The EH&S Manager provides strategic leadership for plant safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance initiatives. Serving as a key business partner to Plant Leadership and the broader AHF Safety organization, this role drives a proactive safety culture that protects employees, minimizes risk, and supports operational excellence. The EH&S Manager develops and implements safety and environmental strategies, ensures regulatory compliance, and drives continuous improvement. This visible and engaged leader partners across Operations, Maintenance, Quality, HR, and other functions to strengthen accountability, develop leaders, identify and mitigate risk, and integrate safety into daily business decisions.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Qualified individuals must have the ability (with or without reasonable accommodation) to perform the following duties:
EH&S Program Administration
• Manage plant's environmental and safety reporting including regulatory OSHA, EPA, and IEPA reporting and record keeping requirements.
• Create and manage budgets for EHS activities including consulting and testing, waste removal, safety training and equipment, safety recognition activities, etc.
• Management of the workers' compensation process in cooperation with a third-party administrator to ensure that employees having legitimate claims expeditiously. receive required benefits while protecting the company's assets from illegitimate claims.
Compliance
• Develop, implement, and coordinate the EH&S program for the operation and monitor the work processes and procedures to drive team performance toward departmental and organizational goals.
• Facilitate and organize training for all personnel, temporary employees, contractors, etc. on safety processes and practices, new initiatives and injury and incident avoidance.
• Administer and monitor Behavior Based Safety initiatives. Serve as the champion for changing and fostering a robust safety culture.
• Facilitate two-way communication with leadership & employees, regarding safety performance, incidents, and other related information.
• Perform internal audits to identify non-compliance, hazardous conditions & unsafe behaviors; audit scope includes processes, facilities and equipment. Conduct site safety audits as necessary.
• Evaluate the plant's compliance with environmental regulations and identify areas of improvement.
• Manage improvement opportunities & any non-compliance issues from concept through conclusion.
• Coach plant leadership and frontline supervision to strengthen EH&S ownership, hazard recognition, decision-making, and accountability.
• Be available to interface employees and medical treatment personnel (Company Medical Representative or Emergency Room Physician) to ensure proper level of care is provided for any medical treatment case.
• Perform accidents/incidents investigations and facilitates the development of root cause corrections.
• Conduct hazard assessment, including identification of hazards and corrective action plans.
• Lead and facilitate safety committee meetings and activities.
• Implement environmental solutions and drive changes in manufacturing processes / systems that lead to reduction in environmental waste streams.
• Lead investigations into any environmental regulatory non-compliance incidents and provide urgent responses to operational issues.
• Provide project support for corporate EH&S initiatives.
• Collaborate with network EH&S personnel to share best practices and drive continuous improvement. Manage the plant's safety and industrial hygiene programs and ensure compliance with internal and external safety and health regulations and policies.
• Promote a proactive safety culture focused on preventing injuries, identifying and controlling risk, encouraging reporting, and continuously improving EH&S performance.
• Demonstrate visible EH&S leadership through routine presence on the plant floor, meaningful employee engagement, and consistent reinforcement of safe behaviors, standards, and expectations.
• Stop any observed work activities or conditions that are dangerous, illegal, or against company policy.
• Identify and prioritize safety issues in the workplace and assume responsibility to take immediate action to correct or immediately escalate to appropriate level for resolution.
• Maintain property, plant, and equipment to support and improve the safe production and performance of the operations.
• Participating in Continuous Improvement also provides suggestions to improve processes and participate in team projects.
• Perform all administrative needs such as but not limited to OSHA 300 and OSHA 301 logs.
• Maintain and improve EHS programs, including but not limited to, LOTO, Hazard Communication, Emergency Action Plan, hot work permitting, contractor management, and mobile equipment safety.
Training
• Own and lead all plant safety and environmental training programs, ensuring EH&S requirements and regulatory standards are consistently met.
• Develop, implement, and maintain training programs for new hires, employees, leaders, and contractors based on operational risks and compliance requirements.
• Partner with Operations leaders to identify training gaps, strengthen safety competencies, and drive accountability for safe work practices.
• Provide safety leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to employees and leaders on applicable OSHA, environmental, and other regulatory requirements.
• Lead plant environmental and safety training programs.
• Collaborate with Corporate EH&S to align plant training initiatives with company standards and regulatory expectations.
• Lead annual contractor safety training and ensure site-specific requirements are communicated and followed.
• Evaluate training effectiveness and continuously improve programs based on incidents, audits, regulatory changes, and operational needs.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• BS degree in Engineering, Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Management or closely related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated EH&S experience in a manufacturing environment, encompassing both environmental and safety responsibilities, with demonstrated leadership experience in an EH&S role.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish required.
• Must be able to successfully complete and pass a background check, employment verification and drug screening.
• Positive and Verifiable Work History.
• Experience with permit administration and management. Air, stormwater, and wastewater permit experience are especially important.
• Experience preparing and delivering EH&S training (BBS or Safe Start® experience strongly preferred).
• Background and expertise in EHS recordkeeping, reporting, and compliance.
• Experience with incident Investigation, including Root Cause Analysis, Quick Kaizen, and Five Why Analysis.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to form and develop effective relationships at all organizational levels.
• Can work independently or in a group and accomplish work tasks on time and with confidence.
• Excellent organizational skills and habits consistent with follow-through.
• Effective presentation skills and able to support the training at all levels of the organization.
• Able to be perceptive and have a strong awareness of surroundings to identify potential risks and communicate these risks to employees.
• Effectively manages high-pressure and emergency situations by remaining composed, making timely decisions, communicating clear direction, and maintaining focus on safety and resolution.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
• Able to follow established policies and procedures.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Able to demonstrate practical problem-solving skills.
• Able to work independently as well as in a team environment on assigned projects/tasks and report to supervision the status of each as needed or requested.
• Able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance manuals, procedure manuals and instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Able to build and drive a safe culture through example and leadership.
• Understands and comprehends the levels of training based on job description and scope of work for areas within the plant and its environment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.• Push, pull, carry and lift 20 - 50lbs.
• Walking, stretching, bending, stooping, twisting, reaching, grasping and repetitive movements.
• Talk, hear, read, write and comprehend English.
• Must be able to work in a non-temperature-controlled environment.
MENTAL DEMANDS
The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.• Think analytically and strategically.
• Independently assess priorities, makes timely decisions, and take ownership of critical safety initiatives with minimal direction or escalation.
• Develop options and implement solutions.
• Work with a team.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance (consistent with ADA and/or FMLA).
• Attention to detail.
• Communicate effectively.
• Multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Work with a Sense of Urgency.
• Deliver investigations, action items and root cause in time required.
