HSE Specialist

This is not a “maintain the system” safety role. 

We’re looking for an HSE Specialist who is curious about how work really happens and motivated to make it safer in practice, not just on paper. 

In this role, you’ll work closely with teams to understand the gap between how work is designed and how it is actually carried out, helping to shape solutions that are practical, effective and support people to do their jobs safely. 

You’ll bring a balance of care and challenge - supporting others, influencing where it matters, and ensuring that actions and commitments are followed through and embedded in day-to-day work. 

Alongside this, you will support the implementation and continuous improvement of Health, Safety, Environmental and Sustainability (HSE&S) programmes, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements while helping build a culture where people feel supported, ownership is shared, and safety is part of how work gets done. 

Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance 

• Implement HSE&S policies, procedures, standards and guidelines across the organization in a way that is practical, usable and meaningful for those doing the work 

• Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory and internal requirements, while balancing what is required with what is workable in practice 

• Promote and support the implementation of Hovione’s HSE&S policies, systems and procedures (COPs, HBRs, SOPs and others), with a focus on understanding how work is really carried out, not just how it is described 

• Contribute to the prevention of major accident hazards through effective governance, engagement and risk-informed decision making 

Audits, Inspections & Monitoring 

• Carry out HSE inspections and interactions that go beyond compliance to understand conditions, behaviours and pressures in the workplace 

• Conduct internal audits that identify not only gaps, but also opportunities to strengthen how work is planned and delivered safely 

• Support audits by regulators, customers and external parties with professionalism and transparency 

• Monitor corrective and preventive actions with a strong focus on quality, ownership and timely follow-through 

Incident Management & Risk Assessment 

• Lead or support incident and accident investigations, with a focus on learning and improvement, ensuring underlying factors are understood—not just immediate causes 

• Develop clear, practical recommendations that are proportionate, effective and implemented in reality—not just in reports 

• Conduct risk assessments that reflect the real complexity of work activities, involving those closest to the task 

• Support the development of risk controls that enable work to be done safely, rather than relying solely on procedural compliance 

HSE Systems & Performance 

• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of HSE management systems with a focus on usability, effectiveness and real-world application 

• Maintain HSE metrics, databases and reporting tools, using insights to identify patterns, understand performance and drive meaningful action 

• Move beyond lagging indicators by helping to identify early signals and opportunities for proactive improvement  

• Recommend actions that focus on sustainable change, not short-term fixes  

Training & Awareness 

• Deliver HSE training sessions and awareness programs to employees and contractors, that are relevant, practical and grounded in real work scenarios 

• Promote a culture where people feel supported, listened to and able to speak up about risks, concerns and improvement ideas 

• Provide technical guidance and support on HSE-related matters, that helps teams make good decisions in real situations 

• Act as a trusted partner to the business, supporting both compliance and the day-to-day challenges people face in their roles 

Project Support & Continuous Improvement 

• Support HSE activities within assigned projects and operational initiatives to ensure HSE is considered early, integrated effectively and applied in practice 

•  Ensure work is planned and executed in a way that is safe, efficient and realistic for those delivering it 

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and operational excellence. 

• Resolve issues proactively and provide practical, risk-based solutions. 

• Take ownership of assigned actions and support others in doing the same, ensuring commitments made are consistently delivered 

Skills & Competencies 

• Ability to translate HSE requirements into practical, workable solutions that support safe and effective execution of work  

• Strong focus on ownership and follow-through, ensuring that actions are seen through to completion and commitments are consistently delivered  

• Curiosity and willingness to understand how work is actually done, including the challenges, pressures and trade-offs people face day-to-day  

• Balanced approach to compliance and operational reality, maintaining high standards while recognising the importance of usability and practicality  

• Ability to influence and engage at all levels, building trust and supporting others to take ownership for HSE in their areas  

• Confidence to challenge constructively, holding the line where needed while maintaining positive and respectful working relationships  

• Strong learning mindset, able to identify underlying causes, recognise patterns and turn insights into meaningful improvements  

• Comfort working in complexity, using sound judgement to make risk-informed decisions rather than relying solely on procedure  

• Clear and effective communication, with the ability to adapt messaging to different audiences and situations  

• Commitment to supporting people, creating an environment where individuals feel able to speak up, raise concerns and contribute to safer ways of working 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 

• Promote a strong culture of care across the organization. 

• Attention to detail and ability to work in a regulated environment.