Senior Environmental Health and Safety Mgr

Shearer; Burlington (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Shearer’s Foods seeks a Senior Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Manager to act as the site technical expert and strategic leader for environmental, health, and safety programs. You will drive a culture of safety excellence, empower staff, and reduce risks while ensuring regulatory compliance and continuous improvement across the facility.

You will partner with plant leaders to develop, implement, and sustain programs protecting employees, the environment, and company assets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, environmental sciences or similar.
• 8+ years of experience in the environmental, health, & safety or risk management field.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership responsibility.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact at all levels.
• Experience with modern safety and environmental improvement techniques and methods.
• Demonstrated organizational, communication, research and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant federal, state and local occupational safety laws and regulations.
• Ability to travel 50-75%.

Responsibilities

• Lead EHS programs and drive a culture of safety across the site.
• Partner with leaders to identify hazards and implement corrective actions.
• Support leadership in achieving safety performance goals and continuous improvement.
• Drive behavioral-based safety and continuous learning in operations.
• Serve as the primary technical resource for environmental, health, and safety matters.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with all applicable regulations and standards.
• Conduct site assessments, audits, and KPI analyses to guide improvement.
• Lead incident investigations and root cause analyses.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Regulatory compliance

Risk assessment

Audits

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, environmental sciences or similar

Job description

Overview

Shearer’s Foods, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Massillon, OH, is a leading manufacturer of salty snacks, cookies, and crackers. Specializing in private label and co-manufacturing, Shearer’s is the largest supplier of private brand salty snacks and second-largest supplier of private brand cookies and crackers.

With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer’s has been awarded the food industry’s highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards.

Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer’s is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community.

At Shearer’s Foods, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. Your skills, experience, and perspective are valuable—and we want to empower you to make your mark here with us.

Responsibilities

Senior Environmental, Health and Safety. Manager

The Senior Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager serves as the site's technical expert and strategic leader for environmental, health, and safety programs. This role is responsible for driving a culture of safety excellence by empowering employees, reducing operational risks, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives. The Senior EHS Manager partners closely with plant leadership and associates to develop, implement, and sustain programs that protect employees, the environment, and company assets.

Safety Leadership & Culture Development

• Lead and promote a proactive safety culture focused on employee engagement, ownership, accountability, and risk reduction.
• Partner with leaders and associates at all levels to identify hazards and implement effective corrective actions.
• Support site leadership and department managers in achieving safety performance goals and continuous improvement objectives.
• Drive behavioral-based safety initiatives and foster a culture of continuous learning and operational excellence.

Environmental, Health & Safety Program Management

• Serve as the primary technical resource for all environmental, health, and safety matters.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and corporate EHS regulations, policies, and standards.
• Conduct site assessments, audits, inspections, and system evaluations to identify risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Analyze trends, incidents, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to develop proactive safety strategies.

Risk Assessment & Process Safety

• Evaluate new projects, equipment installations, process changes, and operational ventures to identify and mitigate safety risks.
• Participate in process safety reviews and hazard assessments to ensure safe operation and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and recommend risk-reduction measures and oversee implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, and follow-up activities.

Compliance & Maintenance Oversight

• Monitor maintenance processes to ensure required inspections, permits, certifications, and preventive maintenance activities are completed and properly documented.
• Verify compliance with permit-required equipment inspections and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate records, reports, and documentation necessary for compliance and auditing purposes.
• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to ensure the integrity and reliability of safety-critical equipment and systems.

Training & Employee Development

• Mentor EHS staff and operational leaders to strengthen organizational safety capabilities.
• Develop and deliver training programs to ensure regulatory compliance and improve overall safety performance.
• Create educational materials, procedures, and communication tools to enhance employee awareness and engagement.
• Conduct regular training sessions for associates on EHS policies, procedures, and best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, environmental sciences or similar

• 8+ Years of experience in the environmental, health, & safety or risk management field

• 5+ years of progressive leadership responsibility

• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact with all levels of the organization, including the plant floor, customers and suppliers

• Experience with modern safety and environmental improvement techniques and methods

• Demonstrated organizational, communication, research and analytical skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant federal, state and local occupational environmental, health and safety laws and regulations

• Ability to travel 50-75%

• Preferred: Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.