EHS Liaison

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

PQ is a leading global provider of silicates, silicas and derivative products. PQ's products are used in a wide variety of industrial processes and many customer products, from decorative paints to green cement, from clean drinking water to green tires and from toothpaste to biofuels and beer.

Ideal candidates resonate with PQ's Core Values of Integrity, Sustainability, People, Customer Focus and Safety.  Successful employees embrace and model these values in their behaviors and actions.

Essential Job Duties :

• Provide EHS project management support on EHS matters including negotiating strategies, technical problem solving, responses to written correspondence & inquiries, compliance inspections and regulatory interpretations.
• Liaise with regulatory agencies and legal on matters related to reporting, investigating compliance concerns and project management.
• Monitor and establish regulatory requirements and track changes affecting PQ (Federal, State, Local).
• Analyze and interpret permit conditions and provides guidance to operating units and to the EHS team.
• Provide a detailed compliance calendar including follow-up.
• Provide support in the management of the EHS Management System and ensures adherence to EHS Corporate requirements.
• Conduct field and site inspections to enforce adherence to laws, regulations and employer policies governing occupational safety and environmental compliance including hazardous and non-hazardous waste area inspections, spill prevention inspections, PCB surveys, landfill assessments, waste profiles & characterizations, and other requirements.
• Ensure the collection (such as monthly storm water sampling) of required data for submission to satisfy environmental permits and reporting requirements (air, water, land). Must be able to interpret the technical information.
  • Prepare reports for use by company personnel and regulatory agencies including all required EHS reports for EPCRA, SARA, Title V, NPDES, etc. 
  • Analyze and interpret reports from consultants and make recommendations for additional testing and fieldwork.
• Participate in company audits including PQP, RC/ISO, and EHS Compliance.
• Analyze the work environment, develop and maintain programs designed to control, eliminate, and prevent occupational disease and/or injury and/or environmental harm caused by physical, chemical, biological agents or ergonomic factors. Must be able to align these with the organization’s requirements in order to maintain consistency.
• Develop and deliver regulatory required training related to health, safety, and environment.
• Provide technical support to front line leadership on matters related to safety, health and environmental compliance.
• Investigate incidents and non-compliance events to determine contributing factors and recommend remedial action to prevent reoccurrence.
• Conduct EHS reviews of capital projects and work with engineering & plant management on solutions to EHS issues.
• Participate in industry association meetings as needed.
• Responsibilities for the department budget
• Additional responsibilities and changes in responsibilities may be made at the discretion of the EHS Director.

Required Skills:

• University degree in engineering, environment or science.
• At least 5years EHS experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and computer skills.
• Excellent knowledge of federal, provincial, state and local EHS regulations. 
• Knowledge of ISO14001, RC14001, ISO45001, ISO5001 or Responsible Care®.
• Must be proficient in serving as a change agent within the operating environment and working with the organization/management to improve EHS performance.
• Ability to address and solve complex EHS issues from a global perspective.
• Ability to provide flexible judgement and solutions to concerns and/or opportunities.
• Must be an independent, self-motivated individual with the ability to multi task and administer a broad range of duties including resolving complaints, counseling employees and providing technical interpretation of policies and procedures.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret regulations, professional journals, technical procedures and technical results.
• Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical personnel; knowledge of federal, state and local safety regulations, protocols and/or procedures.
• Ability to work in a matrix environment and influence / motivate diverse teams to achieve a unified goal.
• Ability to coach, teach, counsel, and be comfortable speaking to groups. Must be able to work independently without day-to-day supervision.
• Ability to perform physical inspections of all work areas.
• Ability to travel as necessary.

Special Factors

• Work environment - This role is based in chemical manufacturing plant that typically operates 24/7
  • In the field, boots on the ground at the home site expected daily 15%
  • Office Work 75%
  • Other 10%
• ​​​​​​​Travel is required as needed. Must be available to travel on short notice

EHS Responsibilities

• Communicates, promotes and personally demonstrates Safety/Health (including PQP Principles) as #1 priority
• Participation in risk assessment audits as applicable
• Understand PQ Principles (PQP) and how they are implemented in the site organization, rules and procedures
• Completes HSE training requirements identified for the job in a timely manner

PQ is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Click on the link to read Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (eeoc.gov). For more information, please review the link Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov).