Health and Safety Manager Jobs

The Health and Safety Manager in an automotive business carries accountability for one of the most technically demanding safety environments in any UK industry. Automotive workshops, bodyshops, PDI and vehicle preparation centres, fleet depots and parts warehousing operations combine chemical hazards, working at height, heavy plant operation, high-voltage electrical systems, lifting equipment, noise exposure and confined space working into a daily operational environment where the H&S Manager must maintain rigorous compliance, a strong safety culture and a practical risk management framework that keeps people safe without obstructing the throughput the business depends on.

As high-voltage EV workshop approvals become mandatory for any franchised or independent operator servicing electric vehicles, as COSHH requirements around paint and chemical use in bodyshops continue to evolve and as DVSA and HSE enforcement of fleet and transport operator safety standards grows, the Health and Safety Manager with genuine automotive industry knowledge is one of the most commercially important compliance professionals in the sector.

Venatu recruits Health and Safety Managers for permanent and contract roles across franchised dealer groups, automotive bodyshop and repair networks, fleet logistics and transport operators, PDI and vehicle preparation businesses and automotive parts distribution and manufacturing businesses throughout the UK. This role sits within our car dealership, truck and van and operational support recruitment divisions.

Who We Recruit For

We place candidates with:

• Franchised car and commercial vehicle dealer groups
• Automotive bodyshop and accident repair network operators
• Fleet logistics, road haulage and distribution businesses
• PDI, vehicle preparation and pre-delivery processing centres
• Automotive parts distribution and aftermarket warehousing businesses
• Bus, coach and public transport operator fleet engineering departments
• Automotive manufacturing and vehicle upfitting businesses
• Independent workshop networks and national fast fit and service chain operators

Roles We Place

• Health and Safety Manager (Automotive)
• H&S Manager (Workshop and Bodyshop)
• Health, Safety and Environment Manager (Automotive)
• H&S Manager (Fleet and Logistics)
• Group Health and Safety Manager (Dealer Group)
• Senior Health and Safety Advisor (Automotive)
• Health and Safety Coordinator (Automotive)
• Interim Health and Safety Manager (Automotive)

Who Can Apply

Strong Health and Safety Manager candidates in automotive typically come from:

• Experienced H&S Managers from automotive workshops, bodyshops or dealer groups who want to move to a new employer, a larger or more complex operation or a role with broader group-level scope
• H&S Managers from logistics, road transport or fleet operations who want to apply their transport safety expertise in an automotive retail or fleet maintenance environment where their operational safety knowledge is directly transferable
• Compliance Managers from HGV or PSV fleet operations who have managed operator licence compliance, driver safety programmes, vehicle maintenance compliance and DVSA interaction and want to broaden their scope into the full health and safety management function
• H&S professionals from manufacturing, facilities management or chemical processing backgrounds with COSHH, LOLER, PUWER, RIDDOR and CDM experience who want to develop a specialism in the automotive sector
• Workshop Controllers or Engineering Managers who have developed strong practical safety management capability through running automotive workshops and want to step into a dedicated H&S management function with formal responsibility for compliance programmes, risk assessments and safety culture
• H&S advisors or graduate safety professionals with a NEBOSH qualification and some automotive or transport sector exposure who want to step into their first H&S Manager role in a workshop, bodyshop or fleet environment

NEBOSH National General Certificate is the minimum qualification expected by most automotive H&S Manager employers. NEBOSH National Diploma or equivalent Level 6 qualification and GradIOSH or CMIOSH membership is expected for senior and group-level roles. Automotive-specific knowledge of COSHH in bodyshop contexts, LOLER for vehicle lifting equipment, PUWER for workshop tools, explosive atmospheres regulations for paint facilities and high-voltage electrical safety for EV workshop environments are all valued above the general H&S qualification baseline. Venatu confirms the qualification and sector knowledge requirements with each employer before presenting candidates.

Health and Safety Manager Salary Guide

Salaries reflect the complexity of the operational environment, the number of sites covered, the level of qualification held and whether the role carries engineering or environmental management alongside the core H&S function. Venatu benchmarks package expectations with each employer before beginning a search. Visit the HR Hub for broader context on automotive compliance and management support role remuneration.

What the Role Involves

Risk Assessment and Hazard Management:

• Conducting and maintaining comprehensive risk assessments across all operational areas including workshops, bodyshops, parts stores, vehicle preparation areas, wash bays, paint mixing rooms, waste storage areas and customer-facing areas
• Managing COSHH assessments for all chemicals in use across the operation including oils, fluids, refrigerants, paint products, thinners, degreasers and battery electrolytes, ensuring storage, handling and disposal comply with current COSHH and environmental regulations
• Developing and maintaining safe systems of work for all high-risk activities including vehicle lifting, working under vehicles, wheel and tyre operations, welding and gas cutting, high-voltage EV servicing, working at height, battery handling and handling of asbestos-containing materials in older vehicles where applicable
• Managing LOLER compliance across all vehicle lifting equipment including two-post and four-post lifts, scissor lifts and jacking equipment, ensuring thorough examinations are completed at the required intervals and equipment defects are taken out of service promptly

Compliance and Regulatory Management:

