HSE Manager

Location: Oxfordshire

We're exclusively partnering with a rapidly expanding manufacturer in Suffolk that is entering an exciting phase of growth and operational scale. This is a business that has built a strong reputation for quality, operational excellence and innovation, and with significant investment underway, they are now strengthening their leadership team to support the next stage of expansion. At the heart of that journey is Health, Safety and Environmental leadership.

They are looking for an HSE Manager who can shape safety culture, build robust systems and support sustainable growth across a busy manufacturing environment. This isn't a purely advisory role - it's an opportunity to lead from the front, influence the entire organisation and build frameworks that will scale as the business continues to grow. You'll join the Site Leadership Team, working closely with Operations and Quality leaders to ensure that safety, compliance and environmental responsibility remain central as production, people and processes evolve.

For the right individual, this is a chance to build something meaningful and leave a lasting impact on a growing manufacturing business.

The Role This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for leading Environmental, Health & Safety strategy at the company's primary manufacturing site while developing systems that can support future site expansion. You will take ownership of compliance, risk management, cultural engagement and environmental performance, ensuring that HSE is embedded into the daily rhythm of the operation.

Key Responsibilities Site HSE Leadership
* Act as the competent person for Health & Safety under UK legislation
* Ensure compliance with all relevant HSE regulations and statutory requirements
* Lead risk assessments, COSHH assessments, PUWER compliance and safe systems of work
* Drive incident investigations and root cause analysis, ensuring meaningful corrective actions
* Manage accident reporting, preventative measures and safety improvements
* Coordinate external inspections and regulatory audits
* Oversee environmental compliance including waste management and emissions control Building a Scalable HSE Management System
* Develop and implement a structured HSE management framework aligned to ISO principles
* Establish a clear operational cadence for safety management across the site
* Build dashboards and data-led reporting for leadership visibility
* Create standardised documentation, templates and risk frameworks
* Implement audit programmes to support long-term compliance and scalability Safety Culture & Engagement
* Champion a proactive, positive safety culture across the business
* Lead toolbox talks, safety briefings and workforce engagement activities
* Support managers in taking ownership of safety within their departments
* Develop training plans and competency frameworks to strengthen capability Operational Integration
* Work closely with Operations and Quality teams to embed HSE into production activities
* Support new equipment installations, process changes and layout improvements
* Participate in validation, change control and continuous improvement initiatives
* Ensure the site continues to grow safely and sustainably Environmental & Sustainability Focus
* Drive initiatives to reduce waste, improve recycling and lower environmental impact
* Monitor energy usage and environmental performance
* Support sustainability targets and regulatory environmental requirements What We're Looking For This role would suit an experienced HSE professional who thrives in fast-paced manufacturing environments and enjoys building structure while remaining close to operations.
* NEBOSH General Certificate (minimum)
* Strong knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation
* Experience with in regulated or complex manufacturing environments (such as medical, food, automotive, chemical or similar)
* Proven experience leading incident investigations and root cause analysis
* Experience building or improving structured HSE management systems
* Strong leadership and communication skills across shop floor to senior leadership
* Experience with ISO 14001 and/or ISO 45001 frameworks
* Exposure to multi-site operations or international businesses
* Experience with in high-growth or scaling manufacturing organisations Why This Role Stands Out This is more than a typical HSE position. You'll be joining a business that is scaling quickly, investing heavily in its operations and building leadership capability to support that growth. For the right person, this role offers:
* A seat at the leadership table within a growing manufacturing site
* The opportunity to build systems and culture from the ground up
* Genuine influence over how safety and environmental standards evolve as the company grows
* Strong career progression as the organisation continues to expand If you're an HSE professional who enjoys building structure, influencing culture and being close to the action on the manufacturing floor, this…