EHS Manager

Job Details

Location:

Lexington, NC 27295

Position Type:
Full Time

Education Level: Bachelor's Degree

Travel Percentage:
Up to 50%

Job Shift: 1st Shift

The Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager is responsible for leading and continuously improving all environmental, health, and safety programs across the manufacturing operation. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while promoting a proactive safety culture and environmental stewardship throughout the facility.

• The EHS Manager partners with operations, maintenance, engineering, and HR leadership to implement safety initiatives, reduce environmental impact, strengthen regulatory compliance, and support employee engagement and training programs.
• Direct and administer comprehensive site environmental programs, including hazardous waste management, air permitting compliance, and stormwater protection.
• Maintain and secure all required environmental permits, records, and compliance documentation.
• Coordinate and host regulatory inspections, audits, and external communications with the EPA, OSHA, state, and local agencies.
• Monitor and analyze key environmental metrics, implementing swift corrective actions to mitigate operational risks.
• Improve sustainability initiatives and carbon footprint reduction goals through environmentally responsible operational practices.
• Oversee EHS compliance across all chemical operations, including handling, storage, transfer, and disposal.
• Ensure strict adherence to OSHA Hazard Communication (Haz Com) and chemical inventory regulations, maintaining accurate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) programs.
• Conduct rigorous risk assessments and hazard evaluations for chemical processes and manufacturing materials.
• Establish and enforce strict chemical storage compatibility, labeling, containment, and spill prevention standards.
• Lead spill response preparedness by designing training programs and leading emergency response protocols.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to audit the structural integrity and safe operation of chemical systems, tanks, pumps, and piping.
• Advance Process Safety Management (PSM) initiatives to minimize environmental risks associated with chemical usage and waste streams.
• Lead and modernize site-wide Health & Safety programs, focusing on PPE compliance, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), fall protection, and arc flash safety.
• Re-establish and chair the site Safety Committee to drive employee participation, engagement, and shared accountability.
• Manage and support all incident investigations for all safety, environmental, and chemical events using Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to deploy preventative actions.
• Develop and facilitate safety training curricula, toolbox talks, and comprehensive onboarding programs for new hires.
• Collaborate with manufacturing leadership to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate workplace hazards.
• Foster a proactive safety culture that prioritizes prevention, continuous improvement, and regulatory alignment.
• Travel required up to 25% as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Leadership and Team Management: leading teams in manufacturing, with measurable results. Skilled in coaching and motivating staff to achieve operational goals.
• Work Style:
  Independent worker, combining intelligence, experience, and self-confidence to excel with minimal supervision.
• Communication
  
  Skills:
  
  Effective written and verbal communication. Ability to provide training and support. Strong interpersonal skills.
• Safety compliance:
  Demonstrate a commitment to safety by adhering to OSHA standards. Maintains focus in potentially hazardous environments equipment procedures.
• Work Environment:
  Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment and remain calm under pressure.
• Operational Excellence and Process Optimization:
  Skilled in improving operational efficiency and reducing costs (Lean/Six Sigma), with strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities for manufacturing challenges.

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental science, occupational health & safety, engineering, chemistry, biology, or a related field is commonly required.
• 5‑8 year management, or supervisory experience in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting chemical manufacturing, coating, converting, printing, or industrial process operations preferred.
• Knowledge of hazardous chemicals, solvent handling, wastewater systems, and industrial ventilation systems is a plus.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Occupational Health and Safety Technician (OHST), or Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) is a plus.