hazards.
• Lead and facilitate HAZID, HAZOP and other process hazard assessments, ensuring appropriate risk reduction measures are identified and implemented.
• Lead the integration of human factors into process safety management, including consideration of human error, operational procedures, task design and operator interaction with plant and equipment.
• Provide process safety assurance across engineering modifications, new equipment installations and capital projects, acting as a key technical authority within management of change processes.
• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing Operations and HSE to ensure process safety is embedded in engineering design, operational practices and investment decisions.
• Identify opportunities to improve existing process safety arrangements, addressing technical risks and strengthening site-wide systems and standards.
• Manage, support and develop two specialist engineers, providing technical direction and ensuring effective delivery of process safety priorities.

About You

We are looking for an experienced process safety professional with a strong technical foundation in chemical engineering, process engineering or a closely related discipline.

You will have operated within a complex manufacturing environment involving hazardous substances and processes, with the technical credibility to influence decisions at both operational and senior management levels.

Essential experience and capabilities:

• Strong practical knowledge and experience of PSSR and pressure systems safety within an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrable experience of ATEX and DSEAR, including hazardous area classification and the management of risks associated with chemical, liquid or powder-processing operations.
• A sound understanding of COMAH regulations and the management of major accident hazards.
• Experience leading, facilitating or making significant technical contributions to HAZID, HAZOP and process risk assessments.
• Knowledge of human factors in process safety, including human reliability, safety-critical tasks and the identification and management of human error risks.
• A strong understanding of process safety principles, engineering risk management and management of change.
• Experience within chemical manufacturing, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals or another relevant major-hazard processing environment.
• The ability to engage with engineers, manufacturing teams and senior stakeholders, providing clear technical guidance and constructive challenge.

Previous leadership or management experience would be advantageous, although applications are also welcomed from technically strong senior process safety professionals who are ready to take greater ownership and responsibility.

Don't meet every requirement?

If you have substantial process safety experience within a major-hazard manufacturing environment and meet most of the technical requirements, we'd still encourage you to apply. We recognise that some specialist knowledge or regulatory experience can be developed, provided you have the core technical expertise and experience needed to take on the role.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take on a genuinely influential technical leadership role within an established international manufacturing business at an important stage of its development.

With significant investment and growth planned, you will have the opportunity to influence the direction of process safety across the site, contribute to major engineering decisions and help establish the standards and systems that will support its future operations.

Unlike roles focused predominantly on regulatory compliance or maintaining established systems, this position offers the chance to combine hands-on technical expertise, strategic project involvement and leadership, with the autonomy to drive meaningful improvements.

There is also potential for further career progression into broader senior HSE leadership responsibilities over time.

Salary & Benefits

The business offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Basic salary up to £90,000, dependent on experience.
• 12% annual performance bonus.
• Private medical insurance through BUPA.
• Life assurance of eight times annual salary.
• Income protection, with enhanced cover options.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 28 days with service, plus bank
  holidays.
• Long-term incentive stock plan.
• Company sick pay scheme.
• Employer pension contribution of upto to 13%.

Interested?

If you are an experienced Process Safety Manager, Senior Process Safety Engineer or technically focused process engineering professional looking for an opportunity to take greater ownership, influence engineering investment and play a key role in the development of a major manufacturing operation, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

Apply today or contact Innova Search & Selection for further information.