HSE Manager

Job Description Job Description Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Manager Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky Employment Type: Full-Time Department: Health, Safety & Environmental Position Summary We are seeking an experienced Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Manager to join our Bowling Green, Kentucky operation as one of the facility’s initial leadership hires. This is a unique opportunity to help establish the HSE function for a new manufacturing operation from the ground up. During the facility startup and construction/commissioning phase, the HSE Manager will work closely with company leadership, contractors, engineering, HR, and operations to establish safety and environmental programs, policies, training, regulatory compliance systems, and safe operating practices. As the facility transitions into full production, this position will become the site’s primary HSE leader, responsible for the ongoing management of health, safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance programs across the operation. The ideal candidate is a hands-on HSE professional who is equally comfortable developing programs and procedures, working directly on the manufacturing floor, training employees, investigating incidents, interacting with regulatory agencies, and advising plant leadership. Key ResponsibilitiesFacility Startup & HSE Program Development Serve as the primary HSE resource during facility startup, equipment installation, commissioning, and preparation for production. Help establish the facility's HSE programs, procedures, standards, and documentation prior to the start of operations. Partner with engineering, operations, facilities, HR, contractors, and company leadership to identify and address HSE risks during facility development. Review new equipment, processes, work areas, and facility layouts for potential safety and environmental concerns. Assist with contractor safety oversight during construction, installation, and commissioning activities. Establish required safety programs, inspections, permits, training systems, recordkeeping processes, and emergency procedures. Support the development of site emergency response, evacuation, severe-weather, fire prevention, and incident-response plans. Help ensure appropriate machine guarding, energy-control procedures, PPE requirements, chemical controls, signage, and other safeguards are established before equipment enters production. Coordinate required environmental permits, registrations, reporting, and compliance activities associated with startup and ongoing operations. Ongoing HSE Management Lead the facility's overall health, safety, and environmental program once manufacturing operations begin. Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local HSE requirements, including OSHA, EPA, Kentucky regulatory requirements, and applicable fire and building safety requirements. Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve written HSE programs and procedures. Conduct routine facility inspections, job hazard analyses, risk assessments, and safety audits. Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors and work with management to implement effective corrective actions. Lead investigations of workplace injuries, illnesses, near misses, environmental incidents, property damage, and other HSE events. Perform root-cause analysis and track corrective and preventive actions through completion. Maintain OSHA injury and illness records and other required HSE documentation. Manage environmental compliance activities involving air, wastewater, stormwater, waste, chemicals, spill prevention, and other applicable environmental requirements. Coordinate industrial hygiene assessments and employee exposure monitoring when required. Oversee hazardous and non-hazardous waste management and disposal activities. Develop and deliver HSE training for employees, supervisors, managers, and contractors. Establish and maintain new-hire safety orientation requirements. Partner with Operations and HR on workers' compensation, return-to-work, injury management, and accident-prevention initiatives. Lead or support facility safety committees and employee safety-engagement programs. Monitor HSE performance metrics, identify trends, and provide regular reports and recommendations to plant and corporate leadership. Serve as a primary facility contact during OSHA, environmental, fire department, insurance, and other regulatory or compliance inspections. Maintain emergency preparedness programs and coordinate drills and response activities. Promote a strong safety culture in which employees and managers understand that safe work practices are an essential part of daily operations. Perform other HSE and operational-support responsibilities as required during facility startup and growth. QualificationsRequired Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Safety, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant HSE experience. Minimum 5 years of progressive HSE experience , preferably within a manufacturing, industrial, metals, automotive, or similar production environment. Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and general industry safety requirements. Experience developing and implementing written safety programs and procedures. Experience conducting incident investigations, root-cause analyses, risk assessments, and corrective-action programs. Working knowledge of environmental compliance requirements applicable to manufacturing operations. Ability to work effectively in both an office environment and directly on a manufacturing floor. Strong communication, training, organization, documentation, and problem-solving skills. Ability to work independently and establish programs in a developing or rapidly changing environment. Ability to communicate effectively with employees at all organizational levels, from hourly production employees to senior management. Preferred Previous experience supporting a new manufacturing facility, plant startup, facility expansion, or equipment commissioning project . Experience in metals manufacturing, copper processing, fabrication, automotive, heavy manufacturing, or a related industrial environment. CSP, ASP, CHMM, CIH, OSHA 30, or other recognized HSE certification. Experience interacting directly with OSHA, environmental agencies, insurance carriers, fire departments, or other regulatory authorities. Experience managing contractor safety programs. Experience developing HSE systems for a growing manufacturing workforce. Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Chinese communication skills are a plus. Work Environment This position will initially operate in a developing manufacturing environment involving construction, equipment installation, commissioning, and facility startup activities. As operations begin, the role will regularly work throughout an active manufacturing facility. The position requires regular walking and standing, use of appropriate personal protective equipment, and the ability to work around industrial machinery, production equipment, construction activities, and varying environmental conditions. Some flexibility in work hours may be required during facility startup, commissioning, regulatory inspections, emergencies, or significant EHS events. What Success Looks Like The successful HSE Manager will help ensure that safety and environmental compliance are built into the Bowling Green operation before production begins , rather than added afterward. As the facility grows, this individual will develop and lead a sustainable HSE program that protects employees, supports regulatory compliance, reduces operational risk, and establishes a strong safety culture throughout the organization.