Senior Environmental Health & Safety Specialist

Sharps Medical Waste Services•Petersburg, VA

About The Position

The Senior Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Specialist leads and advances EH&S programs across a growing, multi-site network. Partnering with Operations, Fleet, Human Resources, and site leadership, the role strengthens workplace safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. It owns complex audits and incident investigations, develops and delivers employee training, monitors compliance, and leads continuous improvement initiatives. The specialist also mentors junior EH&S staff and serves as an organizational subject-matter expert, operating with a high degree of independence and sound judgment. This position reports to the EH&S leadership team and travels to company locations to provide audits, investigations, training, inspections, and operational support.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
5–7+ years of progressive EH&S experience in manufacturing, transportation, logistics, healthcare, regulated medical waste, pharmaceutical, or industrial operations, including experience supporting multiple sites.
Experience leading safety inspections, compliance audits, and incident investigations, and designing corrective action programs.
Strong working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and environmental compliance regulations; hands-on experience with hazardous or regulated medical waste programs is required.
Advanced knowledge of occupational safety principles, industrial hygiene, hazard recognition, risk assessment, and environmental compliance, with the ability to apply this knowledge across varied site conditions.
Ability to mentor and influence others and lead cross-functional projects with minimal oversight.
Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines independently.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and EH&S management systems.
Ability to build strong working relationships with employees and leaders across multiple locations and represent EH&S before customers and regulators.
Ability to travel approximately 40–50%, including overnight travel, and work in industrial and outdoor environments while wearing required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification such as CSP, ASP, OSHA 30-Hour General Industry, DOT Hazardous Materials Training, or HAZWOPER is strongly preferred; CSP or an equivalent advanced credential is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, DEA, CDC, and state environmental regulations, overseeing required permits, records, and documentation across multiple sites.
Design and lead facility safety inspections, operational observations, compliance audits, and hazard assessments; own risk-mitigation strategies and resulting corrective action plans.
Lead investigations of workplace injuries, vehicle accidents, near misses, environmental incidents, and property damage, conduct root cause analysis, and track corrective actions through completion.
Own and improve environmental compliance programs for regulated medical waste, hazardous waste, stormwater, wastewater, air emissions, spill prevention, and pollution prevention.
Develop and deliver employee safety training, including Bloodborne Pathogens, Hazard Communication, DOT Hazmat, PPE, and Emergency Response, and develop curricula for other required regulatory programs.
Maintain and improve EH&S databases, training records, inspection reports, and incident documentation; prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual compliance reports to leadership.
Analyze EH&S performance metrics and trends across the site network and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
Advise facility leaders and employees on EH&S matters; lead emergency response planning, fleet safety initiatives, and transportation compliance efforts.
Mentor and guide junior EH&S team members to support their development and consistency of practice across sites.
Lead preparation for and participation in customer audits, regulatory inspections, facility startups, operational changes, and special projects.
Travel to company locations to lead audits, investigations, training, inspections, and operational support.
Ensure timely and accurate reporting of workplace injuries to insurance carriers and third parties.
Perform additional duties as required.