Health and Safety Manager Job Description Template
Resource type and category
Resource type: Downloadable job description template
Category: Health and Safety, Facilities Management Recruitment, Job Descriptions and Hiring Resources
Intended audience
Facilities Directors, Heads of Facilities, Health and Safety leaders, HR professionals, Talent Acquisition teams, Property and Estates teams and organisations recruiting a Health and Safety Manager.
Resource-card description
Download a comprehensive Health and Safety Manager job description template covering compliance, risk assessments, audits, incident investigation, emergency procedures, training, reporting and workplace safety culture.
Full resource-page description
A Health and Safety Manager plays a critical role in protecting employees, contractors, visitors and the wider organisation by ensuring workplace risks are identified, controlled and managed effectively.
The Health and Safety Manager Job Description Template provides employers with a practical framework for defining the responsibilities, experience, qualifications and personal qualities required for an effective health and safety leadership appointment.
The template positions the Health and Safety Manager as responsible for developing, implementing and managing health and safety policies and procedures across the organisation while ensuring full compliance with relevant legislation.
A major part of the role is the ongoing development and review of health and safety policies, plans and procedures, ensuring these remain aligned with current legal requirements and organisational needs.
Proactive risk management also features strongly. The Health and Safety Manager may conduct regular workplace inspections and audits, identify hazards and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken before issues develop into more serious incidents.
Incident investigation forms another important part of the position. The template includes responsibility for investigating accidents, incidents and near misses, identifying root causes and implementing measures designed to prevent recurrence.
Emergency preparedness is also covered extensively. Responsibilities can include coordinating fire evacuation procedures, first aid provision and emergency response teams.
The role also supports continuous improvement in health, safety and wellbeing, working closely with managers and team leaders to strengthen safety practices and build a positive safety culture across the organisation.
Collaboration with HR is included where health, wellbeing or individual risk assessments are required, reflecting the relationship between workplace safety and employee wellbeing.
Training and communication are further core responsibilities. The Health and Safety Manager may deliver briefings and training to staff at all levels, helping ensure policies, procedures and legal requirements are understood and followed consistently.
The template also includes liaison with external regulators, insurers and specialist advisers where required.
Accurate documentation is essential. The role involves maintaining records of inspections, incidents, risk assessments and training activity, alongside producing management reports and communicating health and safety performance to relevant stakeholders.
The Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications section provides a strong starting point for candidate requirements. The template identifies a NEBOSH National General Certificate or Diploma as essential, with IOSH membership desirable.
Relevant Health and Safety Management experience is also required, ideally within the built environment or Facilities Management sector, together with a thorough understanding of current legislation and its practical application.
Experience of risk assessments and accident investigations is highlighted, while a degree or equivalent qualification in Safety Management or a related field is described as desirable.
The About You section focuses on communication, influence, organisation and pragmatic decision-making. Strong candidates should be able to explain complex information clearly, engage people at all levels and balance compliance requirements with practical operational needs.
Designed to be adapted to individual organisations and workplace environments, this template provides a strong starting point for creating a clear and professional Health and Safety Manager job description.
Our recent placements include a number of roles that had proved difficult to fill internally.