Plant EHSS & Operations Risk Manager

W.C. Bradley Co.•Peebles, OH

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant EHSS and Operational Risk Manager leads all Environmental, Health, Safety, Security (EHSS), and operational risk management programs for the pellet mill facility. This role is responsible for ensuring a safe, healthy, environmentally responsible, and secure workplace while supporting operational excellence, business continuity, and sustainable manufacturing performance. This position drives execution of Outdoor Brands LLC's Domestic Operations Safety Program through standardized processes, behavior-based safety systems, operational risk management, leadership engagement, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement. The role partners cross-functionally across all plant functions, Distribution Center teams, and the Plant Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager to ensure alignment between EHSS requirements, operational excellence initiatives, and overall plant performance. The Plant EHSS and Operational Risk Manager serves as the senior site authority for Environmental, Health, Safety, Security (EHSS), operational risk management, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and business continuity. The position exercises significant independent judgment in managing operational risk, regulatory strategy, environmental stewardship, and operational resilience while serving as a strategic advisor to plant leadership. As a member of the plant leadership team, this role ensures EHSS and operational risk principles are integrated into operational excellence, capital projects, and long-term business objectives. The Plant EHSS and Operational Risk Manager provides leadership and engagement across all shifts in a 24/7 manufacturing environment, ensuring consistent execution of EHSS programs, operational risk management processes, and safety expectations throughout the operation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, or equivalent experience.
Minimum seven years of progressive EHSS, operational risk management, manufacturing, or industrial leadership experience, including demonstrated responsibility for regulatory compliance, operational risk management, and strategic EHSS program development.
Three to five years of leadership or influencing experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience supporting multi-shift manufacturing operations, including 24/7 environments.
Strong knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and industrial EHSS requirements.
Experience leading Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) programs and safety culture initiatives.
Experience with environmental compliance and regulatory reporting.
Strong understanding of operational risk assessment, incident investigation, and root cause analysis methodologies.
Demonstrated experience influencing senior leadership and managing complex cross-functional initiatives.
Demonstrated knowledge of operational risk management frameworks and structured risk assessment methodologies.
Ability to influence plant leadership and provide strategic recommendations balancing operational performance, regulatory compliance, and organizational risk.
Strong business acumen with the ability to align EHSS strategy with operational objectives.
Proven ability to lead organizational change and drive sustainable operational improvement.
Excellent executive communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex operational risks to diverse audiences.
Strong understanding of EHSS management systems and regulatory requirements
Proven ability to drive behavioral and cultural change in frontline operations without direct authority
Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and accountability skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on risk reduction and prevention
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and build strong partnerships throughout the organization
Strong project management and organizational skills
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and follow-through
Results-driven with a strong sense of ownership and operational discipline
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and EHSS reporting systems
Ability to walk, stand, climb, and work in an industrial manufacturing environment
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds as needed
Comfortable working in hot, cold, dusty, noisy, and outdoor conditions
Ability to work at heights and enter confined spaces using proper personal protective equipment
Ability to respond to emergency situations and support off-shift activities as required

