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Head HSE & Sustainability

Partner in Pet Food (PPF) • Hungary • Added on Aug 27, 2026
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As the strategic lead for safety and environment across eleven European manufacturing sites, you will take ownership of the group’s unified HSE standards and sustainability roadmap. This involves harmonizing safety cultures across diverse regions while overseeing technical process safety and environmental compliance. You will balance hands-on operational oversight with high-level reporting, ensuring that production excellence never comes at the cost of personnel wellbeing or ecological integrity.

This role is critical because Partner in Pet Food operates at a massive industrial scale where energy efficiency and waste reduction directly impact the environmental footprint of the pet care sector. By leading the transition toward CSRD and GRI compliance and driving decarbonization through engineering partnerships, you transform a traditional manufacturing network into a modern, sustainable operation. Your work ensures that millions of pet products are produced with minimal impact on the planet.

This suits someone who is a seasoned industrial leader with deep technical knowledge of process safety and a clear vision for integrating ESG metrics into complex, multi-country supply chains.

Job-FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission involves establishing a unified HSE framework across all European operations to ensure consistent safety standards and environmental compliance. You will be responsible for defining group-wide protocols, managing audit programs, and leading the transition toward robust sustainability reporting. Key responsibilities include driving energy efficiency projects in tandem with engineering teams and overseeing process safety management, including ATEX and HAZOP. You will also take the lead on ESG data collection, carbon footprinting, and water usage targets to meet emerging regulatory requirements. Beyond technical oversight, the role focuses on cultural transformation. You will strengthen a behavior-based safety culture and exercise the authority to halt production if risks are identified, ensuring that safety remains the top priority in every facility.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain significant exposure to international ESG regulations, particularly the implementation of CSRD and GRI frameworks within a large-scale manufacturing context. This provides a front-row seat to the evolution of corporate disclosure in the EU. You will also deepen your expertise in integrated management systems like ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 across multiple jurisdictions. The diverse geographical footprint of the company offers unique insights into how different national regulations intersect with group-wide corporate policies. Furthermore, the collaboration with specialized engineering and operations teams offers a chance to learn about industrial decarbonization technologies and energy-saving innovations specific to the food production and animal feed industry.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced HSE professional with at least a decade of leadership in a manufacturing environment. A background in engineering or a related technical field is essential, complemented by a NEBOSH Diploma or similar high-level certification. You should possess a deep understanding of industrial safety risks, including process safety and ATEX, alongside a working knowledge of ESG reporting standards. The ability to speak fluently in English and a willingness to travel extensively across Europe are non-negotiable requirements. Soft skills are just as vital; the company seeks someone with unwavering integrity and a systems-thinking approach. You must be able to remain calm under pressure and influence stakeholders at both the factory floor and executive levels.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between technical safety and high-level sustainability strategy. Highlight specific instances where you successfully harmonized safety cultures across different countries or manufacturing cultures, as this international coordination is central to the role. Prepare to discuss your familiarity with EU sustainability directives. Since the company is backed by private equity firms like CVC and Cinven, showing an understanding of how ESG performance impacts corporate value and investor relations will be highly beneficial. Finally, emphasize your independent mindset. The job description specifically mentions the right to stop production for safety; showing that you have the courage to make tough calls while maintaining professional partnerships will signal your readiness for this level of seniority.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role centers on the intersection of industrial efficiency and environmental stewardship. A major focus will be reducing the carbon and water footprint of the manufacturing processes, which are resource-intensive by nature in the food industry. There is a significant emphasis on governance and transparency, particularly as the company matures its ESG reporting to align with CSRD. You will be the architect of the data systems that track these metrics across the entire European network. Additionally, operational safety as a social pillar of ESG is paramount. By strengthening behavior-based safety, you ensure that the company’s growth is socially responsible and that the workforce is protected as production scales.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges is achieving standardization across eleven sites located in different countries, each with its own local management style and regulatory nuances. Harmonizing these into a single group culture requires tact and persistence. Managing the competing priorities of high-volume production and stringent safety/environmental goals can be difficult. You must be able to maintain your 'independent voice' on safety matters even when operational targets are aggressive. Lastly, the high travel requirement (40-50%) demands excellent time management and the ability to lead remote teams effectively. Keeping a pulse on all locations while spearheading group-level strategy from Budapest is a complex balancing act.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with reviewing incident reports or audit findings from one of the factories in Poland or France, followed by a strategy meeting with the Engineering department to discuss energy-saving upgrades. Afternoons might be dedicated to ESG data management, where you coordinate with plant-level specialists to gather water and carbon metrics for the upcoming annual report. You may also spend time coaching Plant Managers on new safety protocols or behavior-based leadership techniques. Given the travel frequency, many days will be spent on-site at a production facility, walking the floor to conduct safety audits, inspecting ATEX compliance zones, and engaging directly with local teams to understand their specific operational hurdles.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

As a senior leader in a company backed by major private equity firms, you have high visibility at the executive level. Success in this role could lead to even broader operational leadership positions or a specialized Chief Sustainability Officer path. The role offers the chance to lead large-scale transformation projects, such as achieving group-wide ISO certifications or hitting major decarbonization milestones. These achievements are significant career markers that demonstrate your ability to deliver results in a complex international environment. There is also the potential for cross-functional movement into operational management or engineering leadership, given the highly collaborative nature of the HSE and sustainability functions at PPF.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact frequently with Plant Managers and local safety specialists across the ten operating countries, acting as their primary guide and auditor for HSE standards. At the corporate level, your key partners include the Engineering and Operations teams, with whom you will collaborate on technical safety and energy efficiency. You will also work closely with HR to align safety culture with broader employee wellbeing initiatives. External stakeholders are equally important; you will engage with regulators in various jurisdictions and represent the company’s sustainability performance to its owners and executive board members.

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