Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Senior Specialist

Job Description:

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Senior Specialist
Location: Slough Factory, UK, full-time on-site
Function: Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)
Reporting To: HSE Manager

Salary: £55,000 - £67,000 (depending on knowledge & experience), annual bonus, benefits

Job Purpose

The HSE Senior Specialist is a pivotal role within the Slough factory HSE team. This role is designed for a proactive, results-driven professional who excels in navigating ambiguity and can operate with a high degree of autonomy. Working closely with the HSE Manager, the HSE Senior Specialist will drive the continuous improvement of the site’s safety and environmental performance, ensure robust legal compliance, and champion a progressive behavioural safety culture.

The successful candidate will act as a key business partner to site leadership, operations, and engineering, and will have the capability to deputise for the HSE Manager, representing the function in critical site forums and leadership meetings.

What would be your key responsibilities?

1. Strategic Leadership & Deputisation

• HSE Strategy & Roadmap: Actively support the HSE Manager in developing and deploying the site’s multi-year HSE strategies and roadmaps. Translate strategic objectives into actionable, line-level initiatives.

• Deputisation: Seamlessly deputise for the HSE Manager during absences, serving as the primary point of contact for site leadership, external regulators, and corporate stakeholders.

• Business Partnering & Coaching: Act as an expert coach and advisor to site leadership, value stream managers, technical teams, and engineering. Build capabilities, influence safety mindsets, and drive proactive safety ownership across all levels.

2. HSE Management Systems & Compliance

• System Ownership: Take lead responsibility for maintaining, auditing, and continuously improving the Slough site’s Health, Safety, and Environmental Management Systems, ensuring continued accreditation to ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.

• Audit Programs: Direct internal and external HSE audit programs. Ensure non-conformities are thoroughly investigated, and that corrective and preventative actions (CAPAs) are tracked and effectively closed out.

• Regulatory Liaison: Proactively manage and maintain professional relationships with external authorities, including the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Environment Agency (EA), and company insurers.

• Legal Horizon Scanning: Maintain an in-depth, up-to-date knowledge of HSE legislation and corporate standards, assessing site conformance and implementing compliance programs as regulations evolve.

3. Risk Management & Continuous Improvement (CI)

• Risk Assessments: Oversee the execution and maintenance of line-based risk assessments (including manual handling, machinery safety, and workplace transport) for the Slough factory value streams, ensuring they are accurate, dynamic, and integrated into daily operations.

• Continuous Improvement Projects: Identify, scope, and lead targeted CI projects aimed at reducing physical and environmental risks. Focus areas include working conditions, ergonomics, machinery safety, and environmental impact reduction (energy, waste, water).

• Contractor & Vendor Management: Manage contracts and coordinate the activities of third-party HSE suppliers, assessors, and external consultants to ensure high-quality delivery and business value.

4. Incident Investigation & Escalation

• Complex Investigations: Lead and coordinate investigations into significant or complex safety and environmental incidents (e.g., equipment failures, automation/AMR hazards, or severe near-misses).

• Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Apply robust RCA methodology to identify systemic, cultural, and leadership-related root causes.

• Regulatory Reporting: Draft high-quality, comprehensive incident reports and action plans suitable for review by external authorities and internal executive leadership.

5. Culture, Capability & Performance Tracking

• Behavioral Safety & Training: Design, develop, and deliver high-impact HSE training and behavioral safety programs (such as Toolbox Talks and leadership safety walkabouts) tailored to both associate and temporary/contingent workforces.

• KPI Management: Establish, track, and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) for safety and environment. Consolidate and translate complex data sets into clear, actionable reports for internal leadership and external regulatory bodies.

• Workload Prioritisation: Demonstrate a strong ability to manage a diverse, high-volume workload, balancing short-term operational demands with long-term strategic objectives under minimal supervision.

What are we looking for?

Qualifications & Technical Expertise

• NEBOSH National Certificate is required (NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent is highly desirable).

• IEMA Certificate or equivalent environmental qualification is highly desirable.

• In-depth, practical knowledge of UK Health, Safety, and Environmental legislation.

• Strong understanding of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards and auditing practices.

Experience

• Several consistent years (3-5) of experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing, FMCG, or heavy industrial environment (experience in a Mars factory environment or similar operational/technical role is highly desirable).

• Proven track record of managing and maintaining quality, safety, or environmental management systems.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex incident investigations and liaising directly with regulatory bodies (HSE, EA).

• Experience designing and delivering training programs that successfully shift behaviors and safety culture.

Leadership Competencies

• Dealing with Ambiguity: Comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, making sound decisions and driving progress even when complete information or a clear path is not immediately available.

• Driving for Results: A self-starter with a strong sense of urgency and ownership, focused on delivering measurable improvements in safety performance.

• Influencing without Authority: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to build trust and maintain collaborative relationships with associates at all levels, from shop-floor teams to senior site leaders.

• Coaching & Developing Others: Passionate about building capability in others, providing constructive coaching to operational teams to uplift overall HSE competence.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

• Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including a company bonus.

Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or who are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments, complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here

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