Role: HSE Manager | Manchester & Runcorn
Role Overview
The HSE Manager will be responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving robust quality, health, safety, and environmental management systems across the organisation, ensuring full compliance with UK legislation. This role will lead all QHSE activities across two sites, including risk assessments, COSHH, auditing, environmental permit management, and contractor safety, while acting as the primary point of contact for regulatory bodies such as the Environment Agency. The postholder will drive a strong culture of safety, compliance, and operational excellence through effective training, audit management, incident investigation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Working within a dynamic and evolving operational environment, the HSE Manager will play a critical role in maintaining safe, compliant, and efficient laboratory and site operations.
Key Responsibilities
QHSE Management Systems
- Responsible for legal compliance to HASAWA 1974 and all relevant regulations
- Ensure appropriate training plans are in place for staff
- Schedule and facilitate the annual Management System Review
- Use industry best practice to adopt the continuous improvement cycle for management systems
- Manage Internal and External Audits, i.e. ISO
- Create, manage and improve the 5S housekeeping program
- Manage the Management of Change process
- Develop, maintain, and facilitate improvements of all Corrective & Preventative Action processes
- Rationalise and own the Document Management System
- Point of contact for all regulatory bodies & site contact for all QHSE issues
Health & Safety
- Manage workplace risk assessments
- Manage the COSHH assessment system
- HSE events reporting and validation
- Manage Health Surveillance and Workplace monitoring for staff, addressing any issues and actions
- Control of Legionella for water systems across two sites
- Manage all industrial hygiene processes (PPE/RPE compliance)
- Maintain an adequate emergency response system
- Contractor management, ensuring site rules are adhered to and that work is carried out with suitable RAMS
- Ensure safe systems of work are in place, with relevant permits and certifications in place
- Ensure all sites are compliant with the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order
Environmental & Chemical Regulatory
- Management of the environmental permit, ensuring all operations are compliant, infrastructure monitoring, and ensuring the Environment Agency are engaged where necessary
- reporting on permit performance parameters including pollution inventory reporting and emissions to air monitoring
- Waste management and minimisation across all sites
- Management of Environment Agency CAR, OPRA & OMA Audits
- Management of UK REACH requirements for finished products
- GHS (global) & CLP (EU/UK) compliance for finished products and labelling
- Chemicals management including inventories, segregation policies, and providing handling and transport advice
About You
- Proven HSE leadership experience within a regulated industry i.e. Chemical manufacturing, Water and wastewater treatment, Process engineering, Pharmaceuticals
- Experience with lab operations
- A strong understanding of UK HSE and Environmental Permitting Regulations
- Comfortable working in a dynamic, scaling organisation, with the flexibility to adapt to evolving processes, technologies, and operational needs
- Passionate about developing a positive safety culture, driving engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement at all levels
We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace and welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of background.
Pay: £50,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Flexitime
- Life insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
- Transport links
- Work from home
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Manchester M13 9NQ: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience managing permitting requirements for regulated industrial or operational sites and liaising with the Environment Agency (or equivalent regulatory body)?
Work Location: In person
