Director, HSE, Americas

002451 Vibracoustic USA Inc.; Ligonier (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg in the Americas seeks a senior HSE leader to drive strategy across the region. You will ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and corporate requirements while advancing the ViBeS and Lean initiatives to improve safety and environmental performance.

Partner with Operations, Engineering, HR and other functions to integrate HSE into training, equipment changes, and daily decisions. A Bachelor’s in a related field and at least three years of experience in HSE are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of progressive HSE experience in occupational health or environmental compliance.
• Manufacturing experience strongly preferred and auditing knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead the HSE strategy across the Americas, ensuring compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, corporate, environmental, and safety requirements.
• Drive the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of HSE management systems, corporate HSE targets, and the ViBeS safety strategy across regional operations.
• Develop and execute programs that reduce workplace risk, prevent injuries and incidents, minimize environmental impact, and strengthen a proactive safety culture.
• Monitor HSE performance and key indicators, lead management reviews, and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions following incidents, accidents, and near misses.
• Oversee environmental compliance, including hazardous waste management, chemical and REACH requirements, environmental controls, permitting, and Environmental Officer responsibilities.
• Establish and maintain effective emergency preparedness and response programs, including emergency plans, drills, internal response teams, contractor controls, and site security coordination.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, Medical, and other key functions to ensure HSE requirements are integrated into training, new equipment, facility changes, contractor activities, and operational decision-making.
• Champion continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing initiatives, developing regional HSE strategies and programs that improve performance, employee health, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.

Skills

HSE management

Safety culture improvement

Regulatory compliance

Auditing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering or related field

Tools

HSE management systems

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: We will wow your world!

Responsibilities: Lead the Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) strategy across the Americas, ensuring compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, corporate, environmental, and safety requirements. Drive the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of HSE management systems, corporate HSE targets, and the ViBeS safety strategy across regional operations. Develop and execute programs that reduce workplace risk, prevent injuries and incidents, minimize environmental impact, and strengthen a proactive safety culture. Monitor HSE performance and key indicators, lead management reviews, and ensure effective corrective and preventive actions following incidents, accidents, and near misses. Oversee environmental compliance, including hazardous waste management, chemical and REACH requirements, environmental controls, permitting, and Environmental Officer responsibilities. Establish and maintain effective emergency preparedness and response programs, including emergency plans, drills, internal response teams, contractor controls, and site security coordination. Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, Medical, and other key functions to ensure HSE requirements are integrated into training, new equipment, facility changes, contractor activities, and operational decision-making. Champion continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing initiatives, developing regional HSE strategies and programs that improve performance, employee health, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, Industrial, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field with relevant HSE coursework. Minimum 3 years of progressive HSE experience in occupational health, environmental compliance, safety systems, or industrial risk management; manufacturing experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated knowledge of HSE Management Systems, environmental compliance, safety culture tools, and internal auditing, with the ability to drive consistent standards across multiple operations. Strong understanding of corporate HSE principles and safety culture, with the ability to translate organization’s standards and guiding principles into effective regional programs and practices.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Vibracoustic USA Inc. Welcome to Freudenberg Without Freudenberg, indoor air would not be as clean, cars would not drive and wounds would not heal as quickly. And these are just three examples from thousands of our applications. Working at Freudenberg: \"We will wow your world!\" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 51,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.