Health & Safety Lead

About Years

Years is an innovative and fast-growing startup focused on revolutionising dog food by providing fresh, personalised, human-grade meals designed to support each dog's unique health needs without preservatives. Established just three years ago, Years serves thousands of customers across the UK with plans to expand internationally, aiming to improve pet nutrition worldwide.

Your Role and Mission

As our Health & Safety Lead, you will be integral to scaling our production operations by establishing robust health, safety, and engineering safety frameworks essential for securing SALSA accreditation while maintaining our current APHA compliance. This hands-on position involves developing safety documentation, conducting training, and enhancing audit readiness, working closely with production, maintenance, and engineering teams on-site.

Key Responsibilities

• Create, review, and standardise SOPs and Safe Systems of Work across all operational areas including production, hygiene, and maintenance.
• Manage comprehensive risk assessments covering general risks, machinery (PUWER), COSHH, and manual handling, ensuring identified actions are completed.
• Take ownership of the near-miss reporting system by recording incidents, analysing trends, and driving preventative actions.
• Lead regular site health and safety meetings, setting clear agendas and maintaining actionable logs with accountability delegated appropriately.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external health and safety partners to execute compliance tasks and audit requirements efficiently and on schedule.
• Oversee the integration of health and safety training into production schedules to minimize disruption while ensuring full coverage.
• Deliver practical, on-the-floor safety training for all relevant personnel including operators, supervisors, and contractors.
• Maintain a comprehensive training and compliance matrix to track certifications, expirations, and readiness for external audits including SALSA and APHA.
• Ensure timely delivery of refresher courses such as first aid, fire marshal responsibilities, forklift operation, and food safety.
• Manage relationships with external training providers when in-house delivery is unsuitable, ensuring adherence to budget.
• Facilitate health and safety inductions for all new employees, temporary workers, and contractors, monitoring training through probationary periods.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• NEBOSH General Certificate is essential; alternatively, IOSH Managing Safely combined with strong hands-on competency in machinery risk assessment (PUWER) and COSHH may be considered.
• Experience working in fast-paced manufacturing environments undergoing continuous change, with specific experience in food manufacturing and SALSA/APHA regulation regarded as highly beneficial.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to drive tasks to completion, influence cross-departmental stakeholders, and produce clear documentation.
• Solid understanding of COSHH, PUWER, machinery safety, manual handling protocols, and audit documentation requirements.
• Ability and willingness to engage directly with operational teams, delivering training and ensuring compliance on the production floor.

Benefits

• Annual salary range between £50,000 and £60,000.
• Medicash Level 4 Cashback plan.
• Access to Spill Employee Assistance Program and mental health support.
• £250 annual allowance for learning and development activities including courses and self-study materials.
• £200 wellbeing budget each year.
• Opportunity to work up to two weeks abroad per year in select roles.
• Monthly internal recognition scheme dubbed "Yappa of The Month."
• One volunteer day annually on a cause of your choice.
• Subsidised employee activity groups ranging from sports to social clubs, with opportunities to start new groups.
• Team events held twice yearly with activities like axe throwing, crazy golf, and cocktail making.
• Exclusive discounts on products and treats for you and your family and friends.
• Lunch & Learn sessions covering varied topics such as dog first aid and financial literacy.
• Casual dress code.
• Your birthday off or an alternative date if it falls on a non-working day.