Senior Director - QHSEE - UK & Ireland

GEA is one of the largest suppliers for the food and beverage processing industry and a wide range of other process industries. Approximately 18,000 employees in more than 50 countries contribute significantly to GEA’s success.
Join us and be part of something impactful! At GEA, we place a strong emphasis on quality, health, safety, and environmental responsibility. We offer engaging and rewarding work, a supportive and international team environment, and excellent opportunities for personal and professional growth within a global organisation.

Responsibilities / Tasks

Reporting to the Cluster Vice President, you will lead the ongoing development and management of GEA’s QHSEE (Quality, Health, Safety, Environmental, and Energy) systems, ensuring compliance with ISO 9001, 45001, 14001, and 50001 certifications. You will head the QHSEE team to drive excellence across diverse business areas, including production, warehousing, field service, and equipment installation within industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Farming, Heating & Cooling, and Food & Beverage.

This role suits a self-motivated professional with strong planning and communication skills, committed to achieving high standards. Regular travel across the UK and Ireland is required.

• Implement aligned Quality and HSE Management Systems to ensure legal compliance and adherence to GEA Group HSE standards.

• Oversee the effective application of HSE systems and foster a strong safety culture across all UK and Ireland operations, including mechanical/chemical production, sales, service, and projects.

• Monitor system performance through audits and inspections, reporting monthly to UK Management with improvement plans.

• Maintain clear HSE communication and consultation with all employees.

• Collect and report defined GEA Global KPI data as required.

• Plan and execute internal/external legal compliance audits and inspections to support continual improvement.

• Maintain and develop ISO 45001, 14001, 9001, and 50001 certifications.

• Provide monthly QHSEE reports highlighting trends, achievements, risks, and improvement opportunities.

• Manage mandatory HSE training programs for all GEA staff in the UK and Ireland.

• Ensure efficient use of country HSE resources in line with the organisational structure.

• Develop, implement, and maintain risk management registers and related procedures.

• Manage the Serious Event process, including timely notification and response.

• Submit monthly health, safety, environmental, and sustainability data to the GEA HSE-E reporting system.

• Lead incident investigations to identify root causes, ensure corrective actions are implemented, and track closures.

• Drive implementation of GEA HSE standards and conduct regular audits.

• Oversee proactive HSE reporting procedures and processes.

• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives in health, safety, and environment.

• This role is based at our Milton Keynes office, with flexible working arrangements available. However, it is expected that approximately 70% of your working time will be spent on-site.

Your Profile / Qualifications

• Strong expertise in Quality and HSE (Health, Safety, and Environmental) management

• NEBOSH General Certificate in Health and Safety (required)

• NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management (desirable)

• Diploma in HSE Management (desirable)

• Solid understanding and hands-on experience with relevant Health, Safety, and Environmental legislation

• Certified auditor for ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards

• Strong experience with quality and HSE regulations, including international standards and corporate system implementation

• Minimum 5 years’ expertise in national norms and regulations

• Background in functional organisations with solid project and resource management skills

• Certified ISO Management Systems representative with auditing knowledge

• Skilled in incident investigation and HSE-related training delivery

• Proven ability to lead HSE cultural change and transformation

• Good knowledge of IT systems and tools

• Detail-oriented with a strong focus on quality and standards

• Broad international business understanding

• Credible, committed, and fair professional approach

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities

• Willing and able to travel regularly within the UK and Ireland

• Conceptually strong with a leadership style suited to high-performance production environments

• Experienced and effective leader with a sensitive and supportive management style

Did we spark your interest?
Then please click apply above to access our guided application process.