Job Description

Group Health and Safety Officer

Our client is a UK-wide clothing and textile retailer with 11 stores, distribution centres in Cardiff, Leeds, Seaham, and Carlisle, and administration centres in Warrington, Cardiff, London, and Carlisle. The Group employs 1,000 staff. The successful candidate will report to the Group Company Secretary and work under the direction of the Group Health & Safety Manager. The role requires mobility and will be largely field-based to service the entire business.

The primary office location will be Cardiff or Warrington; other locations may be considered for the right candidate.

The Health & Safety Officer will support, advise, and train colleagues across all levels of the business and conduct approximately 70 site audits per year, mainly in retail stores, but also in distribution centres and office spaces.

This role involves being the first point of contact with EHO’s, Fire Officers, and other government agencies regarding health and safety. The candidate will also carry out post-incident investigations and assist in reviewing and creating safe systems of work and risk assessments.

Previous experience in retail or distribution is preferable, but other candidates will be considered.

A minimum of 2 years of post-qualification experience is preferred, or candidates with retail or warehousing experience and the required health and safety qualifications.

Technical requirements include a sound knowledge of current health & safety legal requirements, membership of IOSH, and holding the NEBOSH diploma or equivalent.

Key competencies include excellent communication and negotiation skills across all staff levels, self-motivation, good report writing skills, and a practical, commercial approach to health and safety legislation. The candidate should also be comfortable training others in health and safety topics and capable of delivering solutions in a commercial environment.