Nice To Haves

Experience leading business continuity planning, emergency preparedness, or operational resilience initiatives preferred.
Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement experience preferred.
CSP, ASP, CHMM, or equivalent certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to drive accountability across all plant functions for EHSS performance, compliance, and operational risk reduction.
Serve as a member of the plant leadership team responsible for balancing operational performance, regulatory compliance, workforce safety, environmental stewardship, and operational risk in support of the facility's business objectives.
Establish clear expectations for safety leadership, environmental stewardship, incident prevention, and operational risk management.
Coach and develop supervisors and frontline leaders on EHSS responsibilities, hazard recognition, leadership engagement, and risk-based decision making.
Reinforce company culture including safety, integrity, accountability, and ownership.
Lead the plant leadership team in structured Safety GEMBA walks and safety engagement activities.
Maintain a visible presence across all shifts and departments in a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
Promote proactive identification and elimination of hazards through employee involvement and leadership accountability.
Support development of site EHSS objectives aligned with plant and Domestic Operations goals.
Own the facility's operational risk management framework, ensuring EHSS risks are identified, prioritized, mitigated, and communicated to plant leadership and Domestic Operations EHSS leadership.
Lead formal operational risk assessments for manufacturing processes, critical equipment, contractors, utilities, facility modifications, and business continuity risks.
Develop long-term operational risk reduction strategies that improve manufacturing resilience, regulatory compliance, and operational performance.
Serve as the site's primary advisor regarding operational, environmental, regulatory, and business risks.
Present significant operational risks, mitigation strategies, and emerging regulatory issues to plant and Domestic Operations leadership.
Drive implementation of structured operational risk management processes through risk assessments, mitigation planning, and continuous monitoring.
Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to lead implementation and sustainment of all safety programs, policies, procedures, and standards
Manage and continuously improve the facility's Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) program
Implement and sustain safety observation, hazard recognition, and employee engagement processes
Establish and sustain a robust near-miss reporting, investigation, and corrective action process to identify hazards, eliminate risk, and prevent incidents before they occur
Engage regularly with team members across all shifts in a 24/7 operation to reinforce safety culture, gather feedback, identify emerging risks, and ensure consistent execution of EHSS programs and expectations
Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and lessons learned processes
Develop and maintain risk assessment processes for equipment, processes, tasks, and facility operations
Ensure effective management of PPE programs, machine guarding, lockout/tagout, confined space, fall protection, contractor safety, ergonomics, and other critical risk programs
Support return-to-work and modified duty programs in partnership with Human Resources and plant leadership
Drive continuous improvement of safety performance through leading and lagging indicator analysis
Integrate operational risk assessments into safety initiatives, process changes, and daily operations to proactively reduce organizational risk.
Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to lead environmental compliance and sustainability efforts for the facility
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations
Manage environmental programs including air emissions, waste management, stormwater, spill prevention, environmental permitting, and environmental reporting requirements
Conduct environmental inspections and assessments to identify and mitigate risks
Partner with plant leadership to reduce environmental impacts and improve sustainability performance
Maintain environmental permits, records, and required reporting documentation
Support environmental audits and implementation of corrective actions
Develop and implement site environmental improvement initiatives that reduce operational risk, improve regulatory compliance, and enhance resource efficiency.
Identify and implement projects that reduce waste, emissions, and environmental impact while supporting operational and financial objectives.
Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to lead facility security programs designed to protect employees, visitors, assets, and operations
Maintain emergency response plans, crisis management procedures, and business continuity readiness
Coordinate emergency response drills and preparedness exercises
Partner with local emergency responders and regulatory agencies as required
Ensure facility emergency equipment and response systems are maintained and operational
Support site security assessments and implementation of corrective actions as needed
Develop, implement, and maintain the site's Business Continuity and Crisis Management program.
Lead planning for significant operational disruptions including natural disasters, utility interruptions, environmental releases, supply chain interruptions, and other operational risks.
Coordinate annual emergency response and business continuity exercises with plant leadership.
Ensure continuity planning supports operational resilience and minimizes business interruption during emergency events.
Execute Outdoor Brands LLC's Domestic Operations Safety Program at the site level
Support standardization of safety processes, metrics, reporting, and best practices across pellet plants and distribution centers
Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to implement company safety initiatives and improvement strategies
Facilitate sharing of lessons learned, incident trends, and successful risk reduction initiatives across locations
Support the development and deployment of enterprise safety standards and training programs
Participate in cross-site EHSS reviews, audits, and continuous improvement activities
Conduct routine EHSS audits, inspections, and compliance assessments
Ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented, verified, and sustained
Maintain OSHA logs, environmental records, training documentation, and required reporting systems
Monitor regulatory changes and implement required updates to site programs
Support internal and external audits related to EHSS requirements
Drive risk reduction initiatives through structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies
Maintain site readiness for regulatory inspections and corporate assessments
Develop regulatory compliance strategies that proactively address changing federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
Represent the facility during OSHA, EPA, state regulatory agency, insurance, and third-party compliance inspections.
Serve as the primary site liaison with regulatory agencies regarding inspections, permitting activities, compliance issues, and corrective action programs.
Maintain site readiness for regulatory inspections, insurance audits, and corporate assessments through ongoing risk evaluations and compliance verification.
Analyze EHSS performance data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities
Develop dashboards and reporting tools to monitor site safety and environmental performance
Track and report key performance indicators including: Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR), Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) Rate, Severity Rate, Near-Miss Reporting Rate, Near-Miss Investigation Completion Rate, Safety Observation Completion, Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) Participation, Safety GEMBA Completion, Corrective Action Closure Rate, Training Completion and Compliance, Environmental Compliance Metrics, Workers' Compensation Performance, Regulatory Inspection and Audit Results
Lead daily, weekly, and monthly performance reviews with plant leadership
Ensure alignment between site metrics, Domestic Operations objectives, and company goals
Prepare executive-level EHSS performance reviews, operational risk summaries, and strategic recommendations for Domestic Operations and plant leadership.
Present site EHSS performance, operational risks, regulatory trends, and continuous improvement initiatives during leadership reviews.
Utilize leading and lagging indicators to prioritize operational risk reduction initiatives and support strategic business decisions.
Partner with leaders and team members across all plant functions to improve overall plant performance and reduce operational risk
Collaborate with Distribution Center teams and Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to drive consistency, standardization, and sharing of best practices
Partner with the Plant Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager to ensure alignment between EHSS requirements, GMP expectations, operational discipline, audit readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives
Support implementation of Lean manufacturing principles, standard work, visual management, and operational excellence initiatives where safety and risk reduction intersect
Participate in capital projects, process improvements, and facility modifications to ensure EHSS requirements are incorporated into project planning and execution
Drive alignment across departments to eliminate silos and ensure consistent execution
Serve as a trusted advisor to plant leadership on EHSS risks, opportunities, and strategic initiatives
Lead EHSS design reviews for capital projects, facility expansions, equipment installations, and process modifications to ensure compliance, operational risk reduction, and long-term sustainability.
Partner with Engineering to incorporate inherently safer design principles into new equipment and facility modifications.
Review and approve EHSS requirements prior to commissioning new equipment, production processes, or facility modifications.
Serve as the strategic EHSS and operational risk advisor to plant leadership during operational planning, facility expansion, and organizational change initiatives.
Participate in cross-site EHSS councils, benchmarking activities, and best-practice sharing to support continuous improvement across Domestic Operations.
Ensure EHSS and operational risk management principles are integrated into Lean manufacturing, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Performs other duties as requested