Job description for Health and Safety Manager

Are you a seasoned Health & Safety Manager who thrives in high-risk environments? Are you seeking a challenging yet rewarding role that contributes to the UK’s Defence Industry? If so, we have a fantastic opportunity at DE&S for you to join our Defence Munition (DM) team!

As our Health & Safety Manager for our DM Glen Douglas and DM Crombie sites, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that our onsite arrangements protect both people and the environment, while meeting all legislative and departmental requirements.

You will continuously develop and strengthen our site Safety & Environmental Management Systems, leading and inspiring a dedicated team focused on these pursuits.

You will provide timely, professional, and effective safety advice and assurance on all site activities, including explosives storage, processing, and movements. Additionally, you will oversee safety for cross-site activities, such as the operation of two deep-water explosives handling jetties, bespoke road/rail transfer facilities, and engineering workshops.

You will work compressed hours from Monday to Thursday (8 hours each day) and on Fridays (5 hours), with flexible working hours to support work-life balance. While 100% site based attendance will be required, you will also travel weekly to DM Crombie, with transportation provided and occasionally to other locations across the UK.

In return, we offer you the chance to work at two sites of outstanding natural beauty, with first-rate facilities including on-site gyms, and a culture of inclusiveness and teamwork. You will be encouraged to grow and develop both personally and professionally, with ample support and advice to help you achieve your goals. You will also have the opportunity to network and collaborate with like-minded professionals within Defence Munitions and DE&S.

After appropriate training and experiential learning, you will undertake rostered Duty Control Officer and Duty Officer in Charge duties, ensuring a dedicated 24/7 presence and on-call system. These rostered commitments also attract additional payments at enhanced hourly rates.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the Occupational Health Safety and Environment (OSHE) team, fostering a strong safety culture and continuous improvement.
• Providing safety assurance and advice to senior management, upholding Delegated Safety responsibilities.
• Conducting audits and assurance reviews, identifying key learning points and communicating outcomes.
• Overseeing health, safety, environmental, radiation, fire, and dangerous goods management for regulatory compliance.
• Managing explosive safety, including facility licensing and work safety approvals.
• Leading accident prevention, reporting, analysis, and investigation, implementing lessons learned and best practices.
• Coordinating Major Accident Control Regulation (MACR), liaising with authorities and emergency services (MACR is the MOD equivalent of Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH).
• Collaborating with the Heads of Establishment, business unit managers, trade unions, staff representatives, and key personnel within DM and DE&S.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Hold a relevant Safety Qualification (min Level 3) for the role and be willing to complete a Level 5/6 professional qualification in your first two years of employment.
• Relevant work experience across a similar role in a high hazard industry.
• Evidence of strong Leadership and communication skills as well as managing a team in a fast-paced working environment.
• Clear demonstrable experience in changing and improving processes and effective decision making.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Conducting OHS Audit and Assurance Activities – Practitioner level
• Conducting OHS Risk Assessments – Practitioner level
• Communicating & Influencing – CSBC3
• Leadership – CSBC3

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 27%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.

2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills

Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.