Safety & Continuous Improvement Manager

Safety & Continuous Improvement Manager Location: Aylesford Contract: Permanent Hours: Full time, 40 hours per week (Monday to Friday) An exciting opportunity has arisen for a proactive and forward-thinking Safety & Continuous Improvement Manager to join a growing manufacturinag business. This is a newly created role, designed to strengthen Health & Safety leadership while driving continuous improvement and lean practices across the organisation. Reporting to the Operations Director, you will work closely with teams across production, logistics, and office functions to identify improvement opportunities, implement best-practice solutions, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and internal standards. This is a hands-on, highly visible role with a strong presence on the shop floor, focused on embedding a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence. Key Responsibilities Health & Safety Take ownership of the Health & Safety function across the business Manage risk assessments, incident reporting, and investigations Ensure actions are clearly communicated and effectively closed out Support internal and external audits alongside the compliance function Drive consistency, visibility, and engagement in H&S practices across all departmentsContinuous Improvement & Lean Lead and embed continuous improvement and lean initiatives across the organisation Support supervisors and teams in implementing improvements without disrupting operations Identify inefficiencies and drive waste reduction, efficiency, and improved workflow Facilitate lean activities including process mapping, standardisation, and 3S/5S initiatives Create structure and ownership around improvement ideas and projectsTraining & Development Deliver training on lean tools and continuous improvement methodologies Coach teams to adopt and sustain lean practices and standard ways of working Promote a culture of continuous learning and developmentOperational Support Conduct regular shop floor reviews and process confirmations Ensure adherence to SOPs and highlight any variances Work collaboratively with department managers to resolve issues and improve processesAbout You Proven experience in Health & Safety within a manufacturing, production, or industrial environment Practical experience applying continuous improvement or lean principles NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent) is desirable Lean or Six Sigma exposure (Green/Yellow Belt advantageous) Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills Comfortable influencing and driving change without direct authority Proactive, hands-on approach with strong problem-solving abilityWhat's on Offer Competitive salary with flexibility for the right candidate Company-wide bonus scheme Pension and private healthcare Cycle-to-work scheme Supportive, team-focused working environment Opportunity to shape a newly created role and make a real impactThis is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to combine safety leadership with continuous improvement in a role where they can genuinely influence change and drive operational performance. CV's in word format to be sent to (url removed) New Appointments Group, Expertly Matching Employers and Jobseekers since 1975. Before submitting your CV, please take a moment to check the layout, spelling, and grammar. If your CV includes graphics or design features, we'd also appreciate a simplified version in Word format. If this role isn't for you, please check out our website for other roles that may be suitable, or send us your CV, we would still like to hear from you! You can find us on our website or LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and (email address removed) We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in line with the Equality Act 2010. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. New Appointments Group acts as an Employment Agency for permanent roles and as an Employment Business for temporary roles