EHS Technical Program Manager

Umicore; Olen; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Umicore is seeking a Technical EHS Project & Program Manager to lead the EHS process and installation improvement across HPC, covering Olen and Quapaw. You will convert risks into well‑defined projects, driving safety, compliance and sustainability improvements with cross‑functional collaboration.

You will guide root cause investigations, manage change activities from concept to commissioning, and coach teams to embed EHS thinking into everyday operations, delivering lasting impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in engineering, production or project/program management.
• Strong understanding of industrial processes and EHS risks and actions.
• Excellent planning, governance and risk tracking abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical EHS improvement projects focused on process and installation safety, environmental compliance and operational risk reduction, with strong project and program governance.
• Own and drive the Technical EHS program within the overall HPC program portfolio.
• Apply a risk-based approach and project management best practices to deliver progress and reduce risk.
• Work closely with other HPC program owners to monitor portfolio progress and provide EHS and technical challenge where needed.
• Act as the link between technical experts, business stakeholders, site and Group EHS, translating complex EHS and process risks into clear priorities, decisions and action plans aligned with Umicore EHS standards.
• Support root cause investigations for significant EHS, process safety or installation-related incidents and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Support Management of Change activities for new and modified installations, ensuring EHS requirements are built in from concept through commissioning and handover to Operations.
• Foster a proactive safety culture by coaching project teams and operational stakeholders to integrate EHS considerations into process and installation improvements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of EHS management systems, critical risk controls and safe working practices.

Skills

EHS Management

Project Management

Risk Assessment

Stakeholder Alignment

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Environmental Sciences, EHS or similar

Job description

About Umicore

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Umicore

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Electro Optic Materials

Power in space. Vision at night. Coatings thinner than human hair. Umicore is a world leader in material solutions for the space, optics and electronics sectors – enabling every day cutting‑edge technologies. We guarantee our customers secure access to supply, plus recycling technologies that give materials a new lease of life. To produce materials with even higher performance, and provide recycling to new markets, we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new processes. Which is where you come in.

Your Key Accountabilities

Within HPC (High Purity Chemicals), a wide range of Germanium containing feed materials are converted into high‑purity germanium products through pyro/hydro metallurgy and refining processes. These products are essential for the optical fiber industry and for further internal processing into material solutions that help people connect around the world.

As Technical EHS Project & Program Manager, you will lead the EHS process and installation improvement program across HPC, covering both Olen and Quapaw.

You will turn EHS risks, compliance gaps and operational challenges into well‑managed projects that improve the safety, reliability and sustainability of our processes, installations and ways of working. Through strong technical leadership and cross‑functional collaboration, you will ensure that EHS improvements address risks at their source and delivery lasting impact for our people, our (production) environment and our customers.

Main Responsibilities Are

• Lead technical EHS improvement projects focused on process and installation safety, environmental compliance and operational risk reduction, with strong project and program governance.
• Own and drive the Technical EHS program within the overall HPC program portfolio.
• Apply a risk‑based approach and project management best practices to deliver progress and reduce risk.
• Work closely with other HPC program owners to monitor portfolio progress and provide EHS and technical challenge where needed.
• Act as the link between technical experts, business stakeholders, site and Group EHS, translating complex EHS and process risks into clear priorities, decisions and action plans aligned with Umicore EHS standards.
• Support root cause investigations for significant EHS, process safety or installation‑related incidents and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Support Management of Change activities for new and modified installations, ensuring EHS requirements are built in from concept through commissioning and handover to Operations.
• Foster a proactive safety culture by coaching project teams and operational stakeholders to integrate EHS considerations into process and installation improvements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of EHS management systems, critical risk controls and safe working practices.

Who we are looking for

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Environmental Sciences, EHS or another relevant technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in engineering, production or project/program management within a chemical, metallurgical manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of industrial processes, installations and associated EHS risks, with the ability to translate technical requirements into practical improvement actions.
• Strong project and program management skills, including planning, governance, stakeholder alignment, risk management and benefits tracking.
• Fluent in English and Dutch.
• An analytical way of thinking, supported by curiosity, technical depth and a continuous improvement mindset.
• A collaborative spirit and the leadership maturity to steer teams, challenge constructively and create commitment across departments and hierarchy levels.

What We Offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world‑leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?