Sr. Spclst, Safety & Environment

Merck • De Soto, KS

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Sr. Specialist is accountable for supporting and maintaining an efficient and effective health, safety and environmental management system for the De Soto, KS manufacturing and research site. This role will ensure compliance with EHS regulations and promote best practices across various operation units, fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will be physically located at the main campus at DeSoto, KS.

The Sr. Specialist of EHS sits within the Global Safety & Environment organization, and reports to the Associate Director of Safety & Environment of De Soto Operations.

The Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Sr. Specialist will provide technical environment, safety support to site management and employees within Kansas Operations. The successful candidate will be a proactive leader to implement best practices and ensure compliance with applicable EHS local, state, federal and company regulations, policies, permits, and work practices.

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive EHS experience.
• Knowledge of computers as a tool to perform the job.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Self-starter with strong leadership and change leadership skills.
• Must be knowledgeable of Federal and State OSHA, EPA, and EHS laws and regulations.
• Possess analytical and logical problem solving abilities.
• Ability to prioritize, focus on and obtain business results.
• Flexibility to perform various tasks to support the business.
• Experience working with US EHS regulatory agencies and corporate support functions.
• Demonstrated skills in complying with one or more regulatory programs: Powered Industrial Trucks, Contractor Management, Emergency Response, and High-Risk Work (e.g. elevated work, confined space, hot work, lock out tag out, etc.).

Nice To Haves

• CSP, PE, or CIH preferred
• Master’s degree in a related discipline
• Process improvements methologies, Lean and Six Sigma skills
• Prior experience supporting an FDA or USDA-regulated manufacturing environment

Responsibilities

• Provide technical environment and safety support to site management and employees
• Proactive leader in planning, developing, and supporting implementation best practices and ensuring compliance with applicable local, state, federal EHS regulations, and company policies, permits, and work practices.
• Work with local governmental EHS agencies as needed.
• Develop and deliver EHS related training for shop floor employees and site leadership.
• Lead initiatives for incident reduction at the site.
• Clearly and concisely communicate complex technical and regulatory information to both senior level leaders and shop floor employees.
• Manage EHS programs along with the site system owners such as: Powered Industrial Truck, Contractor Management, High Risk Work, Incident Investigation, Emergency Response, , and others as assigned.
• Support EHS incident investigations, including accidents and near misses, and ensure proper reporting and effective corrective and preventive action plans; regularly monitor and evaluate effectiveness of mitigation efforts.
• Oversee and facilitate change management processes, ensuring major transitions are effectively planned and executed to maintain continuous compliance with applicable regulations and organizational standards.
• Drive continuous improvement focused on both approaches and outcomes.
• Assure completion of required reports to site, divisional and/or corporate management and regulatory agencies.
• Lead risk assessments in collaboration with shop floor employees (e.g., Job Safety Analysis).

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• paid holidays
• vacation
• compassionate and sick days
• annual bonus
• long-term incentive

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees