What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Health & Safety Leader position at JOST International?
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY (EHS) LEADER reports directly to the Plant Manager and is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of all EHS programs within the facility. This includes ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, leading risk reduction initiatives, promoting a safety-first culture, and aligning with JOST International’s sustainability goals.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: Include, but are not limited to:
- Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive EHS programs, including:
- Confined Space Entry
- Emergency Response
- Electrical Safe Work Practices
- Hazard Communication
- Lockout/Tagout (Lock-Tag-Verify)
- Mobile Equipment Safety (Forklifts, Hoists, Cranes)
- Fall Protection
- PPE Compliance
- Ergonomics and Injury Management
- Safe Work Permits
- Waste Minimization/Reduction/Disposal
- OSHA/MIOSHA Compliance
- Contractor Safety Guidelines
- Lead the design and continuous improvement of safety training systems.
- Deliver and coordinate effective training for employees, contractors, and vendors.
- Support onboarding processes for new hires and contractor orientation.
- Identify, prioritize, and execute initiatives to reduce critical and general safety risks.
- Assist in guiding the organization toward zero-risk culture through strategic planning.
- Apply Behavior-Based Safety and Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) principles.
- Perform Hazard Identification Risk Assessments (HIRA) and lead mitigation efforts.
- Provide on-the-floor safety presence and support to operational and maintenance teams.
- Lead the facility Safety Committee, promoting visibility of safety strategy and results.
- Coach and mentor employees at all levels to build ownership of safety practices.
- Drive engagement through discussions, observations, and reinforcement of safety behaviors.
- Support the development of both short- and long-term EHS goals and objectives.
- Establish and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor effectiveness.
- Ensure implementation of risk-based safety strategies and evaluate performance metrics.
- Lead investigations and root cause analysis for incidents and near misses.
- Ensure robust change management and self-assessment protocols are in place.
- Support the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) with relevant EHS inputs.
- Act as the subject matter expert for EHS laws, regulations, audits, and permits.
- Submit required environmental reports (air, water, waste) to relevant authorities.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of evolving EHS regulations and best practices.
- Manage safety data systems, incident logs, audits, and performance reporting tools.
- Analyze data to identify trends, improve systems, and inform decision-making.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Professional certification such as: Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Or equivalent recognized EHS certification.
- Completion of OSHA Training Institute courses, including 501, 503, 511, or similar.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in the EHS field, with at least 3 years in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
- Proven experience with environmental permits and regulatory reporting (e.g., air, water, waste).
- Demonstrated leadership in building and sustaining a safety-focused culture.
- Experience in developing and delivering training programs and leading EHS initiatives.
- In-depth knowledge of OSHA, MIOSHA, and other relevant EHS laws and regulations.
- Familiarity with ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), ISO 45001, and OHSAS 18001 standards.
- Expertise in: Ergonomics, Risk assessments (HIRA), Incident investigation, Accident prevention, Continuous improvement practices and EHS audits and inspections
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills; able to use data to drive safety decisions.
- Excellent critical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving capabilities.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Excel and related data tracking/reporting tools.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills—able to engage all levels of the organization.
- Self-motivated and capable of working independently or as part of a collaborative team.
- Willingness and ability to gain a deep understanding of company products, quality standards, and safety protocols.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- This role will work in all areas of the plant, offices and grounds. While performing duties of this job, the employee will regularly; sit, stand, walk, reach, bend, twist and occasionally will be required to stoop, kneel, lift or move objects of less than fifty pounds.