Head of QHSE

Description

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced quality and health and safety professional to join a global market leading manufacturing company operating in the healthcare industry. Based in Poole, working closely with all other departments and reporting directly to the Operations Director. Own the end-to-end Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental agenda across the business.

Drive compliance, mitigate operational risk, and maintain certification to ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO13485, and related standards. Deliver a proactive QHSE culture that underpins product integrity, regulatory assurance, and workforce safety across all environments—factory, warehouse, labs, and customer sites.

This an exciting time to join an established business and great team with ongoing ambitious plans and growth aspirations.

We are looking for someone with aspirations to far exceed expectations, grow with a business, bring fresh and exciting ways of working and to drive the very best quality and efficiency levels.

Key Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Hold full responsibility for the Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) process, ensuring timely investigation, resolution, and verification of effectiveness.
• Participate in Customer Success meetings to provide quality oversight and ensure that operational commitments are supported from an QHSE perspective.
• Lead and oversee the Goods-In Critical Parts Inspection process to ensure compliance with specifications and quality standards.
• Lead the final Dispatch Inspection process for machines to ensure conformity prior to shipment.
• Implement proactive monitoring systems in collaboration with Production and Warehouse teams to optimise Promised vs Delivered performance.
• Manage the Rejects Process, ensuring accurate recording, analysis, and follow-up actions.
• Conduct monthly Health and Safety and Quality performance reviews, implement improvement actions, and prepare comprehensive monthly reports for Senior Management review.
• Responsible for Health and Safety across the organisation.
• Lead the Health and Safety Committee, ensuring effective governance, structured meetings, and the delivery of actionable outcomes that support continuous improvement across all operational areas.
• Ensure that Safe Systems of Work are established, maintained, and adhered to for all key operational processes.
• Ensure that robust and compliant Risk Assessments are in place for all activities, including those undertaken by Field Service Engineers.
• Support the Sales function by completing Safe Contractor, Constructionline and hospital compliance protocols in a timely and accurate manner.
• Conduct all employee inductions, ensuring that new starters receive comprehensive training on Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality requirements, and that all records are accurately maintained in accordance with organisational and regulatory expectations.
• Oversee building maintenance activities to ensure the workplace remains safe, compliant, and fit for purpose, including coordinating repairs, monitoring facility conditions, and ensuring all maintenance work aligns with Health and Safety standards and legal requirements.
• Ensure that the data is collected for the 14001 dashboard on a monthly basis.
• Set the foundations for a successful role out of ISO13485
• Provide data driven reports to senior leadership and prepare improvement roadmaps.
• Conduct thorough investigations into workplace accidents and near‑miss events, identify root causes using recognised methodologies.
• Compile, analyse, and interpret operational and safety data to produce clear, actionable reports for senior leadership, supporting strategic decision-making and regulatory compliance.
• Actively take on additional responsibilities to drive the business forward.
  
  

Experience 

• Managing and driving change
• Proven QHSE leadership in a manufacturing or medical device environment.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO13485.
• Experience supporting field-based engineering teams and customer-site activities.
• Demonstrated capability in audit management, CAPA, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance.
• Solid understanding of UK H&S regulations (PUWER, LOLER, COSHH, RIDDOR, etc.).
• Effective stakeholder management with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Structured thinker with strong analytical, reporting, and process-design skills.
  
  

Skills

• High-level leadership and decision-making skills.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Able to motivate, influence, and train people.
• Be enthusiastic, credible, and dependable always
• Be focused and goal oriented
• Experienced in project management
• Proactive mindset with a continuous improvement orientation.
• Be inventive and resilient
• Have excellent IT skills (including Outlook and Excel)
• Decisive, detail-driven, and compliance-focused.
  
  

Remuneration & Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 25 days Holiday (increasing to 28 days after 5 years)
• Private Medical Cover
• Employee Assistance Program
• Company Pension
• Birthday and Long Service Love2Shop Vouchers
• Health Cash Back Plan which includes gym membership discounts
• Life Assurance
• Employee Volunteering Day