Health Safety and Environmental Lead

About the role

Here at Kerry Dairy Ireland, we are currently recruiting for a HSE Lead, on a permanent basis onsite in Ossett, Wakefield. The ideal candidate will be someone who possess a solid background in HSE through a combination of education and experience, to take real ownership of a busy and varied role. You will be a conscientious leader who can support and drive positive change, alongside being a confident communicator. reporting into our SLT.

What will I be doing?

• Act as primary lead & coordinator for Health & Safety & Environmental activities.
• Advises management teams on legal requirements, industry best practice, and prevailing group standards.
• Works in conjunction with site management and the Regional HSE team to drive the safety agenda.
• Actively engages the front line and management to maintain and own the pro-active safety culture.
• Creates the forums and opportunities to involve and communicate with colleagues.
• Creates/develops standards/performance frameworks for performance assessment and benchmarking (e.g., ISO ISO14001/ISO50001/SMETA/SWA).
• Coordinates the generation and routine maintenance/review of risk assessment and safe systems of work processes.
• Coordinate incident investigation processes, recording and reporting industrial injuries as required.
• Designates and carries out routine Site Health & Safety/Environmental audits to comply with the local site and wider group requirements.
• Review, update and maintain Site Health, Safety & Environmental Management Systems, taking account of industry best practice and any prevailing Kerry Group standards (Human Element/Hazardous Processes/LIFE).
• Support & advise Occupational Health & HR as required to ensure the health & wellbeing of our colleagues.
• Build effective Company, local, regional & national HSE networks to share & learn best practice.
• Maintain the Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in line with Company or other prevailing standards (ISO14001 & ISO50001).

What do I need to be successful?

In Kerry Dairy Ireland we understand that people have very different career trajectories and experiences. In order to be successful in this role we would be looking for the right competencies and aptitudes as well as your proven track record of success in a similar role and environment.

These include:

• Minimum NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent qualification.
• Good knowledge of local H&S & Environmental Legislation.
• PC literate including being able to work with Microsoft Office and H&S software.
• Stakeholder management: communicate with both internal and external; and public and private stakeholders.
• Leadership skills: ability to influence and lead the HSE culture at front line level.

Desirable:

• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent qualification (Or actively working towards).
• IEMA or other relevant qualification/experience with the ability to manage in accordance with a PPC permit.
• Proven post qualification, Health & Safety & Environment experience in a manufacturing/FMCG/service company. Food and Drink industry experience would be an advantage.
• Professional level membership of a recognised Health & Safety institute (IOSH/IIRSM etc.).

What will I get in return?

At Kerry Dairy Ireland, we believe in giving talented, curious people the opportunity to make a difference.

We work as a team, searching for the best ways to inspire food and nourish life.

We are a community of innovators, working across disciplines to solve global food challenges with a fresh approach. We want you to achieve whatever you put your mind to.

We also offer:

• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays).
• Single cover private medical insurance.
• Matched pension scheme
• Benefits platform offering discounts and cashback on major retailers.

About Kerry Dairy Ireland

Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial retail presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

Get in touch today!

In Kerry Dairy Ireland we benefit from the knowledge of our colleagues who bring a diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences. One team fostering an inclusive culture that, above all, inspires food and nourishes life. One culture where everyone brings their unique perspectives and experiences to help make us better, together. We are committed to nurturing an environment of positivity and inclusiveness, where everyone can be at their best, both personally and professionally.

Our recruitment, selection and assessment process are based on the skills and competencies of the specific roles and based entirely on merit.  We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kerry and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.