HSE Manager

Elevation Recruitment Group are working exclusively with a leading specialist manufacturing business within the defence sector to recruit a Health & Safety Manager for their Draycott site.

This is a key leadership position within a COMAH facility, offering an excellent opportunity for an experienced HSE professional to take ownership of the site's health, safety and environmental agenda.

Reporting into senior site leadership, the Health & Safety Manager will be responsible for developing and delivering the site's health and safety strategy, ensuring robust regulatory compliance while continuing to build a proactive, prevention-focused safety culture and manage a team of 4. 

This is a highly visible role where you will work closely with operations, engineering and site leadership to identify risk, improve standards and ensure the business operates safely and responsibly.

• Develop and implement the site's health and safety strategy in line with wider business objectives.
• Take ownership of health and safety compliance across the lower-tier COMAH facility.
• Ensure compliance with COMAH and all relevant health, safety and environmental legislation.
• Lead and review risk assessments, including hazard identification and process safety assessments.
• Develop, maintain and regularly test emergency response and contingency plans.
• Deliver effective HSE training and awareness programmes for employees, contractors and visitors.
• Lead investigations into accidents, incidents and near misses, identifying root causes and implementing corrective and preventative actions.
• Produce regular HSE reports for senior management and relevant regulatory bodies.
• Lead site audits, inspections and compliance reviews, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Drive employee engagement and ownership of health and safety across the site.
• Promote a proactive, prevention-led safety culture rather than simply focusing on compliance.
• Work collaboratively with site teams to maintain environmental compliance and support wider sustainability objectives.

We are looking for an experienced HSE professional who is comfortable operating within a high-hazard, highly regulated manufacturing environment.

You will ideally have:

• At least 5 years' experience in health and safety management within high-risk manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of COMAH regulations and wider UK health and safety legislation.
• A proven track record of implementing and improving health and safety programmes and initiatives.
• Strong risk assessment and hazard identification experience.
• Experience with incident investigation, emergency response planning, auditing and compliance.
• The confidence to challenge, influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• A proactive and hands-on approach, with the ability to operate strategically while remaining close to day-to-day site operations.