Position OverviewZero Carbon Systems seeks an experienced Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Program Manager to lead ZCS's EHS program. This role owns the company's hazardous waste program end to end, leads process safety reviews for the laboratory and R&D environment, and maintains the full library of EHS and process safety documentation. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in chemical operations and a proven record of implementing EHS best practices across a range of environments. This full-time position, based in Brighton, CO, is on-site and reports to the Director of Site Engineering.
Responsibilities Include:EHS Program Leadership- Serve as the lead of ZCS's EHS program, setting strategy, priorities, and standards across sites and functions.
- Develop, implement, and maintain EHS policies, procedures, and programs to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, as well as industry standards.
- Conduct regular inspections and audits of facilities, processes, and equipment to identify potential hazards, assess risks, and implement corrective actions.
- Provide guidance and support to management and employees on EHS issues including training, hazard communication, emergency response, and accident prevention.
- Coordinate with regulatory agencies, industry groups, and other stakeholders on EHS matters including permitting, reporting, and compliance requirements.
- Stay current on emerging EHS trends, regulations, and best practices to continuously improve program effectiveness.
Hazardous Waste Program- Own and manage ZCS's hazardous waste program end-to-end, including waste characterization, labeling, accumulation area management, and manifesting.
- Schedule and coordinate hazardous waste pickups with licensed disposal vendors; maintain vendor relationships and service agreements.
- Maintain complete and audit-ready hazardous waste records including manifests, land disposal restriction (LDR) forms, and biennial/annual reports as required by RCRA and state regulations.
- Set up and routinely audit material handling protocols including materials shipping/receiving and hazardous chemical inventory and disposal.
- Train employees on proper hazardous waste handling, segregation, and emergency response for spills or releases.
- Maintain SDS library and chemical inventory.
Process Safety & Documentation- Lead company Hazard Identification (HAZID), Hazard and Operability (HAZOP), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) activities and author or approve the resulting safety documentation.
- Lead and document Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSRs) for new and modified equipment, ensuring all action items are closed prior to startup.
- Own the full library of EHS and process safety documentation including PHAs, PSSRs, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), JHAs, permit-to-work records, and management-of-change (MOC) files.
- Support engineering design reviews (equipment selection, startup/shutdown/upset planning, operability) to ensure EHS considerations are integrated from the outset.
- Review all SOPs for accuracy and safety and confirm they are being implemented as written.
- Review and sign off on non-standard operational procedures (deviations from SOPs) and equipment maintenance; develop and administer the permit-to-work program.
Construction & Contractor Safety- Ensure all construction and contractor plans meet industry best practices (e.g., lifting, welding, hot work, LOTO).
- Oversee contractor onboarding, safety orientation, and on-site compliance with ZCS safety requirements.
Occupational Health & Industrial Hygiene- Identify potential health hazards, including exposure to chemicals, heat, noise, ergonomic risks, and other physical hazards.
- Conduct exposure assessments, environmental monitoring, and workplace sampling to determine employee exposure levels.
- Analyze potential health effects associated with workplace hazard exposure and recommend controls to mitigate risks.
- Develop and recommend administrative and engineering controls to minimize or eliminate hazard exposure.
- Assess the need for and effectiveness of PPE and provide guidance on its selection, use, and maintenance.
- Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations set by OSHA and other regulatory bodies.
Incident Response & Continuous Improvement- Investigate incidents, accidents, and near misses to determine root causes and develop prevention strategies.
- Develop emergency response plans and procedures for spills, fires, and other workplace emergencies to minimize harm to people and property.
- Develop, monitor, and maintain safe operations programs including leading and lagging performance indicators.
- Oversee and advise on EHS aspects of current technology (air and water emissions, TSCA compliance, SDS authoring, and supporting test work).
Preferred Skills:- Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CHMM, or OSHA 30.
- Direct experience with Process Safety Management Systems (PSMS).
- Startup or early-stage company experience.
- Familiarity with carbon capture, direct air capture (DAC), or other clean energy technologies.
- VOC and air emission regulatory experience.
Physical Requirements:- Standing, bending, and walking in and around an industrial environment.
- Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs; ability to work in confined spaces and at heights may be required.
- Regular fieldwork on experimental and operating equipment; must work safely around energized electrical systems, high-pressure equipment, and hazardous materials.
- Willingness to work flexible hours during commissioning, startup, and incident response as needed.
$105,000 - $135,000 a year
