How do you write a role summary for a Health and Safety position?

Write the summary in plain English and be specific about the remit. Include the type of business, number of sites, the risk profile, who the role reports to, how hands-on the role is, and the outcomes the person is expected to deliver, such as reducing incidents, improving risk assessment quality, supporting ISO 45001 or strengthening safety culture.

What is the difference between a Health and Safety Advisor job description and a Health and Safety Manager job description?

A Health and Safety Advisor job description is usually focused on hands-on, operational support such as inspections, toolbox talks, assisting with risk assessments and supporting investigations. A Health and Safety Manager job description typically includes ownership of safety performance, leading investigations, managing audits and systems, influencing managers, setting plans and reporting trends to senior leadership.

What qualifications should you include in a health and safety job description?

Include qualifications that match the level of responsibility. NEBOSH General Certificate is a common baseline for many roles, with NEBOSH Diploma or NVQ Level 6 often suitable for senior management roles. Use essential and desirable sections to avoid excluding strong candidates, and prioritise relevant experience and competence for your sector and risk profile.

What are common mistakes in health and safety job descriptions?

Common mistakes include copying generic templates, writing a wish list that does not reflect the true remit, using a job title that does not match seniority, overloading one role with safety, quality and environmental duties without clarity, failing to explain reporting lines and influence, and leaving out practical details such as travel expectations, working pattern and salary guidance.

Should a health and safety job description include salary?

Yes, where possible. Including a salary range or realistic indication improves candidate engagement, reduces drop-off and helps attract the right level of applicant. If you cannot publish an exact range, provide guidance on level and flexibility instead.

How do you make a health and safety job description more specific to your business?

Make it specific by stating how many sites the role covers, the type of environment (for example manufacturing, construction, FM or logistics), the biggest current risks, who the role works with, how often the person is on site, what systems are in place (such as ISO 45001), and what improvements you expect in the first 6 to 12 months.

Is there a health and safety job description template employers can use?

Yes. This guide includes a downloadable, fill-in-the-blanks health and safety job description template employers can use to define the role overview, role summary, responsibilities, qualifications, skills, working environment, salary and what success looks like.

How to Write a Health and Safety Job Description (With Examples)

Q: What should a health and safety job description include?

A strong health and safety job description should include the correct job title, a clear role summary explaining why the role exists, responsibilities grouped by outcome (operational safety, compliance and systems, engagement and culture, reporting and governance), essential and desirable qualifications, reporting line and team structure, location and travel expectations, salary or a realistic indication, and what success looks like in the first 6 to 12 months.

Zac Wilson
Dec 15, 2025
4 min read

Cover image of how to write a health and safety job description

If you are hiring a Health and Safety professional, there is usually a clear reason behind it.

You might be:

Growing headcount
Operating across multiple sites
Responding to client or insurer requirements
Implementing ISO 45001
Dealing with recurring incidents and near misses

In many cases, managers are asking for clearer guidance and more consistent standards across the business. The challenge is turning that reality into a job description that accurately reflects what the role will actually do.

This guide shows you how to write a clear, practical Health and Safety job description that defines the remit properly, attracts the right level of candidate, and avoids the common mistakes that slow hiring down or lead to the wrong appointment.

This article contains a downloadable PDF at the end.

Why Most Health and Safety Job Descriptions Miss the Mark

Many job descriptions fail before they ever reach the right candidate. Common problems include:

Using generic or outdated templates
Listing every possible responsibility rather than the real remit
Over-emphasising qualifications and under-explaining the role
Using job titles that do not match seniority or influence
Failing to explain the working environment or structure

A strong job description should set expectations clearly for both the employer and the candidate.

Step 1: Choose the Right Job Title

The job title shapes who applies. Before writing the description, be clear on:

Whether this is an Advisor, Manager, Head of function or Business Partner
Whether the role is site-based, regional or group-wide
Whether it includes environmental, quality, fire or security responsibilities

For example:

Health and Safety Advisor suggests hands-on, operational support
Health and Safety Manager suggests ownership of systems and delivery
HSEQ Manager suggests an integrated safety, environment and quality remit

If the title is wrong, the rest of the description will not land.

Step 2: Write a Role Summary That Reflects the Business

The role summary should explain why the role exists and what problem it is there to solve.

Example: Health and Safety Manager Role Summary

We are looking to appoint a Health and Safety Manager to take ownership of safety across our UK operations, covering three manufacturing sites and a small head office team. The role will work closely with site managers to reduce incident rates, improve risk assessment quality and embed consistent safety standards across the business.The successful candidate will spend regular time on site, lead incident investigations, support ISO 45001 compliance and provide practical coaching to supervisors and managers.

This immediately gives clarity on scope, influence and expectations.

Step 3: Set Out Responsibilities by Outcome

Avoid long, unstructured lists. Group responsibilities around what the role is expected to deliver.

Operational Safety

Carry out regular site inspections across manufacturing and warehouse areas
Support supervisors with task-based risk assessments and safe systems of work
Lead investigations into incidents and near misses, identifying root causes

Compliance and Systems

Maintain and improve the health and safety management system in line with ISO 45001
Ensure policies and procedures reflect how work is carried out in practice
Coordinate internal audits and support external audits from insurers and certification bodies

Engagement and Culture

Deliver toolbox talks and safety briefings aligned to current risks
Coach managers on their safety responsibilities and decision-making
Support initiatives to improve near miss and hazard reporting

Reporting and Governance

Track incident data, trends and leading indicators
Prepare monthly safety reports for senior leadership
Highlight priority risk areas and recommend practical improvements

Step 4: Be Clear and Realistic About Qualifications

Qualifications are important, but they should not be the main filter.

Example: Qualifications and Experience

Essential

NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent
Experience in a manufacturing or operational environment
Confidence working directly with managers and supervisors

Desirable

NEBOSH Diploma or NVQ Level 6
Experience supporting ISO 45001
Fire safety or environmental training relevant to the site

Focus on competence, experience and approach.

Step 5: Explain Structure and Influence

Candidates want to know where the role sits. Be clear about:

Reporting line
Who the role works with day to day
Whether the role manages others
Whether it has access to senior leadership

This avoids misaligned expectations at interview stage.

Step 6: Include Practical Details Up Front

Always include:

Location and travel expectations
Site or office split
Whether the role is permanent, interim or fixed term
Salary range or realistic indication
Hybrid or remote working where applicable

Lack of clarity here leads to drop-off later.

Example: Health and Safety Advisor Job Description

Job Title: Health and Safety Advisor

Location: Single manufacturing site with occasional travel to regional depots

Reporting to: Health and Safety Manager

Role summary

The Health and Safety Advisor will provide hands-on support to operational teams, carrying out inspections, supporting risk assessments and helping supervisors manage day-to-day safety issues on site.

Key responsibilities

Conduct routine inspections and audits
Support investigations and corrective actions
Deliver inductions and toolbox talks
Assist with compliance documentation

This clearly signals an operational role rather than a strategic one.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Writing one job description that tries to cover multiple roles
Copying a competitor advert without understanding context
Over-selling seniority that does not exist
Listing responsibilities without explaining purpose
Ignoring culture and ways of working

Clear job descriptions attract better candidates and save time.

How Search² Helps Employers Get Job Descriptions Right

We work with employers to define the correct job title, remit and level before going to market. Clear job descriptions attract stronger candidates, shorten time to hire and reduce the risk of mis-hires.

If you want feedback on a draft or support shaping a role, you can contact us directly.

Download the Health and Safety Job Description Template

To support this guide, we have created a practical, fill-in-the-blanks job description template you can download and tailor to your organisation.