Closing date: Friday 25 April 2025
Full Time, Permanent Position
Are you wild about creating memorable experiences?
Do you want to work in a place where you can hear the roar of a pride lions or trumpet from a heard of elephants?
We’re looking for a Health & Safety Compliance Manager to be the competent officer for Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve and Howletts Wild Animal Park, providing professional insight and governance, enabling both parks and other sites owned by the company to be operated effectively and ensure all guests and staff enjoy our parks safely.
You’ll be responsible for leading the management teams across the organisation in all areas of Health & Safety and supporting a positive culture. Assessing risk management, ensuring working practices comply with health and safety laws, chairing the H&S Committee, driving positive change and implementing preventative measures where necessary. Provide an accessible and professional point of contact for all managers and staff seeking health and safety guidance.
You will also be responsible for scheduling the Person Responsible (PR) roster to ensure the park has the ability to react and successfully managed issues as they arise, from 8 am till 8 pm.
A full job description is available on request.
Who we are looking for:
We’re seeking a Health and Safety Manager with significant experience applying health and safety compliance in a medium sized organisation. You’ll be able to present and explain health and safety topics in an understandable and engaging manner, with evidence of being able to apply attention to detail, identify hazards and carrying out successful investigations.
With excellent interpersonal skills, you’ll confidently build strong relationships with Directors, Managers, contractors, and staff, working collaboratively to maintain and improve the park’s compliance and standards of Health & Safety. You’ll have experience in implementing and improving practises and procedures, using diplomacy and robust negotiation skills to motivate others and hold to account where necessary.
You’ll also be comfortable working with IT systems and hold a full, valid UK driving licence (including groups B, BE, and B1 as a minimum). It is desirable that you hold a recognised qualification certified by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), NEBOSH or relevant. It is also desirable if you have experience of using Alert 65 (Food Alert) software or similar H&S software.
Contract details:
This is a permanent full-time position, working 40 hours per week, five days out of seven and can include working weekends and Bank Holidays. The role is based at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve near Folkestone, but with oversight for Howletts Wild Animal Park, near Canterbury. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. A reliable mode of transport is recommended due to the remote locations of the parks.
The location:
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. The Reserve is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals and offers luxury short breaks accommodations, free roaming animal safaris, once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences. Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.
Why you should join us:
We’re on a mission to create memorable experiences that matter, and our Core Values ‘One Team’, Customer’ and ‘Pride’ are what drive us each day to become part of something extraordinary. As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work.
Be part of the Port Lympne and Howletts family and join our pride.
You can also expect a host of other benefits including:
•28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, rising with length of service. (Pro-rata to start date and working hours)
•Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning.
•Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
•Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
•Exceptional discounts on food, retail and accommodation at our parks.
•Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
•Company Pension
•A great working environment and many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.
To apply: If you want to work in an exciting and unique environment where no two days are the same, email your C.V. and covering letter to nickw@howlettsandportlympne.com.
