HSE Manager

Are you an experienced Health, Safety and Environmental professional looking for a role where you can build on strong foundations, rather than spend your first year firefighting?

We're recruiting an HSE Manager for an established, family-owned pet food manufacturer in East Yorkshire.

This is a rare opportunity to inherit a mature, well-managed HSE function from a highly experienced manager who is retiring after several successful years with the business.

You'll benefit from a structured handover and take ownership of systems, processes and documentation that are already in an excellent position. From there, you'll have the autonomy and senior-level support to continue improving standards, strengthen the company's proactive safety culture and help shape its long-term HSE strategy.

The role

This is a varied, standalone position covering health, safety and environmental management across a busy manufacturing, warehouse and office environment.

Reporting directly to the Deputy Managing Director, you'll work closely with managers and colleagues across the business to ensure HSE remains embedded in everyday operations and decision-making.

You'll be joining a well-maintained site with established processes and a workforce that understands the importance of health, safety and environmental responsibility.

This isn't a reactive role within a business struggling with compliance. It's an opportunity to protect what already works, identify further improvements and lead the next stage of the company's HSE development.

What you'll be doing

You'll take ownership of the company's HSE management systems, ensuring continued legal compliance, effective risk management and ongoing environmental improvement.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering the company's health, safety and environmental strategy
• Ensuring compliance with relevant UK HSE and environmental legislation
• Managing risk assessments covering machinery, COSHH, fire, DSEAR and workplace activities
• Leading accident, incident and near-miss investigations
• Completing root cause analysis and monitoring corrective actions
• Managing RIDDOR reporting where required
• Maintaining standard operating procedures and HSE documentation
• Managing contractor controls and permit-to-work systems
• Chairing the Health and Safety Committee
• Delivering toolbox talks and coaching managers to take ownership of safety within their teams
• Managing environmental compliance, including waste, trade effluent, packaging obligations, energy and water usage
• Supporting carbon reduction, water reduction and waste valorisation projects
• Preparing for and co-hosting BRC, customer and regulatory audits
• Monitoring HSE performance through meaningful KPIs
• Producing monthly HSE reports for the senior leadership team
• Developing and maintaining the annual HSE training matrix
• Supporting the continued development of a proactive, prevention-led safety culture
• Owning and delivering the company's five-year HSE strategy

The manufacturing environment includes grain handling, extrusion, thermal processing, high-speed packing lines, forklifts, chemical handling, animal by-products and engineering activities.

About you

You'll be an experienced Health, Safety and Environmental professional with a practical, hands-on approach and the confidence to operate as the lead HSE specialist within a small to medium-sized manufacturing business.

You'll ideally bring:

• Significant HSE experience within a manufacturing environment
• A NEBOSH Diploma, or be actively working towards one
• Chartered IOSH membership, or be working towards CMIOSH status
• Strong knowledge of UK health, safety and environmental legislation
• Experience managing risk assessments and safe operating procedures
• Strong accident and incident investigation skills
• Experience supporting or leading regulatory, customer or certification audits
• Knowledge of environmental permits and compliance
• Experience producing HSE data, KPIs and reports for senior leaders
• The confidence to engage, influence and coach colleagues at every level

Experience within food, animal feed or pet food manufacturing would be particularly valuable. Knowledge of BRC standards, ISO 14001, ATEX environments or dust explosion risks would also be advantageous.

You don't need to tick every desirable box. What matters most is a strong manufacturing HSE background, sound technical knowledge and the ability to take ownership of a varied, standalone role.

What's on offer?

• Salary of £40,000+ depending on experience
• Annual management bonus of up to 10% of salary
• Workplace pension
• Annual leave increasing with length of service
• Potential to work from home one day per week following probation
• A structured handover with the retiring HSE Manager
• Direct access to senior decision-makers
• The autonomy to influence HSE strategy and culture
• An established HSE function with strong systems already in place
• The opportunity to make a genuine, long-term impact within a successful family-owned business

Most importantly, you'll inherit a function that has been carefully developed over several years, allowing you to focus on continuous improvement, culture and long-term impact from day one.

If you're currently working as an HSE Manager, Health and Safety Manager, SHE Manager, EHS Manager, Environmental Health and Safety Manager, or you're an experienced HSE Advisor ready to step into a broader management role, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today. The Animal People Recruitment Company looks forward to receiving your application.