The posting
We are currently looking for a SHE Manager
A little about us:
With over a century of engineering expertise and innovation, KNDS UK is a renowned world leader in rapidly deployable military bridging systems and a key partner in the UK MoD’s Boxer armoured vehicle programme.
We are proud of our heritage and our reputation of providing the highest quality engineering solutions for over 100 years. As a trusted partner to military customers around the world, our employees are the very heart of our company. We have a skilled and experienced workforce dedicated to achieving excellence in all areas of the business from Engineering to Project Management, Business Support to Operations.
As our business evolves, we are looking to strengthen our workforce with talented and motivated individuals across a range of disciplines to work from our Northwest Engineering Centre of Excellence and currently have this opportunity available:
About the role:
The primary purpose of this role is to provide full Safety, Health & Environmental support to the Company’s Senior Management Team ensuring that the Company adheres to Health & Safety and Environmental Legislation, Regulations and ACOPs, i.e. ensure Statutory Compliance.
Key duties include, but are not limited to:
- Work in alignment with the Company's Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) strategy, as defined by the Head of SHE, ensuring effective implementation across the site.
- Manage relationships with external certification bodies and coordinate all certification activities to maintain compliance with relevant standards, including ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.
- Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of internal and external SHE audits, ensuring timely completion of corrective and preventive actions.
- Liaise with regulatory authorities, enforcement agencies, insurance providers, and other external stakeholders to ensure compliance with statutory obligations and industry best practices.
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to promote a positive safety culture and achieve operational excellence.
- Ensure all employees understand their SHE responsibilities through effective communication, training, coaching, and awareness programmes.
- Support the reporting and investigation of incidents, accidents, near misses, and hazardous occurrences, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and the implementation of effective corrective actions.
- Provide regular SHE performance reports to KNDS Group Safety and the sites senior leadership team, including identification of trends, risks, opportunities, and key performance indicators through the analysis of site data.
- Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safe systems of work, company policies, procedures, and training programmes to support legal compliance and operational safety.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives arising from audits, inspections, incident investigations, risk assessments, and management reviews, ensuring actions are effectively implemented and closed out.
- Manage external contractors and service providers, ensuring all activities are performed in accordance with company SHE management systems, policies, and legislative requirements.
- Conduct, review, and maintain suitable and sufficient risk assessments covering all site activities and hazards, ensuring appropriate control measures are implemented and monitored.
- Chair the Safety Committee, promoting active employee engagement and consultation on health, safety, and environmental matters.
- Promote a proactive safety culture through regular consultation, communication, behavioural safety initiatives, and workforce engagement activities.
- Support with the management of the site's SHE training requirements, maintaining training records and ensuring competence levels meet business and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant health, safety, environmental, and quality legislation, company policies, standards, procedures, and the Employee Handbook, providing leadership and guidance to site personnel.
- Monitor legislative and industry developments, advising management on changes to legal requirements and best practices that may impact site operations.
- Conduct regular workplace inspections and safety tours to verify compliance, identify improvement opportunities, and support continuous risk reduction.
- Support operational and project teams in the planning and execution of activities, ensuring SHE risks are assessed and controlled effectively
What we’re looking for:
Candidates must have the following essential qualifications and experience:
- Strong understanding of HSE Legislation
- Recognised Environmental qualification (IEMA Certificate in Environmental Management or equivalent).
- Proven experience in a similar role
- Experience of working with Management Systems (ISO14001 & ISO45001)
- Excellent IT skills and knowledge of MS programmes particularly Microsoft Excel & Word
The following are desirable:
- Qualified Internal Auditor
- NEBOSH Diploma (NVQ Level 6 or equivalent)
- Experience of Heavy Manufacturing
- Experience of Cultural/Behavioural Improvement Programmes
Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following skills and aptitudes:
- Free-thinking, innovative, confident.
- Able to work to deadlines and adapt to changing conditions
- Good communication skills with ability to communicate effectively and clearly – understanding the audience
- Ability to prioritise, use own initiative and organise work with minimal supervision
- Good organisational skills and ability to work effectively under pressure
- Accurate and consistent performer with an eye for detail
- Excellent interpersonal skills ability to build strong supplier and internal relationships and influence stakeholders
- Able to collate, analyse and evaluate information
Why you should join us:
When you become part of the KNDS UK team, you will enjoy employee benefits such as:
- Competitive salary
- Attractive pension (4% employee contribution, 7% employer contribution)
- Half-day Friday
- Life assurance scheme
- Company sick pay scheme which increases with service
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Additional Holidays & other Long Service rewards
- Wellbeing initiatives, such as Free Fruit on Tuesday’s
- Cycle to work Scheme
- Free on-site car parking
- On-site electric vehicle charging points
We’re also very proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant since 2018, achieving their Silver Award in 2020 and Gold Award in 2024. We actively support and encourage service leavers, reservists and cadets to join our team, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process.
If you are passionate about Health & Safety and eager to contribute to a thriving workplace environment, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Recruiters please note that we have a list of approved recruitment agency partners in place and we will contact agencies directly should we require support. Any unsolicited CV’s received via an agency will be accepted with thanks but without fee.
