Head of Health, Safety and Operational Excellence

About NVD : A family-owned business, established in 1980, NVD was set up to assist vehicle manufacturers in the timely and incident free distribution of their products. We've established ourselves as a one stop shop providing the three main pillars of outbound logistics, including transporting, storing and enhancing our customers' vehicles, prior to delivery to their end location. Since 1980 NVD has been at the forefront of pioneering the digitisation of the FVL industry. As early adopters of emerging technology we have been able to introduce huge efficiencies saving time and money for our customers. Our unwavering commitment to progress and continual service improvement remains at the heart of our business today. Role Summary This role is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of Health & Safety and Operational Excellence across multiple sites. This includes ensuring legal and ISO compliance, improving safety management systems, conducting inspections and audits, and leading an in-house team. The role also involves overseeing training, investigating incidents, strengthening safety culture, coordinating ISO audits, and developing and delivering a roadmap for operational excellence. A key aspect is identifying and implementing continuous improvement opportunities, using data to track progress, and fostering a collaborative environment to encourage engagement and shared ownership of safety and efficiency. Pay & Benefits Competitive Salary + Bonus Pension Scheme Staff Purchase Schemes : Tyres and Tools Employee Assistance Programme Discounted Gym Membership Bike to Work Key Responsibilities Lead Operational Excellence and CI : Develop and execute a continuous improvement roadmap, actively coaching the workforce on Lean methodologies (e.g., 5S, process mapping) and driving hands-on implementation across operations. Strengthen Safety & Efficiency Culture : Act as a visible, approachable site leader, engaging directly with all levels of the operational team to build and maintain a shared, proactive culture of safety, engagement, and shared ownership. Integrate and Optimize Safety Systems : Lead all aspects of Health & Safety, ensuring full legal and ISO compliance ) by optimizing management systems and procedures for practical, consistent use across multiple sites. Drive Data-Informed Improvement : Utilize data and KPIs to track performance, identify key improvement opportunities, and demonstrate tangible gains in operational efficiency and safety outcomes. Ensure Corrective Action & Learning : Lead thorough investigations into incidents and near misses, focusing on identifying root causes and quickly sharing learning and implementing corrective actions across the organization. Mentor and Develop Team : Provide leadership, direction, and professional development for the in-house team, mentoring them to champion the integrated safety and operational excellence agenda. Qualifications & Experience Minimum : NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent Health & Safety qualification (IOSH membership preferred). Experience : 5+ years in Health & Safety management, ideally in automotive, logistics, manufacturing, or heavy industry. Certifications : Demonstrated experience maintaining ISO certifications ). Methodologies : Exposure to or training in Lean / Continuous Improvement methodologies (Green Belt or similar desirable). Leadership : Experience mentoring or leading a small team. License : Full driving licence. Equal Opportunities Statement National Vehicle Distribution is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We value openness, innovation, customer focus, and operational excellence. Our organisation actively promotes equality and prohibits discrimination based on gender, marital / civil status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, or membership of the Traveller community, in accordance with Irish and UK equality legislation. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our shared success. #IND1