Job Introduction
As a key member of the London Leadership Team at Charlie Bigham’s, the Health, Safety & Environmental Manager is the site’s competent person responsible for shaping and delivering the Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) strategy.
This is a highly visible, individual contributor role that leads through influence rather than authority. The role is pivotal in building the right safety mindsets and behaviours across the site, embedding a strong behavioural safety culture, and ensuring environmental performance improves through collaboration and innovation.
The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with shop-floor presence - acting as a coach, challenger and trusted advisor to leaders at all levels.
Role Responsibility
Key accountabilities:
1. Health & Safety Strategy & Leadership
• Design and deliver the London site Health & Safety strategy aligned to business objectives.
• Lead the ongoing development of the behavioural safety programme.
• Drive a proactive safety culture focused on prevention, accountability and ownership.
• Engage and influence the full leadership team in the site’s safety journey.
• Act as the site’s named competent person and primary contact for regulatory authorities.
2. Visible Leadership & Coaching
• Maintain consistent and credible shop-floor visibility.
• Coach leaders and teams through informal conversations, real-time interventions and behavioural observations.
• Influence safe behaviours and mindset shifts through engagement rather than enforcement.
• Support leaders in improving decision quality related to safety and risk.
• Lead effectively without direct authority, building trust across all departments.
3. Governance, Risk & Compliance
• Oversee the site’s safety management systems and ensure policies remain current and effective.
• Lead internal HSE audits and compliance assurance activities.
• Ensure health & safety aspects of business continuity plans are robust and regularly reviewed.
• Lead accident and incident investigations, ensuring strong root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.
• Ensure risk assessments are practical, embedded in operations and regularly reviewed.
• Oversee occupational health arrangements.
4. Fire & Security Management
• Oversee fire safety systems, evacuation processes and regulatory compliance.
• Act as primary liaison for fire authority inspections.
• Oversee site security policies and risk management processes to protect people, premises and assets.
• Ensure effective governance of access control and CCTV systems.
• Ensure security incidents are investigated and appropriate preventative measures implemented.
5. Environmental Strategy & Continuous Improvement
• Lead the development and implementation of the site Environmental Management System.
• Design and deliver the site environmental strategy aligned to business and sustainability objectives.
• Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations and Continuous Improvement to:
o Reduce utilities consumption
o Improve energy efficiency
o Reduce food waste and improve waste segregation
o Identify and implement environmental improvement projects
• Ensure environmental compliance and reporting requirements are met.
• Drive measurable improvement in environmental performance.
Measures of Success
• Improvement in behavioural safety culture indicators
• Reduction in accident frequency and severity
• Strong audit and regulatory compliance performance
• Utilities and waste reduction improvements
• Leadership engagement in HSE initiatives
• Clear, effective reporting to site and board level
The Ideal Candidate
Key Capabilities
This role requires a leader who can influence without authority and build commitment across all levels
Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills
Confident communicator at shop-floor and senior leadership level
Proven coaching capability
Strong analytical and root cause problem-solving skills
Ability to challenge constructively
Strong decision quality and judgement
Tenacity and drive for results
Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills
High visibility and credibility on the shop floor
Experience and Knowledge
Significant experience in a Health & Safety leadership role within food manufacturing or similar fast-paced environment
Demonstrated experience building behavioural safety cultures
Experience leading environmental improvement initiatives
Experience working cross-functionally without direct line management authority
Qualifications
NEBOSH Diploma (or working towards)
Relevant degree or equivalent professional qualification
Environmental qualification desirable
Leadership Expectations
Acts as a role model for safety-first behaviours
Builds trust across all levels
Demonstrates resilience and calm decision-making
Leads through engagement, not hierarchy
Drives continuous improvement with energy and purpose