Health & Safety Manager in Chester, Cheshire West and Chester

Overview:

We are recruiting for an experienced Health & Safety Manager to join a major UK highways infrastructure programme, providing operational leadership across a large-scale road construction project. The Health & Safety Manager will be responsible for maintaining high standards of safety, compliance and positive safety culture throughout project delivery.

The role will be Cheshire-based, with 2–3 days per week travelling to site, and will include direct line management of H&S Advisors. As the Health & Safety Manager, you will work closely with project and operational leadership teams, providing expert advice, assurance and challenge across a complex highways environment while driving continuous improvement and strong H&S performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead as the Health & Safety Manager for a major highways infrastructure project.
• Provide expert H&S advice, leadership and challenge to project and operational teams.
• Line manage and develop two H&S professionals, ensuring consistent standards and effective support.
• Work closely with project leadership to embed H&S across planning, mobilisation and highways construction delivery.
• Ensure compliance with relevant H&S legislation, project requirements and highways industry best practice.
• Act as the senior Health & Safety Manager on operational H&S matters, providing guidance across the project.
• Lead and oversee accident, incident and near-miss investigations, including root cause analysis and lessons learned.
• Carry out and coordinate site inspections, audits and H&S assurance reviews.
• Monitor H&S performance, trends and leading indicators, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Support the implementation and continual improvement of H&S management systems and processes.
• Develop and deliver safety briefings, campaigns, communications and stand-downs.
• Provide visible leadership across site and promote a proactive health and safety culture.
• Work collaboratively with project, quality, environmental, commercial and supply chain teams to manage risk effectively.
• Represent the Health & Safety Manager function within project leadership meetings and relevant client and stakeholder forums.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and the adoption of H&S best practice across highways delivery.

Qualifications:

• NEBOSH Diploma / NVQ Level 6 in Occupational Health & Safety.
• Chartered or Graduate IOSH membership, or working towards an appropriate professional level.
• Proven experience as a Health & Safety Manager or senior H&S professional within highways, civil engineering or major infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of the H&S challenges associated with highways construction and large-scale infrastructure delivery.
• Experience of H&S management systems, auditing and incident investigation.
• Knowledge of standards including ISO 45001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
• Strong communication, influencing and leadership skills with the confidence to challenge operational teams.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to site 2–3 days per week.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work as a Health & Safety Manager on a major, high-profile highways infrastructure project.
• Senior H&S position with genuine operational and leadership responsibility.
• Direct management responsibility for two H&S professionals.
• Exposure to complex highways and civil engineering delivery.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Health & Safety Manager with a highways background to take a senior role on a major infrastructure project and influence its safe and successful delivery — apply now to find out more.