Head of Health and Safety

The Head of UK Health, Safety & Wellbeing is responsible for developing and leading a single, high-performing health and safety function across NWF Fuels and NWF Agriculture.

This is a strategic leadership role with significant operational influence. The successful candidate will establish the long-term health and safety vision, develop organisational capability, ensure full legal and regulatory compliance, and create a culture where health, safety and wellbeing are integral to every aspect of the business.

Working closely with both Managing Directors and their leadership teams, the role will provide independent professional advice, challenge where appropriate, and ensure that health and safety is recognised as a key driver of operational excellence, colleague wellbeing and business performance.

Why NWF Fuels?

• Monthly Pay: Up to £85,000 per annum dependant on experience
• Car: Car allowance paid monthly
• Bonus: Up too 25% performance based
• Shifts: Monday to Friday
• Holidays: 33 days per year including bank holidays
• Progression Opportunities: Clear progression pathways across the wider group that operates 2 other business’
• Training Opportunities: Funded, accredited courses.
• Medicash: Cashback on routine medical expenses such as dental, optical, physiotherapy and more!
• Shopping Discounts: Save with discounts at major retailers like Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Currys, Debenhams and more!
• Travel Savings: Discounts on flights, hotels, and airport parking.
• Entertainment Offers: Reduced prices at over 400 cinemas across the UK, including savings on drinks and snacks.
• Dining and Lifestyle: Access to deals on restaurants, leisure activities, and other lifestyle services.
• Enhanced Policies: Enhanced maternity and paternity leave.
• The Usual: Company Pension Scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Employee Assistance Programme including counselling, legal and financial support, Free Refreshments, Free Secure On-Site Parking!

Day to Day

• Lead the development and implementation of a UK-wide Health, Safety & Wellbeing strategy aligned with the objectives of both operating businesses.
• Design and build an effective health and safety organisational structure capable of supporting a geographically dispersed operational network.
• Develop a positive safety culture that promotes personal ownership, visible leadership and continuous improvement.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to both Managing Directors, Executive Leadership Teams and senior managers on all health and safety matters.
• Ensure full compliance with all relevant UK health and safety legislation, including maintaining robust governance, assurance and audit processes.
• Develop policies, standards and management systems that reflect best practice and drive consistency across both businesses.
• Lead investigations into significant incidents, identifying root causes and ensuring effective corrective and preventative actions are implemented.
• Develop meaningful safety performance measures, dashboards and reporting for Executive Teams and Boards.
• Oversee internal audit programmes and manage relationships with external regulators, including the Health and Safety Executive and other statutory bodies.
• Drive improvements in contractor management, operational risk management, behavioural safety, process safety and occupational health.
• Ensure full compliance with fuel transport laws (ADR / Dangerous Goods) and chemical/dust safety standards across depots and mills.
• Partner with Transport and Fleet teams to keep drivers safe on the road and reduce vehicle accidents.
• Working with internal experts in fleet set up 24/7 emergency response plans for critical events like major spills, fires, or serious accidents.
• Develop emergency response and business resilience arrangements across both businesses.
• Lead, coach and develop the UK Health & Safety team, ensuring the function has the capability to support future growth.
• Promote employee wellbeing initiatives and ensure health and wellbeing are embedded within the wider people strategy.
• Work collaboratively with Operational, Engineering, Fleet, HR and Commercial leaders to ensure safety is considered throughout business planning and operational decision making.

What will you bring?

• Significant senior Health & Safety leadership experience within high-risk operational environments such as logistics, fuel distribution, manufacturing, engineering, agriculture, utilities or heavy industry.
• Experience managing health and safety in high-risk areas like fuel delivery, chemical storage, or manufacturing/processing plants.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing strategic health and safety programmes across multiple operational locations.
• Experience of leading organisational cultural change and influencing senior executives.
• Strong understanding of operational risk management, behavioural safety and continuous improvement.
• Experience of leading and developing professional Health & Safety teams.
• Experience engaging with regulatory authorities and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, coaching and influencing skills with the confidence to challenge constructively at Executive level.
• NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or equivalent Level 6 qualification.
• Chartered Membership of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH) or working towards Chartered status.
• Recognised lead auditor qualification is desirable.
• Relevant environmental, process safety or occupational health qualifications would be advantageous.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness.
• Visible and credible leader capable of influencing at every level of the organisation.
• Resilient, pragmatic and solutions focused.
• High levels of integrity, professional judgement and personal accountability.
• Excellent relationship builder with the ability to gain trust across operational and executive teams.
• Passionate about creating workplaces where everyone returns home safely every day.

Who are NWF Fuels?

NWF Group comprises of 3 key businesses: NWF Fuels, NWF Agriculture & Boughey Distribution. Employing over 1,400 colleagues across the group, we encourage and empower our people to progress and move fluidly through the group, meaning the sky really is the limit when you join us!

What makes NWF Fuels different? Our commitment to the customer and our focus on service is what sets us apart in the market, and our people are the driving force! We supply a range of fuel related products throughout the UK to domestic, agricultural, commercial and retail customers through our modern fleet of over 155 tankers and a strategically located depot network allowing us to service more than 113k customers. The business has grown organically and through acquisition currently standing as the third largest fuel distributor in the UK – we plan to climb higher and want you to be a part of it!

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.