Manager, QEHS, Region North

Wärtsilä•Houston, TX

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our partners to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system modelling expertise. These cover decarbonisation services, future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS Digital Energy Platform. Did you know Wärtsilä has delivered 79 GW of power plant capacity and more than 130 energy storage installations in 180 countries around the world? In this fast changing world of energy, we are constantly on the lookout for future-oriented talent to join our team and to work towards enabling sustainable societies through innovation in technology and services - together. Want to join the ride? Job Purpose We are looking for a QEHSS Manager for our Region North which includes the following countries: United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. This role leads the development and execution of health, safety, and environmental strategies to ensure compliance with regulations and promote a culture of safety and sustainability across the organization. The role is responsible for implementing the Wärtsilä QEHSS strategies, policies and programs and ensuring organizational excellence in HSEQ compliance and performance. You will be entrusted with the development of Regional Action plans and the advancement of strategic endeavors that contribute to a culture of safety, the reduction of work-related risks, and the maintenance of compliance with established safety, health, and environmental standards at every Wärtsilä site and operational sphere. This role serves as the primary QEHSS leader for the Region North, acting as a strategic business partner to regional and local leadership teams. The position is responsible for driving engagement, accountability, and ownership of Quality, Environment, Health, Safety, and Security performance across all business operations. Through close partnership with operational leaders, the QEHSS Manager ensures QEHSS priorities are integrated into business decision-making, operational planning, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives. The role has 2 direct reports across multiple countries. The position will be located in one of the main locations of the Region (with a preference for location in Houston, TX or Ft. Lauderdale, FL) and report to the Americas QEHSS Director.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related field.
Minimum 7-10 years of experience in HSE management, preferably in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
Strong knowledge of local and international HSE regulations and standards.
Proven leadership experience with the ability to influence and drive changes.
Understanding different management systems and what is needed from a business perspective
Excellent communication skills

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or professional certifications (e.g., CSP, NEBOSH, ISO Lead Auditor) are significantly favored.

Responsibilities

Provides HSE oversight and support across diverse activities, including, not limited to workshops, power plants, service projects, construction sites, and office environments.
Leads Health, Safety & Environment activities, ensuring compliance with all local, regional, and international QEHSS regulations, as well as company HSE standards
Strengthen safety culture by establishing, executing and reinforcing policies, procedures, behaviors, and initiatives.
Utilizing strong networking and influencing skills, build clear communication channels representing QEHSS across all North Regional sites to a complex set of stakeholders, including the Regional Management, local and global QEHSS teams.
Support global initiatives with local priorities and applicability, translating and implementing global HSE strategies into relevant and actionable regional plans
Monitors Health, Safety, Environment & Quality Performance Metrics, reporting on trends and developing action plans for performance improvement. Drives continuous improvement in Health, Safety, Environment & Quality management
Collaborates with leadership and cross-functional teams to integrate Health, Safety & Environment considerations into business operations and project planning.
Engage with external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, to represent the company's Health, Safety & Environment interests and maintain positive relationships
Manages Health, Safety, Environment & Quality compliance, mitigating risks and overseeing adherence to all regulations and standards. Proactively updates practices based on changing regulations and ensures all products and services conform to technical specifications and standards.
Lead safety walkthroughs, audits, and site inspections in collaboration with operational teams
Spearhead regional risk assessment activities for the North Region, incorporating the identification of hazards, monitoring safety practices, and conducting job safety evaluations.
Leads incident investigations, ensuring thorough root cause analysis and ensures appropriate response and reporting procedures are followed.
Oversee regular QEHSS audits and inspections across regional sites, tracking performance and implementing improvements
Serve as the regional QEHSS leader and trusted advisor to regional and local management teams, providing strategic guidance on Quality, Environment, Health, Safety, and Security matters.
Establish strong partnerships with business and operational leaders to ensure QEHSS objectives are embedded into regional business plans, operational strategies, and day-to-day decision-making.
Drive leadership engagement and accountability for QEHSS performance by coaching leaders, facilitating risk discussions, and promoting ownership of corrective and preventive actions.
Lead regional QEHSS governance processes, including management reviews, performance reviews, strategic planning activities, and leadership engagement forums.
Partner with local leadership teams to identify emerging risks, business challenges, and improvement opportunities, ensuring proactive mitigation strategies are developed and implemented.
Champion a culture where operational leaders own QEHSS performance while providing expert guidance and support to achieve regional and global objectives.
Influence business decisions through the analysis of QEHSS performance trends, risk indicators, audit findings, and organizational learning opportunities to improve business outcomes.