Environmental Health Safety Specialist

American Lithium Energy Corporation; Vista (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

American Lithium Energy Corporation is seeking an EHS Specialist to lead and manage all Environmental, Health and Safety programs within our lithium-ion battery manufacturing environment. This hands-on role requires independence to develop, implement and maintain safety and environmental compliance while supporting daily operations.

You will ensure OSHA, EPA, and DOT compliance, manage hazardous materials, conduct risk assessments, lead incident investigations, and promote a proactive safety

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary EHS representative for the facility and the on-site safety resource.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve EHS policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Promote a proactive safety culture across manufacturing, warehouse, and engineering teams.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, EPA, state/local regulations, and industry best practices.
• Maintain required EHS documentation including SDS management, incident logs, inspections, and permits.
• Support regulatory audits and serve as the main contact for external agencies.
• Oversee safe handling and storage of lithium-ion battery materials, including electrolytes, solvents, and powders.
• Implement controls for fire prevention, thermal runaway risks, and emergency response procedures.
• Conduct job hazard analyses (JHAs) and risk assessments for production activities.
• Ensure document control practices support compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100 (if applicable), and internal ALE quality system requirements.
• Support EHS-related documentation aligned with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 where applicable.
• Maintain controlled records in an audit-ready state with complete approval and traceability history.
• Support internal, customer, and external audits by providing controlled documents and records promptly.
• Manage hazardous waste programs including labeling, storage, accumulation areas, and disposal coordination.
• Ensure compliance with DOT requirements for shipping lithium batteries and hazardous materials (UN 3480/3481).
• Coordinate environmental reporting and waste reduction initiatives.
• Conduct EHS onboarding and recurring training (PPE, chemical safety, lockout/tagout, emergency response, etc.).
• Lead safety meetings, toolbox talks, and incident prevention initiatives.
• Provide hands-on coaching to employees on safe work practices
• Lead investigations for near-misses, injuries, spills, or safety events.
• Track corrective and preventive actions to closure.
• Monitor site safety performance metrics and recommend improvements.
• Maintain emergency response plans including fire protection, chemical spill response, evacuation procedures, and first aid readiness.
• Coordinate drills and ensure emergency equipment is inspected and functional.
• Perform routine safety inspections and audits in production and warehouse areas.
• Partner closely with operations leadership to address safety concerns in real time.
• Support implementation of 5S and safe manufacturing practices.
• Manufacturing facility with exposure to chemicals, powered industrial equipment, and regulated battery materials.
• Requires use of PPE and adherence to strict safety protocols.
• May involve occasional lifting, walking production floors, and responding to urgent safety needs.
• Frequent bending, squatting, reaching, and climbing.
• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to work safely
• The Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist is responsible for leading and managing all EHS programs within a lithium-ion battery manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on, standalone role requiring a self-motivated professional who can independently develop, implement, and maintain safety and environmental compliance programs while supporting daily manufacturing operations. The EHS Specialist will ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and local regulatory requirements, with specific focus on chemical handling, lithium battery safety, hazardous waste management, and industrial risk prevention.

Job description

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the primary EHS representative for the facility and the on-site safety resource.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve EHS policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Promote a proactive safety culture across manufacturing, warehouse, and engineering teams.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, EPA, state/local regulations, and industry best practices.
• Maintain required EHS documentation including SDS management, incident logs, inspections, and permits.
• Support regulatory audits and serve as the main contact for external agencies.

Manufacturing & Chemical Safety

• Oversee safe handling and storage of lithium-ion battery materials, including electrolytes, solvents, and powders.
• Implement controls for fire prevention, thermal runaway risks, and emergency response procedures.
• Conduct job hazard analyses (JHAs) and risk assessments for production activities.

Compliance & audit readiness

• Ensure document control practices support compliance with ISO 9001, AS9100 (if applicable), and internal ALE quality system requirements.
• Support EHS-related documentation aligned with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 where applicable.
• Maintain controlled records in an audit-ready state with complete approval and traceability history.
• Support internal, customer, and external audits by providing controlled documents and records promptly.

Hazardous Materials & Waste Management

• Manage hazardous waste programs including labeling, storage, accumulation areas, and disposal coordination.
• Ensure compliance with DOT requirements for shipping lithium batteries and hazardous materials (UN 3480/3481).
• Coordinate environmental reporting and waste reduction initiatives.

Training & Employee Engagement

• Conduct EHS onboarding and recurring training (PPE, chemical safety, lockout/tagout, emergency response, etc.).
• Lead safety meetings, toolbox talks, and incident prevention initiatives.
• Provide hands-on coaching to employees on safe work practices

Incident Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead investigations for near-misses, injuries, spills, or safety events.
• Track corrective and preventive actions to closure.
• Monitor site safety performance metrics and recommend improvements.

Emergency Preparedness

• Maintain emergency response plans including fire protection, chemical spill response, evacuation procedures, and first aid readiness.
• Coordinate drills and ensure emergency equipment is inspected and functional.

Daily On-the-Floor Support

• Perform routine safety inspections and audits in production and warehouse areas.
• Partner closely with operations leadership to address safety concerns in real time.
• Support implementation of 5S and safe manufacturing practices.

Work Environment and Physical requirements

• Manufacturing facility with exposure to chemicals, powered industrial equipment, and regulated battery materials.
• Requires use of PPE and adherence to strict safety protocols.
• May involve occasional lifting, walking production floors, and responding to urgent safety needs.
• Frequent bending, squatting, reaching, and climbing.
• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to work safely

The Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist is responsible for leading and managing all EHS programs within a lithium-ion battery manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on, standalone role requiring a self-motivated professional who can independently develop, implement, and maintain safety and environmental compliance programs while supporting daily manufacturing operations. The EHS Specialist will ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and local regulatory requirements, with specific focus on chemical handling, lithium battery safety, hazardous waste management, and industrial risk prevention.