Health and Safety Manager

Kern Energy is seeking a Health and Safety Manager who is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the implementation of effective health and safety policies, procedures, and practices within the refinery promoting a safe work environment, preventing accidents, and minimizing health and safety risks for all of Team Kern. The successful candidate will exhibit Kern’s core values of Teamwork, Safety, Excellence, Integrity, and Connection.

Job Function

• Develop, implement, and maintain the company's health and safety program ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, as well as industry best practices.
• Conduct regular safety audits, hazard assessments, and risk analyses to identify potential safety concerns and evaluate the effectiveness of existing safety protocols.
• Develop and deliver safety training programs to educate employees on safety procedures and practices.
• Provide guidance and support to management and employees on health and safety matters, promoting a culture of safety and accountability throughout the organization.
• Investigate workplace incidents, accidents, and near misses; conduct cause analysis and develop corrective and preventative actions to reduce risk and prevent recurrence.
• Track and analyze leading and lagging safety KPIs to measure performance, ensure compliance, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of health and safety incidents, inspections, training sessions, and other related documentation.
• Serve as a designated Safety Officer within the Emergency Response Plan (ERP), providing safety leadership during emergency incidents, assessing operational hazards, recommending risk mitigation measures, and ensuring responder and personnel safety during emergency operations.
• Oversee contractor safety management in accordance with OSHA PSM requirements, including contractor selection, onboarding, safety orientation, and ongoing field compliance monitoring to ensure adherence to refinery safety standards, permitting systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with emergency response teams to develop and test emergency plans and coordinate responses to incidents or accidents.
• Provide leadership and oversight of refinery safety programs, including Respiratory Protection, Confined Space Entry, Hot Work, and other high-risk work activities, ensuring effective training, compliance, auditing, and continuous improvement of safety performance.
• Liaise with government agencies, safety associations, and other stakeholders on safety matters and promote a positive health and safety image for the refinery.
• Manage the company's emergency response plan, including regular drills and training exercises.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Ensure that employees are trained in health and safety policies and procedures and that they understand how to identify and report hazards.
• The manager should maintain records of incidents, investigations, training, and other health and safety activities.
• Set goals and objectives to establish clear direction and performance expectations.  Hold staff accountable to performance expectations.

Knowledge Skills

• Excellent understanding of refinery operations, processes, and associated hazards
• Strong knowledge of local, state, and federal health and safety regulations, as well as industry standards and best practices.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing comprehensive health and safety management systems.
• Ability to conduct thorough risk assessments and develop effective risk mitigation strategies.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage employees at all levels of the organization.
• Proficient in analyzing data and using relevant software applications for health and safety management.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all health and safety-related documentation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development in the field of health and safety management.
• This position supports health and safety programs within a complex petroleum refining environment subject to stringent regulatory requirements and process safety standards, including Process Safety Management (PSM) and California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) regulations.

Education/ Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety or a related field preferred.
• Advanced Recognized Certifications in health and safety management such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Safety Management Professional (SMP), Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST), or Construction Health and Safety Technician are highly desirable are desirable.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in health and safety management, preferably within a refinery or heavy industrial environment.

Salary : $132,722 - $145,543