Facilities and Health & Safety Manager

About this role

Responsible for facilities, health and safety across our manufacturing site and office.

Minerva Defence is one of the fastest-growing defence technology companies in Europe. We create the software, hardware and networking that make unmanned systems effective on the modern battlefield, all ideated, designed and manufactured end-to-end in the UK, and in active use today. We are deliberately low-profile: a team of around 70, small in headcount and outsized in effect. We look for people who are not just talented but genuinely committed to the work, the team, and the purpose behind it.

You will be responsible for the daily operation, maintenance and safety of our buildings and grounds across two sites: a manufacturing facility and an office. You will keep both sites safe, compliant and running well, and hold the company to its health, safety and environmental obligations. The company works at pace and intends to continue doing so, so the role calls for sound judgement about which risks can be managed and which require work to stop.

Responsibilities

• Facilities & Operations Management:
• Oversee the maintenance, repair and operation of buildings, equipment and infrastructure at both sites
• Manage service contracts for cleaning, security, waste, utilities, grounds, M&E servicing, alarms and CCTV
• Create and run a preventative maintenance programme, and manage reactive maintenance through contractors
• Liaise with the landlords at both sites on structural and building fabric matters
• Monitor utility usage and control costs
• Manage the facilities budget and support fit-outs, equipment installs and site changes
• Health & Safety Management:
• Serve as the designated Health & Safety Lead and Competent Person under UK law
• Ensure compliance with all relevant health, safety, fire and environmental legislation
• Develop H&S policies, conduct risk assessments and maintain RAMS
• Oversee workshop safety at the manufacturing site, including ventilation, machine guarding, PPE and safe storage of batteries and flammables
• Lead incident and near-miss investigations and maintain records
• Maintain emergency preparedness plans, coordinate fire drills and ensure first aid provision
• Monitor contractor safety performance, including inductions, permits to work, insurance checks and RAMS
• Promote a positive safety culture across the company
• Monitor staff compliance timelines.
• DSEAR experience
• Compliance & Risk Management:
• Manage statutory inspections and testing: fixed wire, PAT, legionella, asbestos, gas safety, LOLER and COSHH
• Maintain asset registers and compliance documentation
• Support physical security alongside our security lead, covering access control, alarms, CCTV and visitor management
• Identify and mitigate operational risks across both sites

Requirements

• Minimum:
• NEBOSH, IOSH or equivalent H&S certification, with working knowledge of UK health, safety and fire legislation
• 5+ years in facilities management, including industrial or multi-site environments
• Experience running risk assessments and leading incident investigations
• Experience managing facilities budgets, service contracts and landlord relationships
• Eligible for UK SC clearance (UK citizen or 5+ years UK residency), with a full UK driving licence for travel between sites
• Preferred:
• A facilities management qualification
• DSEAR experience or qualification
• Previous time as a named competent person
• Experience of workshop or production environments

Benefits

We offer competitive compensation including

• Share options vesting over three years
• Bupa private medical insurance
• 6% employer pension contribution
• 25 days leave plus bank holidays
• Enhanced mat/pat leave
• Enterprise level AI tooling
• Relocation support/home office budget