JOB SUMMARY
The HSSE Manager provides strategic leadership and technical expertise in Health, Safety, Security, Environmental, and Sustainability (HSSE) programs to support safe, compliant, and efficient terminal operations. The position partners closely with Operations, Maintenance & Engineering, Security, Human Resources, and leadership to integrate HSSE principles into daily business activities.
Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining HSSE management systems that ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, maritime, and more regulatory requirements. Provides leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to Operations and Maintenance & Engineering(M&E) teams in incident investigations, root cause analysis, corrective action program, and risk assessments. Oversee corrective action tracking, trend analysis, and leading and lagging performance indicators to reduce operational risk. Leads and manages HSSE capital and operational improvement projects from planning through implementation. Represents the organization with regulatory agencies, industry associations, labor organizations, emergency responders, customers, contractors, and external stakeholders during inspections, audits, incident response, and collaborative industry initiatives. Maintains HSSE policies, procedures, standards, and management systems to ensure documentation remains current, effective, accessible, and aligned with evolving operational and regulatory requirements.
Promotes a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement through relationship building, auditing, performance measurement, risk reduction initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration.
NATURE AND SCOPE
Due to the nature of our business, work shifts may fluctuate dependent upon vessel arrival schedules and operational requirements. The incumbent may be required to work weekends, night shift and long hours during the week and adapt to changes in work schedules as needed.
TraPac's Marine Terminal Facilities operate 24/7, year-round, in an industrial maritime port environment. The Health, Safety, Security, and Environment Manager will have responsibility for oversight of the creation, implementation, and performance of critical safety, security, and compliance programs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The following describes the general nature and level of work, but not intended to be a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, and responsibilities required of the job incumbent. Consequently, job incumbents may be asked to perform other duties as required.
Health, Safety, Security, and Environment
• Serve as the primary HSSE business partner to Operations and Maintenance & Engineering (M&E), maintaining a highly visible presence in the terminal to support frontline leadership, reinforce safe work practices, and strengthen TraPac's safety culture.
• Partner daily with Operations Managers, supervisors, mechanics, and union workforce to proactively identify operational risks, remove barriers to safe execution of work, and integrate safety into routine operational decision-making.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of TraPac's Health, Safety, Security, Environmental, and Sustainability (HSSE) management systems, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Champion a proactive safety culture by coaching leaders in effective safety leadership, conducting field observations, participating in pre-shift meetings, engaging employees, and reinforcing positive safety behaviors.
• Lead company HSSE programs and ensure adequate resources are available to support operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain HSSE policies, standards, procedures, and management systems to ensure they remain current, practical, and aligned with evolving business operations.
• Monitor emerging federal, state, local, and maritime regulatory requirements, evaluate business impacts, and implement compliance strategies that support operational efficiency.
• Represent TraPac in industry organizations, including the Joint Area Accident Prevention Committee (JAAPC), regulatory working groups, and professional associations to share best practices and strengthen industry collaboration.
Operational Excellence and Risk Management
• Conduct regular operational assessments, field audits, safety observations, and compliance inspections to identify risks, verify compliance, and drive continuous improvement throughout terminal operations.
• Partner with operational leadership to develop practical risk mitigation strategies that reduce exposure while maintaining productivity and operational performance.
• Lead incident, injury, near miss, environmental, and security investigations utilizing root cause analysis methodologies, ensuring corrective actions address systemic causes and are effectively implemented.
• Manage corrective action programs, verify completion and effectiveness, identify trends, and communicate lessons learned across the organization.
• Develop and monitor leading and lagging HSSE performance indicators, providing data-driven recommendations that improve organizational performance.
• Lead injury reduction, claims prevention, and cost-control initiatives through proactive hazard identification, early intervention, and continuous operational improvement.
• Support operational planning by participating in process improvements, equipment introductions, facility modifications, and capital projects to ensure HSSE risks are identified and mitigated early.
Training, Leadership, & Employee Engagement
• Develop, implement, and evaluate HSSE training programs for employees, contractors, supervisors, and management to ensure competency and regulatory compliance.
• Coach and mentor frontline leaders in safety leadership, effective communication, incident response, risk recognition, and accountability.
• Measure training effectiveness through observations, audits, performance metrics, and field verification to ensure knowledge is successfully applied in daily operations.
• Lead and facilitate Safety Committees, Accident Review Boards, toolbox meetings, emergency response teams, and other employee engagement initiatives that strengthen ownership of safety across all levels of the organization.
