IMI Bopp & Reuther
IMI Bopp & Reuther Valves GmbH is a traditional industrial company from Mannheim, founded in 1872, and part of the international IMI Group. At the Mannheim site, the company employs around 190 people in technical, engineering, commercial, and administrative areas. IMI Bopp & Reuther develops, manufactures, and services safety and control valves for safety-critical industrial and power plant applications worldwide and has a high export quota as well as extensive engineering and service expertise. As a provider of safety-critical technology, we are undergoing an active transformation process and place great value on qualification, skills development, and securing skilled personnel. Targeted investments in training and further education, internal qualification programs, and the advancement of competencies in the course of digitalization and technological change are central future topics. Strongly rooted in the region, IMI Bopp & Reuther sees itself as an important industrial employer and innovation partner.
Role Overview
We are looking for an experienced and proactive HSE Manager to lead health, safety and environmental performance at our Mannheim site within Process Automation. In this role, you will translate sector and regional HSE priorities into practical site-level action, ensuring legal compliance, reducing risk and helping to build a strong, sustainable safety culture. You will act as the site’s HSE subject matter expert and trusted advisor to the Managing Director, site leadership team, supervisors and employees, while working closely with the Sector HSE Director to embed sector standards, governance expectations and improvement priorities at site level.
Key Responsibilities
- Translate sector, regional and group HSE priorities into clear site-level improvement plans with defined actions, owners and timescales, ensuring alignment with both sector strategy and local operational needs.
- Advise and support the Managing Director and site leadership team on HSE strategy, legal compliance, risk management and performance improvement, while remaining closely aligned with the direction of the Sector HSE Director.
- Maintain a clear and current view of site HSE performance, proactively escalating significant risks, resource gaps, persistent non-conformance or stalled actions to site leadership and the relevant sector and regional HSE leadership without delay.
- Lead the delivery and follow-through of site HSE improvement actions, with a strong focus on sustainable outcomes rather than process completion alone.
- Implement and maintain site HSE procedures, standards and controls in line with the IMI HSE Framework, sector requirements and applicable German legislation.
- Lead and support robust risk assessments, workplace inspections, audits and assurance activities to identify gaps, verify control effectiveness and drive timely corrective action.
- Lead or support accident, incident and near-miss investigations, identify root causes, challenge superficial conclusions where needed, and ensure corrective and preventative actions are effectively implemented and closed.
- Prepare, monitor and report site HSE performance measures, trends and outcomes on time and to the required standard, providing accurate and decision-ready information for site leadership, the Sector HSE Director and the wider HSE function.
- Support sector governance processes by contributing to regular performance reviews, action tracking, site updates and standard reporting requirements.
- Act as the main point of contact for HSE matters on site, both internally and externally, including with regulatory authorities, customers, contractors and auditors where required.
- Lead contractor and subcontractor HSE management, including qualification, onboarding, monitoring and oversight of compliance with site, sector and customer requirements.
- Ensure all mandatory HSE training, inductions and competence requirements are planned, delivered and effective across the employee lifecycle, working closely with HR and operational leaders and supporting sector training expectations where required.
- Coach and support site leaders, supervisors and employees to strengthen HSE capability, build ownership and embed consistent standards in day-to-day operations.
- Chair or coordinate site HSE committees and forums, ensuring actions are tracked through to completion and that site decisions reflect both operational reality and sector expectations.
- Ensure suitable HSE resources, equipment and controls are available and maintained to support compliance and safe operations across the site, raising upgrade or replacement needs where appropriate.
- Monitor and support the industrial hygiene programme at site level, escalating issues that require specialist, sector or leadership intervention.
- Identify recurring or systemic issues that cannot be resolved locally and escalate them appropriately, while also sharing effective local practices with the sector and wider business.
- Carry out any additional duties relevant to the role as required.
Critical Competencies
- Degree in Engineering, Health & Safety, Environmental Management or a related discipline.
- Recognised qualification as a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist.
- Strong practical knowledge of HSE management systems, risk management and assurance processes within an industrial environment.
- Good working knowledge of German HSE legislation, for example ArbSchG, DGUV rules, BetrSichV and GefStoffV, and experience of working with authorities and Berufsgenossenschaft where required.
- Proven experience in an HSE role within a manufacturing, engineering or plant-related environment, with the credibility to influence leaders and frontline teams.
- Fluent German and very good written and spoken English.
- Strong MS Office skills and familiarity with digital HSE tools and reporting systems.
- Additional training in specialist areas such as fire safety, environmental management or industrial hygiene would be an advantage.
- A proactive and improvement-focused mindset, with the ability to identify what meaningful progress looks like and drive it through to implementation.
- Strong sense of accountability, with sound judgement on when to act independently and when to escalate risks or barriers.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and investigation skills, with the confidence to challenge ineffective ways of working constructively.
- Excellent communication, coaching and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust while maintaining clear standards and expectations.
What Success Looks Like
- Success in this role will be measured by impact rather than activity, with a clear focus on meaningful, lasting change.
- You will go beyond process compliance and reporting by identifying what sustainable improvement looks like and helping to deliver it in practice.
- You will identify root causes behind incidents, challenge ineffective or superficial conclusions where needed, and ensure corrective actions are carried through to effective resolution.
- You will deliver site improvement plans to the required standard and within agreed timescales.
- You will help reduce repeat findings, recurring incidents and unresolved HSE issues through effective follow-through and escalation.
- You will provide timely, accurate and decision-ready reporting that supports site leadership, sector governance and wider HSE oversight.
- You will maintain compliance with legal, framework and sector requirements while responding effectively to changing priorities and risks.
- You will demonstrate visible improvement in site HSE culture, operational discipline and leadership ownership over time.
What You Can Expect from Us
- The opportunity to join a diverse, dynamic and growing global organisation
- A collaborative culture with opportunities for learning, development and internal career progression
- Flexible working arrangements and additional benefits.
IMI is an inclusive employer; diversity is very important to us, and we want to receive applications from people from all backgrounds
