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 would love to hear from you.
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