Safety Engineer

The Opportunity

Avantor is seeking a dynamic and experienced EHS Engineer to collaboratively support Environment, Health, Safety, Security, and Sustainability (EHS&S) programs within our chemical manufacturing site in Paris, KY!

This is a full-time, onsite role based in Paris, KY. Open to candidates who are willing to commute or relocate to Paris or the surrounding areas.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree is required;
  Related technical discipline is highly preferred (e.g., Environmental Science, Safety Engineering, Industrial Hygiene)

Experience:

• 3–5+ years of progressive EHS experience within chemical manufacturing, broader manufacturing environments, or other high-risk industries

Core Skills &

Competencies:

• Demonstrates solid decision-making skills to evaluate EHS risks and recommend practical solutions
• Ability to identify hazards, perform risk assessments, and support corrective actions
• Must have a strong working knowledge of operational and technical issues, including applicable regulatory standards.
• Knowledge of OSHA and environmental regulations with the ability to interpret and implement requirements
• Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate clearly and influence, both verbally and in writing.
• Well-developed organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects, coordinate tasks, and consistently meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 24-hour or 40-hour HAZWOPER
• First Aid/CPR/AED Certification
• Process Safety Management (PSM) experience
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP) or Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) certification

Regulatory Compliance &

Risk Management:

• Ensure full compliance with local, state, and federal EHS regulations (OSHA, EPA, etc.)
• Lead comprehensive risk assessments with a focus on identifying and mitigating process hazards and repetitive risks.
• Assist with development of site risk register and drive corrective actions through root cause analysis and prioritization
• Conduct regular audits, inspections, and incident investigations with a focus on systemic risk reduction
• Demonstrate initiative and accountability in managing assigned EHS programs or tasks

Training & Culture Building:

• Design and deliver targeted training programs on risk awareness, PSM, and JHA best practices
• Partner to lead site-wide safety campaigns and employee engagement efforts to foster a proactive safety culture
• Serve as a technical resource for hazard identification, PPE assessments, and safe work procedures
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to recommend and implement process improvements

Environmental Stewardship:

• Support environmental compliance activities for air, wastewater, waste management, groundwater, and stormwater programs, SPCC, CERCLA, and community right-to-know requirements.
• Assist with maintaining environmental permits and help prepare and submit required regulatory reports in a timely manner.

Emergency Preparedness:

• Coordinate emergency response planning and support alignment with internal teams and external agencies to ensure effective preparedness and response capabilities
• Maintain HAZWOPER certification and actively participate in emergency response efforts, ensuring readiness for chemical spill or exposure incidents.
• Perform post-incident analysis to identify root causes and drive continuous improvement efforts

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, HR, and Quality departments to integrate EHS into daily operations and capital projects.
• Support contractor safety programs and ensure alignment with site protocols

Environmental Working Conditions & Physical Effort (Under Typical Positions):

Office environment:
Constant sitting while using the computer. Constant use of sight abilities while reviewing documents. Constant use of speech/hearing abilities for communication. Must be able to function well under peak activity periods. Occasional lifting up to 20-50 lbs.

Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all…