Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The EHS Manager plays a high-impact, visible leadership role , directly shaping employee behaviors, influencing plant culture, and ensuring both worker safety and food safety operate seamlessly together. The EHS Manager serves as the point person for all aspects of EHS in the Plant.

The Manager of Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) leads all safety, health, and environmental programs for LALA’s dairy manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, driving a proactive safety culture, and partnering closely with plant leadership to integrate EHS into daily operations.

In this mid-sized plant setting, the EHS Manager is both a strategic leader and a hands-on practitioner , directly influencing frontline behaviors, coaching supervisors, and actively participating in plant floor initiatives. The EHS Manager will serve as the point person for all aspects of EHS in the Plant.

Site Leadership & Culture

• Serve as the onsite EHS leader and subject matter expert for the facility.
• Partner with the Plant Manager and leadership team to embed safety into all operational decisions.
• Lead and facilitate the plant’s safety committee and employee safety engagement initiatives.
• Drive a strong, visible safety culture through frequent floor presence (“management by walking around”).

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, FDA and local regulations applicable to food manufacturing.
• Manage all site-level inspections, audits, and compliance documentation.
• Maintain required permits and reporting (air, water, waste, hazardous materials) which includes Tier II, Form R, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures.
• Act as the primary contact for regulatory agencies such as OSHA, City, State, EPA and other agencies during site visits.
• Compliance with Workers’ Compensation laws - responsible for filing claims and maintaining all documentation while acting as a liaison between the company, the employee, and the insurance company.

Safety Program Execution (Hands-On)

• Implement and maintain core safety programs, including:
  • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
  • Hazard Communication
  • Injury Prevention
  • Confined Space and Hot Work
  • Contractor Safety
• Conduct routine safety audits, job hazard analyses (JHAs), and behavioral observations.
• Lead incident investigations and root cause analysis; ensure timely corrective actions.
• Track and report KPIs (TRIR, near misses, first aid incidents).
• Supports Process Safety Management by continually monitoring the PSM Program, training support, action item lists, and audit preparations.

Environmental Management

• Oversee site environmental programs, including:
  • Waste management and disposal (sustainability)
  • Water and wastewater compliance
  • Air emissions (if applicable)
  • RMP: Risk Management
• Identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability within plant operations.

Food Manufacturing Integration

• Ensure alignment of EHS programs with food safety and quality requirements (GMPs, HACCP).
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure safe chemical handling, sanitation processes, and allergen controls.
• Support safe production practices while maintaining strict food safety standards.

Training & Workforce Development

• Develop and deliver plant-wide EHS training for all employees and supervisors.
• Ensure compliance with all required safety and environmental training programs.
• Coach frontline supervisors to own safety within their departments.

Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain site-specific emergency response plans (fire, chemical spill, severe weather, contamination events).
• Lead drills and coordinate with local emergency responders.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies.
• Manage the drug and alcohol testing training and protocols as it relates to reasonable suspicion and post incident in the Plant.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce injuries and improve compliance.
• Analyze trends and data to proactively address risks.
• Introduce practical, cost-effective safety solutions appropriate for a mid-sized facility.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in EHS, Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related field strongly preferred.
• 3-5 years of EHS experience in manufacturing (food or CPG preferred).
• Experience in a single-site or mid-sized plant environment is strongly preferred.
• CSP (Certified Safety Professional) or equivalent
• HACCP or food safety certification a plus

Skills & Competencies

• Strong working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and food industry regulations.
• Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on execution.
• Strong coaching and influencing skills with frontline employees.
• Practical problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Comfortable working in a plant environment (production floor presence daily).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rate
• Near-Miss reporting engagement
• Audit and inspection results (internal/external)
• Training completion rates
• Timeliness and effectiveness of corrective actions

Work Environment

• Daily presence on the production floor required.
• Exposure to food processing conditions (temperature variations, machinery, sanitation chemicals).