Head of Health, Safety & Environmental - Living Landscapes Division

Purpose

Origin Living Landscapes brings together a portfolio of businesses delivering future-ready products, services, and expertise across the sports, environmental, and landscape sectors. Operating across the UK and Ireland, the division includes manufacturing, warehousing, and contracting operations.

The Head of Health, Safety & Sustainability is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and delivering a progressive, integrated Health, Safety and Environmental strategy across the Living Landscapes Division.

The role goes beyond compliance—driving a high-performance culture, embedding environmental stewardship, and aligning with Group ESG ambitions. The postholder will lead the development of consistent standards, governance, and systems while enabling operational teams to own safety and sustainability outcomes.

This role is Home Based with extensive travel within the UK, as and when required.

Scope

• Divisional accountability for Health, Safety, Environmental & Sustainability performance
• Leadership of HSE team (HSE Business Partners x 2, Training Coordinator, Environmental lead)
• Oversight across multi-site manufacturing, warehousing, and field operations
• Key interface with Group Safety, ESG, regulators, and external stakeholders

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy & Leadership

• Implement a divisional Health, Safety & Sustainability strategy aligned to Group objectives
• Lead the evolution from compliance-led H&S to a culture of proactive risk management and environmental responsibility
• Act as a key member of the divisional leadership community, influencing business planning and operational strategy
• Establish clear roadmaps, KPIs, and maturity models across HSE & Sustainability

Health, Safety and Environmental Governance

• Ensure robust systems to maintain compliance with all relevant UK HSE and environmental legislation
• Develop and standardise policies, procedures, and management systems across all sites
• Lead on regulatory engagement (e.g. HSE, Environment Agency)
• Oversee incident management, including RIDDOR reporting, investigations, and root cause analysis
• Provide expert input on operational change, site development, and capital projects

Environmental and Sustainability Management

• Support the deployment of a divisional sustainability strategy, aligned to Group ESG priorities
• Assist the Environmental lead driving improvements in:
  • Carbon footprint and energy use
  • Waste reduction and circularity
  • Sustainable sourcing and materials
• Establish and manage environmental management systems (e.g. ISO 14001 where appropriate)

Performance Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Establish a data-driven approach to HSE & sustainability performance
• Deliver regular reporting to:
  • Divisional leadership teams
  • Group HSE / ESG forums
• Lead divisional participation in Group Safety Excellence / ESG programmes
• Drive continuous improvement through:
  • Audits and assurance programmes
  • Benchmarking and best practice sharing
  • Lessons learned from incidents and near misses

Operational Support and Assurance

•  Ensure effective deployment of HSE resource across all businesses
• Provide strategic oversight of:
  • Risk assessments and safe systems of work
  • Training frameworks and competency development
  • Occupational health and hygiene programmes
• Lead a programme of site audits and operational assurance
• Ensure emergency preparedness, business continuity, and crisis response capability

Culture, Capability and Engagement

• Champion a positive safety and sustainability culture across all levels of the organisation
• Develop leadership capability within operational teams to own HSE outcomes
• Lead engagement initiatives that connect employees to safety, wellbeing, and environmental impact

• Build organisational capability through training, coaching, and structured development pathways

Contractor and Supply Chain Assurance

• Establish standards for contractor management and third-party assurance
• Ensure alignment of supply chain practices with safety and sustainability expectations

• Oversee critical supplier compliance (e.g. fire systems, occupational health, waste management)

Skills & Experience

• NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) – essential
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Health & Safety, Environmental or related discipline
• Chartered membership of IOSH (or working towards)
• Significant experience in a multi-site operational environment (manufacturing, logistics, or contracting preferred)
• Proven track record of:
  • Leading HSE strategy at scale
  • Driving cultural change and behavioural safety programmes
  • Delivering environmental and sustainability improvements
• Strong knowledge of:
  • UK H&S and environmental legislation
  • Environmental management systems (e.g. ISO 14001)
  • ESG reporting frameworks (desirable)
• Demonstrated ability to influence at senior leadership level

Key Capabilities

• Strategic thinking with strong execution discipline
• Credible, visible leader with the ability to influence at all levels
• Data-driven decision making and performance management
• Strong stakeholder engagement (internal & external)
• Ability to operate across complex, decentralised businesses

Values & Behaviours

• Acts as a visible leader and role model for safety, integrity, and environmental responsibility
• Builds high-performing, collaborative teams across business units
• Demonstrates accountability for both people safety and environmental impact
• Drives innovation and continuous improvement in HSE & sustainability practices
• Champions a culture where doing the right thing is non-negotiable

It’s you we’re interested in

At Origin, we want everyone to have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential. We positively encourage applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexuality, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy and maternity.

Having a diverse and inclusive business is vital for our future success and that’s why we treat all our applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their background or any other protected characteristic.