Health, Safety & Environmental Director

Hanwha Philly Shipyard • Philadelphia, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The HSE Director serves as the organization’s senior HSE authority and principal advisor to executive leadership on occupational safety, environmental compliance, regulatory matters, risk management, and incident prevention. The role oversees HSE operations supporting commercial shipbuilding, U.S. Navy and federal shipbuilding programs, repair activities, and associated industrial operations. It leads the HSE Department and ensures staffing, training, resources, and operational controls are sufficient to support shipyard operations and expansion.

The Director develops and manages comprehensive HSE programs, policies, objectives, performance measures, budgets, and continuous-improvement initiatives. The position oversees occupational health and safety, environmental compliance, regulatory and contractual compliance, naval program requirements, emergency preparedness, workforce training, incident management, workers’ compensation, and departmental operations. It serves as the primary organizational representative for HSE regulatory matters and coordinates with executive leaders, operational departments, government representatives, regulators, emergency-response organizations, and other stakeholders.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical discipline, at least 10 years of progressively responsible HSE experience, and at least 7 years of HSE management or leadership experience. Demonstrated experience supporting U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, or federal shipbuilding, ship repair, or maritime construction programs is required. Strong practical knowledge of OSHA Construction and Maritime/Shipyard Employment standards and NAVSEA 8010 requirements is required. The position is full-time, exempt, and safety-sensitive, generally following a regular business schedule with flexibility for production schedules, multiple shifts, weekend operations, emergencies, and other operational needs. Occasional business travel may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in occupational health, safety, and environmental management.
• Minimum of 7 years of demonstrated HSE management or leadership experience, including supervising HSE personnel, directing comprehensive programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting operational leadership.
• Demonstrated professional experience supporting U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, or federal shipbuilding, ship repair, or maritime construction programs.
• Strong working knowledge and demonstrated practical application of OSHA Construction Standards (29 CFR 1926) and OSHA Maritime/Shipyard Employment Standards (29 CFR 1915).
• Strong working knowledge of NAVSEA 8010 requirements, including industrial ship safety, fire prevention, hot work management, fire watch requirements, and associated operational controls.
• Familiarity with applicable NAVSEA Standard Items, federal contracting requirements, and Navy-specific safety and environmental compliance obligations.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and managing comprehensive HSE programs in heavy industrial, maritime, or construction environments.
• Working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
• Experience managing departmental personnel, budgets, and organizational resources.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and related business reporting tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound risk-based decision-making, analytical and root cause analysis capabilities, and ability to communicate with all organizational levels and government representatives.
• Ability to lead and develop personnel, resolve conflicts while maintaining compliance, plan and allocate resources, adapt to changing operational demands, and demonstrate professional integrity.
• Ability to safely access shipyard operational areas and perform inspections and evaluations; the role may require prolonged walking or standing, climbing stairs and ladders, bending, stooping, accessing vessels and elevated work areas, and navigating uneven surfaces.
• Must meet applicable job-related medical evaluation requirements, subject to company policy and applicable law.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting commercial shipbuilding, naval or federal shipbuilding programs, or other highly regulated industrial operations.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification; other recognized credentials such as Safety Management Specialist (SMS), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or equivalent will also be considered.
• Direct HSE leadership experience within a major U.S. shipyard performing naval construction or repair.
• Experience coordinating with NAVSEA, Navy program offices, government inspectors, and federal contracting representatives.
• Experience implementing or maintaining ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 management systems.
• Experience leading HSE programs in a large, multi-shift industrial workforce.
• Familiarity with industrial hygiene, environmental permitting, emergency response management, and workers’ compensation administration.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for shipyard HSE programs, policies, procedures, objectives, performance measures, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Advise executive leadership and operational management on HSE risks, regulatory obligations, safety concerns, and corrective actions.
• Promote employee engagement, leadership accountability, hazard recognition, and incident prevention, and integrate HSE requirements into operational planning with other departments.
• Manage HSE departmental budgets, staffing, resources, capabilities, priorities, performance expectations, work schedules, and field coverage.
• Direct occupational health and safety policies, procedures, safe work practices, inspections, hazard assessments, job safety analyses, incident investigations, and corrective-action programs.
• Establish controls for high-risk shipyard activities, including hot work, confined and enclosed space entry, working at heights, lifting, hazardous energy control, and industrial equipment operations.
• Oversee PPE requirements and occupational health initiatives addressing industrial hygiene, respiratory protection, noise, hazardous substances, and other workplace hazards.
• Develop and monitor leading and lagging safety performance indicators.
• Oversee environmental compliance programs, including hazardous waste, air emissions, stormwater, wastewater, spill prevention, pollution control, permits, inspections, monitoring, and regulatory reporting.
• Oversee environmental audits, corrective actions, pollution prevention, resource conservation, and sustainable operating practices.
• Represent the organization in HSE regulatory inspections, investigations, inquiries, and compliance matters, and maintain working relationships with agencies, industry organizations, and external stakeholders.
• Direct HSE management systems consistent with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001, including audits, management reviews, corrective actions, and certification activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable U.S. Navy, NAVSEA, Department of Defense, federal contracting, and contractual safety and environmental requirements.
• Oversee HSE requirements for naval and federal shipbuilding programs, including applicable NAVSEA 8010 Manual requirements and NAVSEA Standard Items where contractually applicable.
• Coordinate with Navy representatives, government inspectors, program management, and production leadership regarding compliance, inspections, corrective actions, and contractual requirements.
• Monitor changes in legislation, regulations, Navy requirements, and industry practices and implement necessary program updates.
• Direct shipyard emergency preparedness and response programs, including fire prevention, emergency planning, evacuation, incident command coordination, training, equipment, exercises, drills, and evaluations.
• Oversee HSE training and workforce development, including orientation, regulatory training, supervisor development, specialized qualifications, training records, and contract-specific requirements.
• Direct investigation and analysis of injuries, illnesses, near misses, environmental incidents, and significant safety events; ensure root cause analysis, corrective actions, and follow-up verification.
• Oversee workers’ compensation administration, injury reporting, claims coordination, case management, and return-to-work initiatives in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate HSE records and ensure timely regulatory, contractual, and management reporting.
• Lead, supervise, and develop HSE managers, supervisors, coordinators, specialists, training personnel, and emergency response staff.
• Support new construction programs, naval projects, facility expansion, and operational changes through HSE planning and risk assessments.
• Prepare and present HSE performance reports, management briefings, and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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