• Maintaining the business's compliance with all applicable H&S legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, PUWER, LOLER, COSHH, RIDDOR, noise at work regulations and fire safety legislation
• Managing RIDDOR reporting obligations, carrying out accident and near-miss investigations to root cause standard, implementing corrective actions and maintaining the accident register in compliance with legal retention requirements
• Coordinating with the relevant manufacturer approval bodies and HSE to maintain EV and high-voltage workshop approvals, ensuring technician high-voltage training records are current and workshop facilities meet the required separation, signage and emergency response standards
• Managing fire risk assessments, fire evacuation procedures, fire suppression system testing and fire authority liaison across all sites

Training and Safety Culture:

• Developing and delivering H&S induction and ongoing training programmes for all staff, covering manual handling, COSHH awareness, emergency procedures, personal protective equipment, fire safety and any role-specific safety training requirements
• Building a proactive safety culture across the operation by conducting regular workplace safety tours, near-miss reporting programmes and tool-box talk programmes for workshop and bodyshop staff
• Working with the Engineering Manager, Bodyshop Manager and site or group leadership team to embed safety as an operational priority rather than a compliance exercise

Reporting and Strategy:

• Producing monthly H&S performance reports for senior management including accident frequency and severity rates, audit scores, outstanding corrective actions and training completion rates
• Managing external H&S audits including insurer risk surveys, manufacturer network safety audits and any HSE or local authority inspections, preparing the site and managing the audit response process
• Developing and maintaining the business's health and safety management system to ISO 45001 standard or equivalent where required by the employer or its insurance and manufacturer relationships

How the Process Works

For employers:

1. Submit a vacancy with the site or group structure, operational environment covered, qualification requirements and any specific EV, bodyshop COSHH or transport compliance dimensions.
2. We confirm candidate availability and present a pre-screened shortlist within five working days.
3. Candidates are assessed for NEBOSH qualification level, automotive sector knowledge, risk assessment depth and safety culture leadership capability.
4. Interview and offer supported by Venatu throughout.

For candidates:

1. Register your CV with your H&S qualification, membership level, the operational environments you have managed safety for and any automotive or transport sector specialism.
2. A Venatu consultant will review your background and contact you directly.
3. Roles are matched to your qualification level, sector experience and geography.
4. Venatu manages the process and advises on package expectations ahead of offer.

Browse current vacancies or create a job alert to be notified when relevant roles become available.

FAQ

What qualifications does a Health and Safety Manager need in automotive? NEBOSH National General Certificate is the minimum expected by most automotive H&S Manager employers. Senior and group-level roles typically require NEBOSH National Diploma or equivalent Level 6 qualification and GradIOSH or CMIOSH membership. Automotive-specific knowledge of COSHH in bodyshop paint environments, LOLER for vehicle lifting equipment, PUWER for workshop tooling, high-voltage electrical safety for EV workshop approvals and transport operator safety compliance are all valued above the general qualification baseline. Venatu confirms specific requirements with each employer before presenting candidates.

What are the key safety risks in an automotive workshop or bodyshop environment? Key hazard categories in automotive operations include chemical exposure from oils, fluids, paint products, thinners and refrigerants managed under COSHH; manual handling risks during tyre, wheel and component operations; lifting equipment hazards managed under LOLER; noise exposure in workshop environments; fire risk in bodyshop paint and preparation areas; electrical hazards including high-voltage EV battery systems; working at height on commercial vehicles; and asbestos-containing materials in older vehicles. The H&S Manager must maintain a comprehensive risk management framework across all of these categories simultaneously.

How is EV adoption changing automotive health and safety requirements? High-voltage electric vehicle components including traction batteries, inverters and associated wiring introduce new electrical safety hazards that require dedicated safe systems of work, appropriate PPE including insulated gloves and tools, physical separation of the high-voltage work area, emergency deenergisation procedures and technician training to the relevant Level 3 high-voltage qualification minimum. Workshop high-voltage approval requirements from manufacturers and the IMI are changing the minimum safety infrastructure expected of any automotive workshop handling EV work. Read about how EV transition is reshaping the automotive sector in The Evolution Of Automobiles.

What does a Health and Safety Manager earn in an automotive business? Experienced H&S Managers at single-site operations typically earn between £36,000 and £48,000. Multi-site and group H&S Managers earn between £44,000 and £60,000. Group HSE Managers at large dealer or fleet groups earn between £52,000 and £70,000. Interim day rates typically range from £280 to £450. Venatu benchmarks package expectations with each employer before beginning a search.

What is the progression from Health and Safety Manager in automotive? Common progression routes include Group Health, Safety and Environment Manager, Head of Risk and Compliance, Operations Director and in larger groups, Group Director of Safety. H&S Managers who develop ISO 45001 management system implementation experience, multi-site leadership capability and environmental management alongside their core H&S expertise are the most commercially mobile. Read about the regulatory dimensions of automotive operations in What The Stellantis Recall Means For Recruiters.

Register or Enquire

Candidates - Register your CV with your H&S qualification, IOSH membership level, operational environments managed and any automotive or transport sector specialism. Venatu will match you to current Health and Safety Manager vacancies across dealer groups, workshop networks, bodyshop operators and fleet businesses, including roles not publicly advertised. Browse live vacancies or create a job alert.

Employers - Submit a vacancy or visit the client hub to discuss your health and safety management requirements. Our team will respond within one working day.