Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager

Verdesian Brand; Cape Girardeau (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in life sciences is seeking an EHS Manager to drive safety culture and compliance at their Cape Girardeau site. The role involves developing EHS strategies, conducting risk assessments, and leading training programs to enhance workplace safety. Candidates should have a strong background in EHS, with at least 5 years of experience and a relevant degree. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on safety practices and employee engagement.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of industrial EHS experience in high-risk environments.
• Experience with NFPA 61 and 654 compliance strongly desired.
• LEAN/5S experience for housekeeping and operational improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an EHS strategy tailored to the site’s challenges.
• Conduct Job Hazard Analyses and implement controls to minimize hazards.
• Lead incident investigations and ensure effective corrective actions.

Skills

Strong communication and influence skills

Ability to build relationships and credibility

Strategic thinking and problem-solving

Proven experience in turning around poor safety cultures

Experience in combustible dust management

High level of discipline and accountability

Technical expertise in OSHA and EPA compliance

Experience in risk management and safety control implementation

Education

Bachelor's degree in EHS, Engineering, or related field

Certified Safety Professional (CSP) preferred

Job description

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.

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.

1. 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.

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 61 and 654 compliance strongly desired.
• Prior experience in OSHA, EPA, TRI, and Tier II compliance.
• LEAN/5S experience for housekeeping and operational improvement.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are the representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to fifty-five pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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.