Regional EHS Specialist

Agtegra Cooperative•Aberdeen, SD

About The Position

Agtegra Cooperative is a local agricultural cooperative headquartered in Aberdeen, SD. It is owned by over 7,000 farmers and ranchers, predominantly in North and South Dakota, with a network of over 70 locations and 850 employees. For more information, please visit www.agtegra.com . At Agtegra, our mission is simple: we will do something great for farms and families in rural communities that nobody else will do . To accomplish this, Agtegra offers diverse career opportunities where employees can grow and work in their local communities.  Your personal and professional needs matter here – which is why we offer a variety of competitive benefits to employees, including healthcare and retirement, generous paid-time-off (PTO), family leave, and a clothing allowance - just to name a few.  It’s not just a job at Agtegra – it’s a place where we invite all employees to " Start Here. Grow Here. " POSITION SUMMARY The Regional Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist serves as the primary EHS resource for a region, providing day-to-day support, guidance and supports a proactive, people-centered safety culture focused on prevention, accountability, and leads EHS continuous improvement efforts. This role travels frequently and is a highly visible, hands-on partner to managers and frontline employees and ensures regulatory and cooperative compliance. While this position is currently listed as Regional EHS Specialist, we are open to considering highly qualified candidates for a more senior-level role. If your experience significantly exceeds the listed requirements, we encourage you to apply — we are willing to adjust the level and scope of the role for the right individual.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in safety, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Agriculture, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience, or combination of degree and experience).
Specialist Level: Degree (or equivalent experience) and up to 3 years progressive EHS experience
Senior Specialist Level: 5+ years of progressive EHS experience, preferably within agriculture, grain handling, manufacturing, industrial, or energy-related environments.
Must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
English Proficiency.
Must be 18 years or older.
Travels frequently and extensively within the region.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within an agricultural cooperative or multi-site organization.
Professional certifications such as CSP, ASP, CHMM, or similar.
Experience with grain handling safety standards, confined spaces, lockout/tagout, hot work, and mobile equipment safety.
Familiarity with environmental permitting, spill prevention (SPCC), and emergency response planning.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence without direct authority.
Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and general environmental compliance requirements.
Hands-on, practical approach to safety that resonates with frontline agricultural employees.
Proven experience conducting incident investigations and implementing corrective actions.
Ability to work independently across multiple locations with minimal supervision.
Ability to translate regulatory requirements into clear, workable solutions.
Strong organizational and time-management skills in a fast-paced, seasonal environment.
Analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
Comfortable working in operational environments, including outdoor conditions, grain facilities, and industrial settings.
Ability to walk, climb ladders and stairs, and work around grain facilities, equipment, and uneven surfaces.
Ability to work in outdoor environments and varying weather conditions.
Occasional lifting of materials up to established safety limits.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary EHS resource for assigned locations, providing day-to-day support, guidance, and problem-solving.
Implement and maintain cooperative-wide EHS programs, policies, procedures, and standards across the region, integrating into daily operations.
Conduct regular site visits, field observations, and walkthroughs to identify hazards, assess risk, and verify compliance.
Deliver EHS training tailored to operations, new-hire onboarding and task-specific instruction.
Coach leaders and employees on safe work practices, hazard recognition, and risk mitigation.
Facilitate safety meetings, toolbox talks, and leadership safety updates.
Lead or support the investigation and management of workplace incidents, injuries, near misses, property damage, and environmental events.
Develop corrective and preventive actions, track completion, and verify effectiveness.
Prepare clear, timely incident reports and communicate lessons learned.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local EHS regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, DOT, grain handling standards).
Support regulatory inspections, audits, and agency interactions, including preparation, participation, and follow-up.
Assist locations with permit requirements, recordkeeping, reporting, and regulatory submissions.
Monitor regulatory changes impacting agricultural operations and translate requirements into practical guidance.
Support environmental compliance related to air, water, waste, and spill prevention programs.
Assist locations with environmental inspections, spill response planning, and corrective actions and promote responsible stewardship practices aligned with cooperative values and community expectations.
Track, analyze, and report EHS metrics, trends, and key performance indicators for the region.
Identify recurring issues and systemic risks and recommend improvements.
Participate in corporate or cooperative-wide EHS initiatives, audits, and best-practice sharing.
Contribute to the development and revision of EHS policies, procedures, and training materials.
Other duties as assigned.