Health, Safety & Environment Manager

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and interested in helping each other create good work experiences. We think about the customer and make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

We're looking for an experienced and influential Health, Safety & Environment Manager to lead the HS&E strategy for our Timaru manufacturing site. As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, you'll play a critical role in shaping a culture where safety, wellbeing, environmental stewardship, and operational excellence go hand in hand.

Reporting to the Plant Manager, you'll provide strategic direction and expert guidance while leading a dedicated Health & Safety Manager and Environmental Coordinator. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact across one of McCain's largest manufacturing operations, driving continuous improvement, strengthening capability, and ensuring we deliver safe, sustainable outcomes for our people, communities, and environment.

This is more than a Health, Safety & Environment leadership role. It's an opportunity to shape the future of one of McCain's most significant manufacturing sites!

What you’ll be doing.

Lead the development and execution of the site's Health, Safety & Environment strategy, objectives and annual improvement plans.

Partner closely with the Plant Manager and Site Leadership Team to drive a proactive, high-performing HS&E culture.

Lead, coach and develop the Health & Safety Manager and Environmental Coordinator, building capability and accountability across the team.

Champion critical risk management programs, ensuring effective controls are embedded across operations.

Oversee health, safety and environmental management systems, ensuring compliance with legislation, permits, consents and McCain standards.

Drive continuous improvement through audits, assurance activities, governance reviews and performance analysis.

Lead or oversee investigations into significant incidents, ensuring robust root cause analysis and effective corrective actions.

Ensure environmental performance objectives relating to energy, water, waste, emissions and sustainability initiatives are achieved.

Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Projects and HR teams to embed HS&E requirements into business decisions and site initiatives.

Build strong relationships with regulators, industry bodies and external stakeholders, representing McCain as a trusted and responsible industry leader.

Lead emergency preparedness and business continuity planning, ensuring the site is ready to respond effectively to critical events.

Monitor and communicate HS&E performance, providing strategic insights and recommendations to site and regional leadership.

What you’ll need to be successful.

Tertiary qualification in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Management, Science, Engineering or a related field.

Significant experience leading Health, Safety & Environment programs within manufacturing, food production, FMCG or other complex operational environments.

Demonstrated leadership experience, including coaching and developing specialist HS&E professionals.

Strong knowledge of New Zealand health, safety and environmental legislation and regulatory requirements.

Experience managing integrated management systems, with knowledge of ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 highly regarded.

Proven capability in critical risk management, incident investigation, emergency preparedness and contractor management.

Experience translating strategic objectives into practical, measurable site-wide initiatives.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence decisions through data and insights.

Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge constructively at all organisational levels.

Professional certifications, auditor qualifications or relevant industry memberships will be advantageous.

About the team.

You'll be part of the Timaru Site Leadership Team and work closely with operational leaders across Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality and HR. Leading a team of two HS&E professionals, you'll have the opportunity to influence hundreds of employees and contractors while partnering with regional and global McCain teams to share best practice and drive continuous improvement.

About McCain.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

AI & Digital Capabilities.

At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today and bring your expertise, curiosity, and ideas to a company where your contribution truly matters.