HSE & Sustainability Manager, Bedum, Groningen

The Company 
Our client is one of the world’s largest dairy cooperatives, headquartered in the Netherlands. It’s a global leader in producing high-quality dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and ingredients for infant nutrition and specialized health products. The company is owned by thousands of dairy farmers and operates in over 100 countries.

The Role
As a HSE & Sustainability Manager you will lead health, safety, and environmental efforts on a major dairy production site. They ensure a safe and sustainable workplace by managing safety policies, environmental compliance, and coaching a team. The role involves working closely with leadership and operators to build a strong safety culture, balancing daily operations with long-term improvements.

Responsibilities 

• Oversee and coordinate all Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) activities across two factories within the production site.
• Develop, implement, and enforce safety policies and procedures, ensuring full compliance with ARIE and SEVESO regulations.
• Lead, coach, and inspire a team of HSE specialists while actively engaging employees to promote a strong, proactive safety culture.
• Perform risk assessments, conduct audits, and investigate incidents to identify hazards and implement preventive measures.
• Collaborate closely with plant management, operators, and external stakeholders (including regulatory authorities)to align and advance HSE goals.
• Manage a balanced approach between operational, tactical, and strategic initiatives to drive continuous improvements in safety and sustainability.
• Monitor and report on HSE performance, providing insightful recommendations to the Plant Manager and Leadership Team.
• Stay up to date with evolving HSE regulations and industry best practices, and share knowledge within our client's global HSE network.

• Fluent in Dutch and skilled in stakeholder management, with the ability to coach, influence, and inspire teams across all levels of the organization
• Relevant certifications (HVK, IVK, or MoSHE) or willingness to obtain; solid understanding of Dutch legislation and regulatory compliance.
• Strong environmental expertise combined with proven safety management skills; able to lead HSE initiatives across operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
• Senior-level experience in a production or industrial environment with a strong focus on HSE, including knowledge of ARIE and/or SEVESO regulations.

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