QHSE Manager

Description:

Role Purpose
The QHSE Officer supports safe, compliant, and efficient operations across both facility environments (workshops, offices, site infrastructure) and R&D environments (labs, prototype areas, and test facilities). The role manages risks associated with routine operations and non-routine experimental activity, ensuring regulatory compliance, safe equipment operation, environmental responsibility, and a strong QHSE culture.

Key Responsibilities

1. Health & Safety - Facilities & Site Operations

Ensure compliance with UK H&S legislation including the Health & Safety at Work Act, COSHH, PUWER, LOLER, RIDDOR, Pressure Systems Safety Regulations, and DSEAR.

Conduct inspections of workshops, plant rooms, storage areas, offices, and facility equipment.

Review or maintain Safe Systems of Work (SSoW), risk assessments, method statements, and workplace procedures.

Support contractor management: permit to -work-, inductions, RAMS review, and site supervision.

Monitor workspaces for good housekeeping, ergonomics, manual handling safety, and workplace behaviours.

Lead or support incident investigations and provide corrective and preventive action follow up-.

Lead/support ISO 45001 and 14001 Compliance & Audits

Facilitate HSE meetings/ forums

Site HSE reporting

Support contractor site permits

Administrator of Site Equipment Asset Management system

2. Health & Safety - R&D, Laboratories & Experimental Work

Conduct R&D-specific risk assessments reviews covering: o experimental hazards o chemical handling and lab safety o prototype and test rig operations o mechanical/rotational equipment o electrical/high energy- systems o new materials and composites manufacture

Review Risk Assessments.

Support safe design, commissioning, and operation of test rigs and experimental equipment.

Oversee chemical safety management: COSHH assessments, inventory, storage, and disposal.
Inspect laboratories, fume cupboards, LEV systems, emergency controls, and specialist R&D facilities.

Provide safety guidance on use of specialist equipment

Maintain compliance with ISO (phone number removed). Environmental Responsibilities

Support compliance with environmental regulations and site permits.

Oversee waste management for both facility and laboratory operations: o general waste o chemical/biological waste o composite and specialised materials

Monitor environmental impacts, emissions, effluent controls, and energy usage in high consumption- R&D equipment.

Promote sustainable practices in site operations and experimental programmes.

Support site sustainability strategy
Conduct ISO 14001 aspect-impact assessments

4. Emergency Preparedness & Response

Support emergency arrangements for the whole site, including: o chemical spills o equipment failures o fire and evacuation Classification: Confidential o utility outages o experimental test rig emergency stop scenarios

Participate in emergency drills and post drill- reviews.

Maintain emergency equipment (spill kits, PPE stocks, alarms) and coordinate with Facilities teams.

5. Training & Competence

Deliver training covering (or is it design and deliver?): o Facility safety rules o COSHH & chemical management o Risk management o Emergency response o Manual Handling

Provide HSE inductions tailored to contractors, engineers, researchers, students, and visitors.

Support competency tracking and refresher training schedules.

6. Documentation & Reporting

Maintain all HSE documentation for both facility and R&D operations, including: o inspections & audits o incident reports o equipment safety records o COSHH files

Prepare HSE performance reports for leadership and participate in internal/external audits.

Represent site in HSE forums

Administrator for site Equipment and Asset Management system, however not responsible for the execution of planned and preventative maintenance including calibration.

Skills & Competencies

Strong knowledge of both facilities based- HSE requirements and laboratory/R&D safety.

Ability to interpret engineering drawings, facility layouts, technical documentation, and test plans.

Effective communicator capable of working with scientists, engineers, technicians, contractors, and managers. Classification: Confidential

Analytical, detail oriented-, and able to manage diverse safety risks across multiple environments.

Proactive, influential, and confident in dynamic and innovative settings.

Meeting facilitation

Qualifications & Experience

NEBOSH General Certificate (essential).

Additional qualification or experience with COSHH, Incident Investigation, ISO 45001 and 14001, Fire Safety, Environmental Management, LOTO, or risk assessment desirable.

Experience in mixed environments such as R&D laboratories, engineering workshops, and facility operations.

Additional training such as First Aid, Fire Marshal, or spill response advantageous.

Key Behaviours

Champions safety across both routine facility operations and innovative R&D activities.

Calm, structured, and decisive during abnormal events or experiments.

Collaborative, supportive, and constructive in multidisciplinary environments.

Proactive in identifying risks, improving processes, and driving HSE culture