The Corporate Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager is responsible for fostering a strong safety culture while providing corporate oversight of environmental compliance and risk management across all locations with more than 1,000 employees. This role partners with supervisors and managers to execute safety initiatives, training, behavioral safety programs, regulatory compliance, employee accountability, and accident investigations. The position also develops and leads initiatives to prevent workplace accidents, environmental incidents, and operational risk.
This role leads a corporate safety team consisting of three direct reports and two indirect reports and works closely with operations, Human Resources, Finance, and leadership teams to deliver best-in-class safety, environmental, and risk management performance.
Essential Functions
Partner with manufacturing plants to create a zero-accident safety culture through associate engagement, empowerment, ownership, accountability, active safety committees, and training, with the ultimate goal of preventing all accidents.
Develop ongoing safety processes and collaborate with plant leadership to implement them in order to prevent accidents and reduce workers? compensation expenses to the lowest possible levels.
Develop and maintain safety metrics to drive continuous improvement in safety performance, utilizing tools such as root cause analysis and best-practice sharing.
Develop, implement, and sustain a corporate behavioral safety process to capture leading indicators, identify trends, create individual accountability, and drive outstanding safety performance.
Oversee and enforce compliance with all OSHA regulations applicable to company operations; remain current on OSHA amendments and recommend implementation as needed.
Conduct annual facility audits with workers? compensation and general liability insurance carriers.
Follow up on and complete corrective action items identified during audits.
Coordinate with insurance brokers and workers? compensation carriers on claims management.
Create, maintain, and update health and safety manuals to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Review and revise California Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (IIPP) and Earthquake Response Plans as needed.
Maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) at all plant locations.
Conduct OSHA-required training and ensure California facilities comply with OSHA and Cal/OSHA training requirements.
Minimize and track workers? compensation expenses through return-to-work (RTW) programs, claims review, and accident investigations, with a strong focus on accident prevention and loss control.
Plan and/or deliver safety training programs for managers and employees, including the development of a plant-to-plant safety alert program.
Supervise and communicate with contracted security staff and review security issues with plant personnel.
Assist supervisors with completing accident reports for all injuries.
Monitor employees on light duty in coordination with immediate supervisors.
Provide first aid as needed.
Conduct safety orientations for all new hires; manage forklift and pallet jack certifications; and evaluate forklift and pallet jack operation by temporary employees.
Maintain all safety-related documentation in accordance with federal record-retention requirements, ensuring records are organized, understandable, and accessible; update the Safety Manual as needed.
Ensure safety committees are established and effective at all locations, with regular communication and engagement.
Maintain OSHA 300 logs at all locations.
Travel occasionally to support all operational locations.
Risk Management Oversight
Provide corporate oversight of enterprise risk management activities related to safety, workers? compensation, general liability, auto liability, and property exposure.
Partner with Human Resources, Finance, Legal, and Operations to identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks across all locations.
Support insurance renewal processes by providing loss data, trend analysis, risk assessments, and corrective action plans.
Analyze claims trends and loss drivers; develop and implement strategies to reduce total cost of risk (TCOR).
Collaborate with insurance carriers, brokers, and third-party administrators (TPAs) to improve claim outcomes and risk control effectiveness.
Develop and maintain risk control programs, policies, and best practices to minimize loss exposure and improve organizational resilience.
Environmental Compliance Oversight
Oversee compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations, including EPA and state environmental agency requirements.
Ensure proper management of environmental programs, including hazardous waste, air emissions, wastewater, stormwater, chemical storage, and spill prevention.
Develop, implement, and maintain environmental permits, plans, programs, and reporting requirements.
Conduct environmental audits and assessments; ensure timely corrective actions and regulatory follow-up.
Coordinate with environmental regulators, consultants, and plant leadership on inspections, compliance issues, and corrective actions.
Provide environmental training and guidance to plant leadership and employees, promoting environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance.
Monitor regulatory changes and proactively communicate impacts and implementation requirements to stakeholders.
Non-Essential Functions
Respond to employee safety concerns.
Conduct safety inspections as needed.
Respond to fires and other emergencies.
Coordinate hazardous waste registration and disposal.
Arrange OSHA testing and evaluations through external agencies or consultants as required.
Serve as the onsite emergency coordinator.
Coordinate with municipal and state emergency planners; update relevant plans; lead emergency exercises; and evaluate response procedures.
Order safety and non-safety items for Maintenance and Production departments, including heat-resistant gloves, hearing protection, and cut-resistant gloves.
Organize and schedule annual health fairs and flu vaccination programs.
Report safety metrics to the Plant Manager (frequency to be determined).
Maintain electronic billboards with weekly safety updates.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
(Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
Knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and state environmental regulations preferred.
Demonstrated experience developing and successfully implementing safety, environmental, and risk management programs.
Proven ability to lead, influence, and build partnerships while gaining employee trust.
Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
Ability to identify hazardous and environmental risks and implement corrective actions through management teams.
Self-motivated, results-oriented, and able to motivate others.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage ambiguity, change, and a dynamic business environment.
Strong business acumen and attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
Valid driver?s license with an insurable driving record.
Education & Experience
Bachelor?s degree in a related field (Business, Operations Management, Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, or similar).
Minimum of 10 years of safety management experience within an organization of 2,000+ employees.
Food manufacturing or regulated manufacturing experience is highly desirable.
Minimum of 10 years of progressive work experience, including leadership roles with demonstrated success.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described below repr