Director of Environmental Health & Safety

Job Purpose

Develop and execute the company’s EHS strategy across all manufacturing sites, ensuring regulatory compliance, minimizing risk, and building a proactive safety and environmental culture. Drive management system maturity, inclusive of process safety where applicable, and operational discipline, while enabling business growth and productivity. Partner closely with Operations, site EHS managers and coordinators, Engineering, HR, Legal, and FSQ to align EHS with quality and business objectives.

Essential Functions

• Strategy and Governance

• Align with company strategy, aligned to business growth, and focus on personal teammate and contractor safety
• Own EHS Policy, standards, playbooks, and governance cadence (monthly reviews, quarterly board updates)
• Lead Culture of Safety program: leadership behaviors, recognition, safety Gemba/walks, employee engagement
• Integrate EHS into business processes (design reviews, capex, sourcing, contractor management, change management)
• Evaluate safety risks as part of capital project reviews and contractor approvals
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements (e.g., OSHA, EPA [CAA/CWA/RCRA], DOT, TSCA; local/state air/water/waste permits; emergency planning/EPCRA)
• Maintain legal register and compliance calendar; implement permit tracking and renewal processes
• Standardize procedures across sites; deploy internal audits; close gaps with RCA, CAPAs, and verification
• Direct the day-to-day and long-term priorities of the Environmental Health & Safety Managers
• Implement risk frameworks (JHAs/JSAs, bowtie analysis, LOTO, machine guarding, confined space, hot work)
• Lead Process Safety Management (PSM/RMP) where applicable: PHAs/HAZOPs, MOC, MI, operating procedures, training, emergency planning, and compliance audits
• Establish corporate criteria for inherently safer design and high-risk task management (e.g., working at heights, powered industrial trucks, energy isolation)
• Manage air, water, and waste programs: SPCC, stormwater, wastewater pre-treatment, hazardous/non-hazardous waste, recycling/reuse
• Drive reduction roadmaps (injury rates, spills, waste intensity, water use, energy/GHG) with data-backed targets
• Support ESG disclosures and assurance (e.g., GHG Scope 1/2 baseline, materiality inputs, audit trails)

• Safety

• Standardize reporting and investigation (e.g., 24-hr notification, root cause using 5-Whys), with systemic corrective actions
• Lead serious incident/near-miss reviews and learning teams; track effectiveness of CAPAs and share learnings networking
• In partnership with Operations and FSQ, build role-based safety curricula (leadership, supervisor, operator, maintenance, contractors) with annual refreshers
• Ensure qualification on critical procedures (LOTO, confined space, PIT, chemical handling, PSM elements)
• Embed EHS expectations into onboarding, performance management, and leadership development
• Own corporate safety audit program (risk-based cadence: high/medium/low sites); verify closure and sustainment (in partnership with 3rd party vendors)
• Standardize leading/lagging metrics and dashboards (e.g., TRIR, DART, severity, LTIR, high-potential near misses, PSM Tier 1/2, emissions/waste intensity)
• Select and administer EHS software (incident management, action tracking, permits, training LMS, document control, SDS, air/water/waste tracking)

• Emergency Preparedness

• Standardize ERP (site and corporate): drills, ICS roles, crisis communications, liaise with local authorities
• Align with business continuity planning: utility failures, severe weather, supply disruptions, cyber-physical events
• Partner with FSQ to align sanitation chemicals, allergen/chemical controls, foreign material risk, pest services, and hygienic zoning with EHS controls
• Collaborate with HR (wellness/RTW), Engineering (design standards), Operations (daily management), Legal (regulatory strategy), Procurement (supplier safety), IT (EHS systems), R&D (approval of ingredients and risk analysis)
• Identify hazards and oversee occupational safety and health matters related to facility personnel
• Inspect work areas and machinery at sites for compliance with OSHA and all other regulations
• Develop and implement a zero-incident culture by building initiatives and events including education, incident prevention, and safety awareness
• Actively lead the investigation, documentation, and analysis of accidents and injuries
• Maintain good relationships with Workers’ Compensation and manage claims, including return-to-work practices
• Act as consultant to management in health, ergonomic, and safety-related issues

• Environmental

• Anticipate, identify, and evaluate hazardous conditions and environmental risks
• Assess environmental impacts of products, facilities, and operation
• Keep apprised of developments in state and federal EHS regulations likely to affect the company
• Manage environmental efforts to proactively reduce emissions and waste generation
• Provide recommendations for control and correction of environmental issues, and assist sites with the development of corrective actions

• Governance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable health, safety, and environmental legislation
• Support food safety program, quality standards, and legality of manufactured products 

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications (Education, Experience, Competencies)

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental health & safety or related field; or equivalent work experience
• CSP or CHCM certifications preferred
• 10+ years of experience working in safety training, program creation and implementation, and hazard assessment in a large manufacturing setting
• Experience in the food industry desired
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulations with respect to OSHA, Worker’s Compensation, ADA, EPA regulations, and other applicable acts
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate at all levels of the company and with outside professionals
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to cultivate a positive and collaborative work environment
• Ability to work irregular hours including evenings and weekends to accommodate the needs of a manufacturing operation

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