• Promote employee participation in hazard reporting, near miss reporting, behavioral observations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Environmental, Security, & Emergency Preparedness
• Ensure compliance with all environmental permits, regulatory reporting requirements, inspections, and environmental management programs.
• Provide leadership for sustainability initiatives and support corporate environmental performance objectives.
• Partner with terminal security leadership and contract security providers to ensure compliance with Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and Facility Security Plan (FSP) requirements.
• Oversee security audits, assessments, inspections, drills, and performance evaluations to ensure security systems and personnel meet company and regulatory expectations.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness activities, business continuity planning, emergency exercises, and responses with internal stakeholders and external emergency response agencies.
Contractor & Vendor Management
• Provide oversight of third-party environmental consultants, industrial hygiene providers, safety consultants, security contractors, and other HSSE service providers.
• Evaluate contractor qualifications, recommend vendor selections, and manage contract performance.
• Establish contractor performance expectations through measurable KPIs, routine evaluations, audits, and cost-control strategies.
• Ensure contractors perform work safely, comply with TraPac standards, and meet all applicable regulatory requirements.
Department Leadership & Business Management
• Develop annual departmental business plans, budgets, goals, and strategic initiatives that support corporate objectives.
• Manage departmental resources, monitor project schedules, and ensure HSSE initiatives are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.
• Prepare executive reports, dashboards, presentations, and performance metrics for senior leadership, corporate management, and regulatory agencies.
• Foster strong cross-functional partnerships across Operations, M&R, Engineering, Security, Human Resources, Risk Management, and Corporate departments to integrate HSSE into all aspects of terminal operations.
• Lead special projects and provide subject matter expertise in business continuity, emergency management, sustainability, operational risk management, compliance, and corporate responsibility initiatives.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Relevant Experience, Education, Certification, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Bachelor's degree in an Environmental Science, Occupational Safety & Health, or related field is preferred but not required.
• Minimum of three years of experience in HSSE compliance program management. Must have a minimum of one year of experience in overseeing HSSE programs including EPA, OSHA, and Facility Security Officer. Work experience in a container terminal, warehouse, distribution, container terminal operations or industrial manufacturing is desirable.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), presentation skills and team management ability. In addition, the position requires demonstrated problem-solving skills, inter-discipline interaction, and the ability to handle matters of confidentiality with utmost tact and diplomacy. Position requires proficient knowledge of personal computers and associated business software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook). Project Management training and certification is desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of injury management and HSSE compliance including injury analysis, continuous improvement, hazardous materials handling and storage, air and water quality programs, regulatory interaction, policy & procedure implementation, and experience in implementing training in a classroom-type environment.
• Knowledge of forklifts, fall protection, commercial trucking, DOT, certification in OSHA 30-hr general industry, stormwater, spill plans, hazardous waste, hazardous materials management plan, Tier II reporting, and emergency response are beneficial.
• Must meet US Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security Facility Security Officer qualifications - General knowledge of security, emergency preparedness, and inspection protocols.
• Must be able to obtain TSA's Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) within 60 days of hire.
• Possession of a valid, unrestricted driver license and acceptable driving record.
• A qualified candidate for this position must be capable of working independently with minimum oversight.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Job Location
Indoor: Office building
Outdoor: Terminal yard, onboard vessel, cargo handling equipment, and other structures.
Environmental Conditions
Daily exposure to weather conditions, dirt, dust, loud noise, fumes, vibration, darkness or poor lighting, hazardous materials.
Physical Requirements
Strength demand: ability to exert sufficient force to lift up to 50 lbs. with frequent lift/carry up to 25 lbs.
Climbing: agility required to ascent or descent stairs, ramps, ladders and similar equipment, i.e., bridge or structure to embark or disembark vessel.
Standing: ability to remain in standing position especially for sustained periods of time.
Walking: ability to frequently move about on foot.
Bend at the waist: ability to bend the body downward, forward or side to side.
Talking: ability to express or change information by means of the spoken word.
Reaching: ability to extend hands or arms in any direction.
Pulling: ability to exert sufficient force to draw, drag or otherwise move objects in a sustained motion.
Balance: exceeding the ordinary need for balance in maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when climbing on unstable surfaces.
Hearing: ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make discriminations in sound.
Kneeling: ability to bend legs at knee or come to rest on knee(s).
Ability to drive company vehicles
On even and uneven surfaces, around heavy cargo handling equipment and construction zones.
*Additional benefits: Fully-paid health insurance, 401(k) match up to 6% of eligible pay, 7% annual retirement contribution, and more!
