EHS Manager
Eugene, OR
Full Time
Experienced
Position Summary:
The EHS Manager for the food processing facility is responsible for developing and overseeing all environmental, health, and safety programs to ensure regulatory compliance and to foster a strong safety culture. This role ensures the safety of employees, protects food safety through environmental controls, and supports sustainability practices in alignment with FDA, USDA, OSHA, and local regulations. The EHS Manager will collaborate with production, quality, sanitation, and maintenance teams to proactively mitigate risks in a dynamic food manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Work Environment:
Success Profile:
The EHS Manager for the food processing facility is responsible for developing and overseeing all environmental, health, and safety programs to ensure regulatory compliance and to foster a strong safety culture. This role ensures the safety of employees, protects food safety through environmental controls, and supports sustainability practices in alignment with FDA, USDA, OSHA, and local regulations. The EHS Manager will collaborate with production, quality, sanitation, and maintenance teams to proactively mitigate risks in a dynamic food manufacturing environment.
- Regulatory Compliance:
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, FDA, USDA, and state/local regulations.
- Maintain all required permits, reports, and records (e.g., waste discharge, chemical inventory, air quality).
- Prepare for and lead responses to government inspections and third-party audits.
- Health & Safety Programs:
- Lead the plant’s safety program, including training, accident investigation, job hazard analysis, PPE programs, and ergonomics.
- Manage injury and illness prevention programs (IIPP), including safety committees and monthly inspections.
- Develop and maintain Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, machine guarding, and chemical safety programs.
- Environmental Stewardship:
- Oversee waste management, wastewater treatment monitoring, and chemical storage.
- Drive initiatives to reduce energy, water usage, and solid waste in support of corporate sustainability goals.
- Food Safety Support:
- Work closely with the Quality Assurance team to ensure sanitation and environmental controls are aligned with food safety standards (e.g., HACCP, GMP).
- Support allergen control, pest control, and cleaning chemical handling in ways that protect both worker and product safety.
- Training & Engagement:
- Conduct safety onboarding and continuing education for employees and supervisors.
- Promote a “safety-first” culture through behavior-based safety programs and employee involvement initiatives.
- Lead emergency preparedness plans including evacuation, spill response, and first aid.
- Reporting & Metrics:
- Track and analyze safety and environmental KPIs (e.g., TRIR, DART, near misses).
- Use data to drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Food Science, Industrial Engineering, or a related field. CSP, CIH, or similar certification a plus.
- Experience: 5+ years of EHS experience in a manufacturing environment, with at least 2 years in the food processing industry preferred.
- Knowledge:
- Strong understanding of OSHA, EPA, FDA, and USDA regulations applicable to food production.
- Working knowledge of HACCP, SQF/BRC, and GMP protocols.
- Skills: Excellent communication, leadership, training, and analytical skills. Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.
- Technical Proficiency: Comfortable with MS Office, EHS data management systems, and incident tracking tools.
- Will work in both office and production environments, including cold, wet, and noisy areas.
- Regular use of PPE (e.g., hearing protection, safety glasses, boots, hairnets).
- May occasionally respond to incidents during nights or weekends.
- Hands-on, proactive, and approachable leadership style.
- Detail-oriented but able to see the big picture.
- Collaborative team player who influences without authority.
- Passionate about worker safety and sustainable food production.
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