Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager

MDA; Montreal; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The EHS Manager at MDA in Montreal, Canada, leads a proactive EHS program ensuring compliance with federal, provincial, municipal regulations and customer requirements. This role requires daily onsite presence and collaboration with the JHSC to foster a zero-injury culture.

The role oversees EHS staff, implements EMS programs, and partners with operations to integrate health, safety, and environmental considerations into projects and culture, including necessary security clearances.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in relevant field required.
• EHS accreditation preferred.
• Minimum 9 years progressive EHS experience in industrial settings.
• Strong leadership and coaching capabilities.
• Experience with aerospace, manufacturing, or industry settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage EHS personnel and advisors.
• Ensure compliance with EHS laws and company policies.
• Lead JHSC meetings and IRS initiatives.
• Drive audits and risk assessments with root cause analysis.
• Develop and maintain EMS and safety programs.
• Report performance and KPIs to leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelors Degree in Occupational Health & Safety / Environmental Science / Engineering

EHS accreditation (CRSP / CIH / CHSC / CSP)

Job description

Role:

The EHS Manager will serve as the subject matter expert for occupational health, safety, and environmental management and sustainability programs. Reporting directly to the Operations or PA Director of the business area, this role is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a proactive EHS management system that ensures compliance with all applicable federal, provincial, municipal health and safety and environmental legislation and customer requirements. This role dot-line reports to Director EHS in Shared Service to ensure OneMDA approach that aligns EHS program across MDA operations. This position will require daily onsite presence at the MDA facility.

The successful candidate will foster a zero-injury culture, act as the management co-chair of the Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) and serve as a strategic partner to the business by integrating health, safety, and environmental considerations into operations, projects, and culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage EHS personnel, including specialists, coordinators, and advisors; provide coaching, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to build a high-performing EHS team.
• Support, implement and maintain the MDA environmental, health and safety (EHS) programs to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations as well as MDA policies and procedures.
• Participate in and provide leadership with government agencies’ field visits for the purpose of understanding the applicable EHS regulations and to ensure compliance.
• Serve as the management co-chair of the JHSC, ensuring compliance with OHSA, WSIB, Ministry of Labour requirements, and other provincial and local EHS-specific regulations.
• Report regularly to the Operations or PA Director of the business area on EHS performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Drive the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) by promoting shared accountability for safety across all levels of the organization.
• Develop, implement, and maintain environmental, health, and safety programs, policies, and procedures tailored to the designated operations.
• Partner with other business areas to exchange best practices and ensure consistency in EHS standards across the organization.
• Lead and provide expertise during internal and external health and safety and environmental audits.
• Lead and oversee Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews (PSRs) or equivalent in accordance with provincial regulations for equipment, processes, and facility modifications.
• Partner with facilities, operations, and engineering during space planning, expansions, and process changes to ensure regulatory compliance and EHS integration.
• Conduct workplace inspections, safety audits, hazard assessments, and environmental impact reviews.
• Manage incident investigations using root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Monitor and report compliance to leadership, external regulators, and customers.
• Monitor, analyze, and report health and safety KPIs to leadership and stakeholders, ensuring trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement are clearly communicated.
• Develop EHS employee orientations, regulatory training, and behavioural safety coaching to employees and leaders.
• Engage teams to proactively identify hazards, risks, and sustainability opportunities.
• Foster a prevention-first, zero-injury culture through continuous improvement initiatives and behavioural safety programs.
• Support and maintain environmental management systems (EMS), pollution prevention initiatives, and sustainability projects.
• Monitor environmental KPIs and compliance with provincial/federal regulations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• EHS-related professional accreditation (e.g., CRSP, CIH, CHSC, CSP).
• Minimum of 9 years of progressive EHS experience in industrial or engineering settings (7 years with graduate degree).
• Demonstrated leadership capability in managing, developing, and motivating EHS professionals to deliver strong results and foster a culture of safety excellence.
• Prior experience in aerospace, manufacturing, or industrial settings.
• Strong knowledge and application of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Environmental Protection Act, and the provincial Fire Code.
• Experience developing and implementing EHS management systems, including risk assessments, policies, and training programs.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a JHSC management co-chair and leading IRS initiatives.
• Advanced skills in incident and near miss investigation, risk assessment, and root cause analysis.
• Strong teamwork, interpersonal, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence and engage at all levels of the organization.

• Experience designing and managing a Safety Excellence Program or equivalent preferred but not required.
• Exposure to behavioural-based safety (BBS) practices and coaching is an asset.
• Experience implementing and maintaining an Environmental Management Systems (e.g., ISO 14001) and Health and Occupational Health ad Safety Management Systems (e.g. ISO 45001) is an asset.

Comments/Special Considerations

Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the SECRET status level II, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).

Special Considerations

Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP).