Divisional Head of Health & Safety

Are you looking for a fresh challenge, with a forward-thinking organisation within the high-tech engineering sector? The Hyde Group are established Industry experts within Aerospace Engineering and have a new vacancy for a Divisional Head of Health & Safety working at our divisional head office in Dukinfield.

About us

We are one of the UK's largest and most trusted engineering companies, providing products and services to Aerospace, Nuclear, Energy and Scientific sectors. 

We have successfully supplied to the Aerospace industry for over 50 years. We are currently on track to achieve our strong growth plans, and we pride ourselves on delivering right first-time solutions and going the extra mile to delight our customers.

About the opportunity

The Divisional Head of Health & Safety is a senior leadership role within Hyde Aero Products (HAP), accountable for leading and continuously improving a robust ISO 45001‑compliant Occupational Health & Safety Management System across all HAP sites.

Acting as the Competent Person on behalf of the HAP Board, the role holder provides authoritative leadership on Health & Safety matters, ensures compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, and embeds a strong, consistent Safety‑First culture throughout the organisation.

A key element of the role is to lead HAP through ISO 45001 certification and ongoing surveillance, helping ensure Health & Safety is fully integrated into leadership behaviours, operational decision‑making, workforce engagement, and business change.

Key Accountabilities

ISO 45001 Leadership & System Ownership

  • Develop the ISO 45001-compliant Occupational Health & Safety Management System.

  • Lead gap analysis, implementation, certification and surveillance activities.

  • Act as primary interface with external assessors, regulators and auditors.

  • Ensure H&S documentation and records are controlled, current, accessible and auditable.

 Leadership, Culture & Governance

  • Lead and promote a proactive, prevention‑focused Health & Safety culture across all sites.

  • Act as senior Health & Safety authority, advising Directors and senior leaders.

  • Support senior management in meeting their Health & Safety leadership responsibilities.

  • Help ensure Health & Safety considerations are embedded in strategic, operational and investment decisions.

Risk, Planning & Change

  • Ensure robust processes for hazard identification, risk assessment and legal compliance.

  • Ensure the hierarchy of controls is consistently applied to eliminate or reduce risk.

  • From a H&S perspective, support business processes and changes, including:

  • organisational or process change.

  • new equipment, materials or layouts.

  • contractors, procurement and outsourced activities.

 Performance, Audit & Improvement

  • Define and oversee meaningful Health & Safety performance measures and KPIs.

  • Lead and/or support internal audits, compliance reviews and formal management reviews.

  • Help ensure incidents, non‑conformities and near‑misses are investigated and corrective actions implemented.

  • Drive continual improvement of Health & Safety performance and system effectiveness.

Personal Characteristics & Behaviours

The role holder will demonstrate the following behaviours, which are key to effective delivery of ISO 45001 and strong Health & Safety leadership:

  • Proactive & prevention‑focused, identify risks and system weakness before incidents occur.

  • Credible and authoritative, with the confidence to challenge senior leaders constructively.

  • Collaborative and influential, able to build strong internal and external relationships.

  • Hands‑on and visible, comfortable operating in pressurised, manufacturing environments.

  • Methodical, with strong attention to detail (audit, investigation and risk control).

  • Improvement‑driven, embedding new systems and ways of working effectively.

  • A people developer, committed to building H&S competence across the organisation.

Essential

  • Senior Health & Safety leadership experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment.

  • Demonstrable experience leading a H&S management system (ISO 45001 or equivalent).

  • Expertise in UK Health & Safety legislation and regulatory expectations.

  • NEBOSH Certificate / IOSH Level 3 (or equivalent).

  • Knowledge of COSHH, DSEAR, REACH and hazardous substance management.

Desirable

  • ISO 45001 Lead or Internal Auditor qualification.

  • Multi‑site or regulated industry experience.

What we offer

  • Competitive salary.

  • Generous annual leave entitlement.

  • Exciting benefits package with access to discounts from leading retailers.

  • Purpose built sites with free parking.

  • Discounted gym membership.

  • Excellent career development opportunities available.

  • Cycle to work scheme.

 Diversity and Inclusion

The Hyde Group are committed to creating an inclusive environment where our employees can reach their full potential. We welcome applications from candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds in particular groups who are currently underrepresented in our sector.

All our roles require the need to obtain pre-employment security screening checks including referencing.

If this sounds like the ideal opportunity for you, then we would love to hear from you.