HSE Manager

Overview

In this role you will set the direction for HSE across Vertical's operations, partnering with senior leaders to embed safety, compliance and learning. You will lead the HSE team, enhance our management system and assurance approach, and foster an open culture where issues are raised and improvements are delivered. You’ll play a pivotal part in enabling rapid growth while reinforcing safety as a core value. This is a high-visibility, strategy-led role shaping the next phase of the company.

Pay / Benefits

• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays
• 5 extra days to buy/sell
• 5 extra days holiday on marriage or civil partnership
• 4% flexible benefits budget
• digital health and wellbeing service
• Company performance-based bonus

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver Vertical's HSE strategy, annual plan and risk-based assurance programme
• Act as senior HSE adviser to executives and leaders, highlighting material risks and priorities
• Coach leaders to strengthen ownership and accountability for HSE performance
• Embed HSE into business planning, change, programme delivery, facilities, procurement and operations
• Identify and control risks across engineering, labs, testing, facilities and operations
• Lead or oversee investigations into significant incidents and near-misses with sustainable learning
• Maintain and continuously improve an ISO 45001-aligned HSE management system
• Lead audits, inspections and regulatory engagement with prioritized assurance actions
• Develop clear HSE performance reporting driven by data and insight
• Oversee operational environmental compliance and continuous improvement in waste and pollution prevention
• Define the organisation’s HSE training and competency strategy
• Champions the Golden Safety Rules, Visible Felt Leadership and Zero Harm
• Build an open, fair, learning-focused reporting culture
• Lead, develop and set priorities for the HSE team

Key requirements

• Strong track record leading HSE in a complex, safety-critical or high-hazard environment
• Influence on senior operational decisions and strengthened leadership accountability for risk
• Proven ability to deliver measurable improvements in HSE performance, culture, governance or control
• NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ Level 6 in Occupational Health and Safety or equivalent
• Strong practical knowledge of UK health and safety legislation in engineering/operational settings
• Experience owning or developing an ISO 45001-aligned management system
• Experience leading complex investigations, risk management, assurance, audits and regulatory engagement
• Practical experience of environmental compliance and environmental risk management
• Credibility to partner with VP Operations and Manufacturing and senior leaders
• Experience leading and developing an HSE team in a changing or growing organisation
• strong judgement and credibility
• cross-functional collaboration skills

• Influencing and stakeholder management
• Coaching and constructive challenge
• Communication and collaboration across teams
• ISO 45001 implementation and auditing
• HSE management systems and governance
• Regulatory engagement and audit readiness

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