Group Head of Health and Safety

Are you an experienced FMCG/ Manufacturing Health & Safety leader who thrives on influencing culture, driving standards and making a lasting impact?

This newly created leadership role offers the opportunity to lead Health & Safety across Zertus UK & Ireland's manufacturing operations, including Humdinger, Kinnerton Confectionery and Lir Chocolates. Reporting to the Group Operations Director, you'll be responsible for setting the direction of our Health & Safety agenda across five sites, leading a team of Health & Safety professionals and ensuring consistency, compliance and continuous improvement across the Group.

More than simply maintaining standards, you'll play a key role in shaping our future approach to Health & Safety. From influencing Board-level decision making and embedding standards across the business, to developing high-performing teams and strengthening accountability at every level, this is a role where you'll have genuine visibility, impact and the opportunity to build a best-in-class safety culture.

• NEBOSH Diploma or an equivalent Level 6 Health & Safety qualification.
• Significant senior Health & Safety leadership experience within manufacturing, FMCG, food production, logistics or similarly operational environments.
• Experience managing Health & Safety across multiple sites and leading geographically dispersed teams.
• A proven track record of developing and implementing strategy that delivers measurable improvements in safety performance.
• Strong knowledge of UK and Ireland Health & Safety legislation.
• Experience of ISO 45001 implementation, certification and continuous improvement programmes.
• Experience presenting compliance, risk and performance information to Executive and Board-level stakeholders.
• Strong experience leading audits, inspections and regulatory engagement.

• Chartered IOSH status (CMIOSH) or working towards.
• ISO 45001 Lead Auditor qualification.
• Environmental or sustainability qualifications.

• You're a credible leader who can engage, influence and challenge stakeholders at every level of the business.
• You can balance operational priorities with strong governance, compliance and risk management.
• You build high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring and succession planning.
• You're comfortable operating across multiple sites and building strong relationships with diverse teams.
• You use data and insight to identify opportunities, measure success and drive continuous improvement.
• You can successfully lead behavioural and cultural change programmes.
• You have excellent communication skills and can confidently influence senior leaders and Board-level audiences.
• You're resilient, pragmatic and solutions-focused, with the ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• You're passionate about creating workplaces where people can perform at their best and return home safely every day.

Zertus UK & Ireland is home to some of the UK's best-loved confectionery and snacking brands, including Humdinger, Kinnerton and Lir Chocolates. We combine the pace of a growing manufacturing business with the backing of an international family-owned group, creating exciting opportunities for ambitious professionals to make a real difference.

This role is based primarily at our Sherburn site, with regular travel across all UK manufacturing locations. 

Our manufacturing Locations: Heckington, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Fakenham, Bromborough, Navan (Ireland). We have a hot-desking office space in Hull (East Yorkshire) and also in Camden, London. 

Please apply online via our careers portal by submitting your CV and answering the application questions. Successful candidates will be invited to a two-stage interview process. 

Zertus UK&I is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.