EHS Manager

Verdesian Life Sciences; Cape Girardeau (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Verdesian Life Sciences is seeking an experienced EHS leader to develop and drive safety programs at the Cape Girardeau site. You will lead the strategy, coach site leadership, and build a strong, safety-first culture among frontline operations.

You will conduct risk assessments, manage permit-to-work, and oversee regulatory compliance with OSHA/EPA standards. Night shift support and 5S/LEAN housekeeping improvements are expected as part of ongoing operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of industrial EHS experience.
• Bachelor's degree in EHS, Engineering, or related field.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an EHS strategy tailored to the Cape site challenges.
• Influence and coach site leadership to own EHS responsibilities.
• Build relationships with employees to foster safety improvements.
• Design and implement site-wide safety campaigns.
• Lead safety observations and real-time coaching.
• Oversee dust and chemical dry operations risk management.
• Lead incident investigations and root cause analyses.
• Establish leading indicators and RAAs to manage risk.

Skills

Safety leadership

Risk assessment

Incident investigations

Regulatory compliance

Hazard identification

Training delivery

5S/LEAN

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in EHS/Engineering/related field

Certified Safety Professional (CSP) preferred

Tools

Permit-to-Work system

5S/LEAN methodologies

Job description

Job Details

Essential Responsibilities

Drive Safety Culture and Behavioral Change

• Develop and execute an EHS strategy tailored to the Cape site’s challenges, focusing on leadership engagement, housekeeping improvement, and employee accountability.
• Influence and coach site leadership to take ownership of EHS responsibilities, instilling a fair and safety-first mindset.
• Build strong relationships with employees, earning their trust and commitment to safety improvements.
• Design and implement site-wide safety campaigns, reinforcing critical EHS principles and behavioral expectations.
• Maintain a daily presence on the production floor, building trust and visibility with operators.
• Manage the “Be Aware, Take Care” program, promoting active employee participation, daily hazard reviews, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct safety observations and provide real-time coaching to reinforce safe behaviors.
• Reinforce housekeeping standards and visual management practices across the site.

Hazard Identification and Risk Management

• Establish a proactive hazard identification process, ensuring employees recognize and report unsafe conditions and behaviors.
• Conduct Job Hazard Analyses (JHA) and Risk Assessments, implementing controls to eliminate or minimize hazards.
• Develop and manage a Permit-to-Work system for high-risk activities such as confined space entry, hot work, and lockout/tagout (LOTO).
• Enhance machine guarding, ergonomic assessments, and exposure monitoring to reduce workplace injuries.
• Oversee dust and chemical dry operations risk management, ensuring compliance with NFPA 61 and 654.

Compliance, Risk Mitigation, and Housekeeping

• Ensure strict adherence to OSHA, EPA, NFPA (including NFPA 61 & 654), and other regulatory requirements.
• Maintain and submit Tier II, TRI (Toxics Release Inventory), and other EPA compliance reports.
• Overhaul housekeeping standards, implementing structured 5S/LEAN methodologies to sustain improvements.
• Conduct frequent audits and inspections, holding teams accountable for corrective actions.
• Incident Prevention, Investigation, and Continuous Improvement
• Lead incident investigations, conduct thorough root cause analyses, and ensure effective corrective actions are implemented.
• Establish and maintain leading indicators (such as near-miss reporting and behavior-based observations) to proactively manage risk.
• Improve the execution and effectiveness of Risk Assessment Analyzes (RAA) to prevent accidents.

Training, Engagement, and Communication

• Develop and deliver impactful EHS training programs that resonate with employees and drive engagement.
• Effectively communicate expectations, progress, and EHS performance metrics to all levels of the organization.
• Establish structured feedback loops with employees, addressing concerns and reinforcing positive behaviors.
• Previous experience or demonstrated ability to develop and deliver hands‑on training programs for Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Fall Protection, Powered Industrial Vehicle (PIV), and others.

Emergency Preparedness and PPE Management

• Strengthen and lead the site’s emergency response plan, ensuring all employees are well‑prepared.
• Oversee PPE assessment, procurement, and management, ensuring compliance and availability.

Skills

• Strong communication and influence skills – ability to engage a resistant workforce and drive behavior change.
• Ability to build relationships and credibility – work closely with frontline employees and leadership to create a safety‑first culture.
• Strategic thinking and problem‑solving – ability to diagnose gaps and implement practical, sustainable solutions.
• Proven experience in turning around poor safety cultures – demonstrated success in making a step change in EHS performance.
• Experience in combustible dust management and chemical dry operations – ability to assess and mitigate associated risks.
• High level of discipline and accountability – firm but fair approach to enforcing safety standards.
• Technical expertise in OSHA, EPA, Tier II, TRI reporting, hazardous waste management, and permitting.
• Experience in risk management, hazard identification, and safety control implementation.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of industrial EHS experience, preferably in high‑risk environments.
• Bachelor's degree in EHS, Engineering, or a related field.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) preferred.
• Experience with NFPA 660 compliance strongly desired.
• Prior experience in OSHA, EPA, TRI, and Tier II compliance.
• LEAN/5S experience for housekeeping and operational improvement.
• Night Shift Flex for presence - Demonstrated flexibility to adjust work schedules for one to two days per month to provide EHS support and maintain a presence during night shift operations.

Verdesian Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex, and sexual orientation.