Job description
As our Health & Safety Manager, you will lead and coordinate safety, emergency preparedness and incident response arrangements across our marine, operational and shore-based activities, to ensure we are ready to respond when it matters most
What the role involves
- Improving safety management across marine, engineering, operational and shore-based activities.
- Delivering inspections and audits, and supporting risk assessments and safe systems of work.
- Leading emergency plans, procedures, communications and response arrangements.
- Planning desktop exercises, operational drills and multi-agency exercises.
- Coordinating marine pollution and oil spill preparedness.
- Supporting incident investigations and turning lessons into improvements.
- Providing safety and performance reports to senior leaders and committees.
- Promoting open reporting, constructive challenge and shared learning.
- Building strong relationships with colleagues, regulators, emergency services and port partners.
What we’re looking for
You will bring significant experience in health and safety, emergency preparedness, marine or port operations, emergency planning, or another safety-critical environment.
You will combine sound technical judgement with the confidence to influence others, challenge unsafe practice constructively and turn complex information into clear, practical action.
You will also have:
- Experience within a harbour authority, port, terminal, shipping company, emergency service or other safety-critical/ high risk industry.
- Knowledge of emergency planning, incident management and multi-agency response.
- Experience of developing, maintaining and exercising contingency or emergency plans.
- Excellent communication, influencing, analytical and organisational skills.
- The ability to manage competing priorities, take ownership and work collaboratively across different teams and specialisms.
- Confidence preparing reports, technical notes, briefings and performance information.
- Experience of ISO 45001.
- Membership of IOSH, IFE, CMI or another relevant professional body.
- A NEBOSH General Certificate, Diploma or equivalent safety qualification.
It would be an advantage if you have
- An emergency planning or resilience qualification.
- A marine qualification or significant maritime operational experience.
- A strong understanding of operational risk within a port, marine or similarly safety-critical environment.
- An understanding of relevant safety and resilience requirements, including the UK Ports & Marine Facilities Safety Code, HSE requirements, the Civil Contingencies Act and marine pollution response arrangements.
- Experience of incident command, oil spill response, incident investigation or working with regulators and emergency responders.
Why join Harwich Haven Authority?
Join an organisation where your work has a clear purpose and the difference you make is reinvested in the long-term safety, sustainability and success of the Haven and its communities.
You will be part of a supportive, inclusive and values-led culture where people work together, share their expertise and are encouraged to grow. You will also enjoy a great range of benefits, including a generous pension, wellbeing support and learning and development opportunities.
We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Discover more about our people, purpose, benefits and opportunities to grow in our new employee attraction booklet, Where works means more
How to apply
If you have the experience, judgement and collaborative approach to help us strengthen safety and resilience at one of the UK’s most important maritime gateways, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Click “Apply Online” to submit your application by 31 October 2026.
