EHS Manager

Verdesian Brand • Cape Girardeau, MO

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The EHS Manager will be responsible for driving a safety culture and behavioral change at the Cape site. This role involves developing and executing an EHS strategy, influencing site leadership, building relationships with employees, and implementing site-wide safety campaigns. The manager will maintain a daily presence on the production floor, manage the “Be Aware, Take Care” program, conduct safety observations, and reinforce housekeeping standards. Key responsibilities include establishing proactive hazard identification, conducting Job Hazard Analyses (JHA) and Risk Assessments, managing a Permit-to-Work system, and overseeing risk management for dust and chemical dry operations. The role also ensures compliance with OSHA, EPA, and NFPA regulations, manages incident investigations, and develops EHS training programs. Additionally, the EHS Manager will strengthen emergency response plans and oversee PPE management. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication and influence skills, the ability to build relationships, strategic thinking, proven experience in improving safety cultures, expertise in combustible dust and chemical dry operations, and a high level of discipline and accountability.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of industrial EHS experience, preferably in high-risk environments.
• Bachelor's degree in EHS, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with NFPA 660 compliance strongly desired.
• Prior experience in OSHA, EPA, TRI, and Tier II compliance.
• LEAN/5S experience for housekeeping and operational improvement.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adjust work schedules for one to two days per month to provide EHS support and maintain a presence during night shift operations.
• Strong communication and influence skills – ability to engage a resistant workforce and drive behavior change.
• Ability to build relationships and credibility – work closely with frontline employees and leadership to create a safety-first culture.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving – ability to diagnose gaps and implement practical, sustainable solutions.
• Proven experience in turning around poor safety cultures – demonstrated success in making a step change in EHS performance.
• Experience in combustible dust management and chemical dry operations – ability to assess and mitigate associated risks.
• High level of discipline and accountability – firm but fair approach to enforcing safety standards.
• Technical expertise in OSHA, EPA, Tier II, TRI reporting, hazardous waste management, and permitting.
• Experience in risk management, hazard identification, and safety control implementation.
• Previous experience or demonstrated ability to develop and deliver hands-on training programs for Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Fall Protection, Powered Industrial Vehicle (PIV), and others.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an EHS strategy tailored to the Cape site’s challenges, focusing on leadership engagement, housekeeping improvement, and employee accountability.
• Influence and coach site leadership to take ownership of EHS responsibilities, instilling a fair and safety-first mindset.
• Build strong relationships with employees, earning their trust and commitment to safety improvements.
• Design and implement site-wide safety campaigns, reinforcing critical EHS principles and behavioral expectations.
• Maintain a daily presence on the production floor, building trust and visibility with operators.
• Manage the “Be Aware, Take Care” program, promoting active employee participation, daily hazard reviews, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct safety observations and provide real-time coaching to reinforce safe behaviors.
• Reinforce housekeeping standards and visual management practices across the site.
• Establish a proactive hazard identification process, ensuring employees recognize and report unsafe conditions and behaviors.
• Conduct Job Hazard Analyses (JHA) and Risk Assessments, implementing controls to eliminate or minimize hazards.
• Develop and manage a Permit-to-Work system for high-risk activities such as confined space entry, hot work, and lockout/tagout (LOTO).
• Enhance machine guarding, ergonomic assessments, and exposure monitoring to reduce workplace injuries.
• Oversee dust and chemical dry operations risk management, ensuring compliance with NFPA 61 and 654.
• Ensure strict adherence to OSHA, EPA, NFPA (including NFPA 61 & 654), and other regulatory requirements.
• Maintain and submit Tier II, TRI (Toxics Release Inventory), and other EPA compliance reports.
• Overhaul housekeeping standards, implementing structured 5S/LEAN methodologies to sustain improvements.
• Conduct frequent audits and inspections, holding teams accountable for corrective actions.
• Lead incident investigations, conduct thorough root cause analyses, and ensure effective corrective actions are implemented.
• Establish and maintain leading indicators (such as near-miss reporting and behavior-based observations) to proactively manage risk.
• Improve the execution and effectiveness of Risk Assessment Analyzes (RAA) to prevent accidents.
• Develop and deliver impactful EHS training programs that resonate with employees and drive engagement.
• Effectively communicate expectations, progress, and EHS performance metrics to all levels of the organization.
• Establish structured feedback loops with employees, addressing concerns and reinforcing positive behaviors.
• Strengthen and lead the site’s emergency response plan, ensuring all employees are well-prepared.
• Oversee PPE assessment, procurement, and management, ensuring compliance and availability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior