HSE Manager

Senior HSE and Compliance Manager

Location: Head Office Southampton
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00 (40 hours per week)
Salary: £47,000 - £50,000 DOE

About Us

Southampton Cargo Handling (SCH) is a leading provider of stevedoring, terminal handling and associated port services, operating across Southampton, Portsmouth, Dover and Liverpool.

Our group includes:

• Southampton Cargo Handling (SCH) – stevedoring and terminal operations
• Cruise & Passenger Services (CPS) – specialist valet car parking for cruise passengers
• MotoPrep – vehicle storage and preparation services
• Pathfinder Personnel – specialist recruitment agency for temporary workers for the port and logistics sector

Role Purpose

The Senior HSE & Compliance Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing the organisation’s integrated Health, Safety, Environmental, Quality, Information Security, and Facilities functions across all operational sites.

This role ensures full statutory, regulatory, and ISO compliance while driving continuous improvement, operational excellence, and a strong safety and compliance culture. The postholder will provide strategic advice to the Senior Management Team, manage the Integrated Management System (IMS), oversee facilities operations, and ensure that all business activities are conducted safely, securely, and efficiently.

The role requires both strategic leadership and operational delivery within a fast-paced, dockside and multi-site environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Act as the organisation’s senior competent person for Health & Safety and regulatory compliance.
• Advise the Senior Management Team on statutory obligations, risk exposure, and best practice.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Integrated Management System (IMS) and Information Security Management System (ISMS).
• Conduct formal management reviews of compliance systems to ensure ongoing effectiveness and certification readiness.
• Develop annual compliance and facilities objectives aligned to business strategy.
• Report on KPIs, risk metrics, incidents, audit findings, and compliance performance to senior leadership.
• Be on-call to respond to serious H&S incidents where required.

2. Compliance & Integrated Management Systems

Ensure ongoing compliance with:

• ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management)
• ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management)
• ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety)
• ISO 27001:2022 (Information Security)

Key duties include:

• Managing and developing the IMS (including Mango system administration).
• Planning and delivering internal audit programmes.
• Coordinating external audits, surveillance visits, and re-certification audits.
• Composing audit criteria and ensuring effective close-out of non-conformities.
• Monitoring statutory, regulatory, contractual and industry compliance obligations.
• Maintaining accurate compliance documentation and document control systems.
• Liaising with clients, contractors, regulators, and external auditors.
• Raising, tracking, and closing corrective and preventative actions.

3. Health, Safety & Environmental Management

• Ensure all departmental risk assessments, COSHH assessments and safe systems of work are current and effective.
• Maintain hazardous substances registers and associated Material Safety Data Sheets.
• Lead investigations into accidents, incidents, near-misses, damage claims, and security breaches using root cause analysis methodologies.
• Produce investigation reports, remedial action plans, and lessons learned communications.
• Manage adverse event reporting in line with statutory requirements and company procedures.
• Oversee occupational health provisions and targeted safety campaigns.
• Ensure emergency response plans are robust; coordinate and evaluate emergency exercises.
• Conduct assurance monitoring of operational sites and dockside activities.
• Review inspection reports from managers and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Maintain health & safety noticeboards, worker engagement forums, toolbox talks, and safety communications.
• Drive monthly QHSE initiatives and awareness campaigns.

4. Facilities Management

• Oversee day-to-day management of Head Office and all company-owned operational facilities.
• Ensure buildings, workspaces, and equipment are safe, secure, compliant, and fully functional.
• Manage contractor and supplier relationships for facilities services.
• Ensure inspection and maintenance of critical systems (HVAC, fire safety, security, emergency systems, lighting).
• Lead workspace planning, office moves, refurbishments, and improvement projects.
• Monitor energy usage and environmental impact, supporting sustainability initiatives.
• Maintain records for audits, insurance, and operational planning.
• Conduct office inspections and DSE assessments.

5. Claims, Insurance & Risk Management

• Identify and track all active and potential claims (injury, damage, liability).
• Coordinate injury and damage investigations to closure.
• Liaise with the company’s insurance broker and insurers regarding claims and coverage.
• Review insurance arrangements to ensure adequacy for existing and new operations.
• Provide risk-based input into new operational activities.

6. Training & Culture Development

• Identify organisational training needs through the training matrix.
• Coordinate and deliver H&S, compliance, and awareness training.
• Develop and deliver in-house training modules.
• Ensure training requests are actioned in a timely manner.
• Embed a proactive compliance and safety culture through engagement with managers and frontline teams.
• Manage QHSE meetings and cross-functional forums.

Operational Duties

• Undertake site audits and assurance inspections.
• Attend external meetings with regulators, clients, and contractors.
• Conduct and record meetings, safety briefings, and engagement sessions.
• Maintain accurate compliance and incident records.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives arising from audits, meetings, and investigations.

Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a senior HSE/Compliance role.
• Proven experience managing Integrated Management Systems.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001, 14001, 27001 and 45001.
• Experience leading internal and external audits.
• Experience in port operations or heavy industrial environments desirable.
• Demonstrable experience of root cause investigations and corrective action management.
• Experience in facilities management across multi-site operations.
• Experience liaising with insurers and managing claims processes.
• Exceptional interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong analytical and report-writing capability.
• Advanced IT skills including document control systems (e.g., Mango) and MS Office.
• Full clean driving licence.
• Willingness to travel between sites.

Qualifications

• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent (essential).
• NEBOSH General Certificate (essential)
• Lead Auditor qualification (minimum two ISO standards).
• Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH aspirational or achieved).

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong operational delivery capability.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and solutions-focused.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong leadership and motivational capability.
• Resilient and able to operate effectively in a fast-paced dockside environment.
• Committed to continuous improvement, safety, and integrity.

If this role aligns with your experience and career aspirations, we welcome your application. Please submit a CV along with a cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of this role.

Pay: £47,000.00-£50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Cycle to work scheme
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme

Work Location: In person