Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for EHS Advisor

🎯 Role Definition

The EHS Advisor (Environmental Health & Safety Advisor) is responsible for developing, implementing and continuously improving site-level and corporate EHS programs that protect people, assets and the environment. This role drives regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA, local/state), performs risk assessments and audits, leads incident investigations and corrective actions, and provides coaching and training to operations and contractors. The EHS Advisor partners with operations, engineering, HR and leadership to embed a proactive safety culture and deliver measurable improvements in safety performance and environmental stewardship.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

EHS Coordinator / Safety Coordinator
Environmental Technician / Environmental Specialist
Maintenance Supervisor or Operations Lead with EHS responsibilities

Advancement To:

Senior EHS Advisor / Senior HSE Specialist
EHS Manager / HSE Manager
Director of EHS or Global HSE Lead

Lateral Moves:

Quality Manager (ISO-focused roles)
Operations Manager (site leadership with safety oversight)
Environmental Compliance Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement and maintain the site EHS management system aligned with corporate policy and recognized standards (e.g., ISO 45001, ISO 14001), ensuring continuous improvement and readiness for internal and external audits.
Lead and execute comprehensive hazard identification, risk assessments and job safety analyses (JSA/JHA) for operational processes, capital projects and routine tasks, and implement practical controls to reduce risk to ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable).
Plan, coordinate and lead incident management and root cause investigations (using methodologies such as 5-Whys, RCA, or TapRoot), prepare investigation reports, assign corrective actions and track timely closure to prevent recurrence.
Conduct regular site inspections, safety walkdowns and environmental compliance assessments; document findings, generate clear corrective action plans and follow up to ensure effective remediation.
Maintain regulatory compliance with OSHA, EPA, local/state environmental and workplace health regulations; prepare and submit required reporting and permits, and liaise with regulators during inspections and enforcement activities.
Design, implement and deliver targeted EHS training programs (new hire safety orientation, task-specific training, leadership safety coaching, emergency drills) and maintain training records to ensure competency and compliance.
Manage contractor safety programs, including pre-qualification, permit-to-work coordination, contractor orientation, on-site monitoring and ensuring contractors meet site safety standards and legal requirements.
Develop and administer permit-to-work, lockout-tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, hot work, fall protection and respiratory protection programs; ensure permits, equipment and controls are in place before work begins.
Oversee hazardous materials management and chemical safety programs: maintain SDS/GHS compliance, chemical inventories, proper labeling, storage segregation and spill response planning.
Coordinate emergency response planning and exercises (fire, spill, medical emergency), maintain emergency response teams and equipment readiness, and update emergency response procedures based on lessons learned.
Lead ergonomics assessments and occupational health initiatives to reduce musculoskeletal injuries and improve workforce health, working closely with occupational health providers and HR for medical surveillance or fitness-for-duty programs.
Monitor, analyze and report EHS performance metrics (TRIR, LTIR, near misses, closure rates, audit findings, emissions, waste generation), produce actionable dashboards and present trends and improvement plans to leadership.
Drive behavior-based safety programs and cultural initiatives (safety leadership tours, toolbox talks, safety recognition) to increase employee engagement and proactivity in hazard recognition and reporting.
Support capital projects and process changes from an EHS perspective: perform HAZOP/HAZID participation, review designs for inherent safety, and provide EHS requirements for procurement and contractor scopes.
Manage waste handling, storage, transport and disposal programs to ensure environmental protection and regulatory compliance, including hazardous waste manifesting and contractor oversight.
Maintain and update EHS documentation (policies, procedures, permits, incident logs, training records and audit evidence) to ensure accuracy, accessibility and audit readiness.
Provide technical EHS guidance to operations and engineering teams on containment, ventilation, noise control, industrial hygiene sampling, exposure controls and PPE selection.
Coordinate occupational hygiene monitoring (air sampling, noise surveys, chemical exposure assessments) and interpret results to recommend corrective actions or engineering controls.
Prepare, review and submit regulatory reports, environmental permit applications and emergency notifications; represent the company in governmental or community meetings as required.
Manage workplace return-to-work and workers' compensation collaboration for injured employees, coordinate light duty assignments and work with HR and medical providers to reduce costs and promote recovery.
Implement and manage contractor and vendor EHS performance metrics and contractual EHS obligations; perform periodic audits of vendor compliance and escalate where necessary.
Support sustainability and environmental stewardship initiatives, such as energy efficiency projects, waste reduction programs, emissions controls and corporate ESG reporting contributions.
Advise on product and process compliance for chemical safety, REACH/TSCA considerations, and assist with regulatory due diligence for new materials or supply chain changes.
Participate in emergency incident command structure during incidents, act as EHS Incident Commander or EHS liaison when activated, and ensure lessons learned are institutionalized.
Lead and support internal and external EHS audits (third-party, customer, regulatory) from planning to corrective action closure and verification, ensuring full compliance and continual improvement.
Develop and manage EHS budgets for site-level initiatives, capital improvements and training, and track spend vs. planned safety investments.
Promote and enforce behavioral and procedural controls to minimize exposure to biological, chemical and physical hazards in the workplace, and ensure compliance with occupational health programs.

Secondary Functions

Provide subject matter expertise for cross-functional teams (engineering, maintenance, procurement) to integrate safety-by-design principles into equipment and process specifications.
Support corporate EHS data collection and reporting systems; ensure accurate and timely submission of key performance indicators and audit evidence for global dashboards.
Coach and mentor junior EHS staff and site coordinators, providing on-the-job training and development plans to build internal EHS capability.
Assist with the development of business continuity plans and participate in multi-site emergency exercises and coordinated incident response efforts.
Participate in pre-startup safety reviews (PSSR) for new processes, equipment installations or major changeovers to ensure readiness and risk mitigation prior to commissioning.
Provide EHS input during contract negotiations and procurement to ensure suppliers and contractors meet specified EHS standards and certifications.
Support improvement projects using root cause analysis and corrective action systems to eliminate systemic EHS issues and drive process reliability.
Facilitate safety committees, monthly HSE reviews and near-miss reviews, ensuring actionable minutes and follow-up tracking are completed.
Collaborate with HR on health surveillance, fatigue management, workplace wellbeing programs and mental health awareness initiatives.
Maintain a repository of lessons learned and best practices across sites to accelerate EHS performance improvements enterprise-wide.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong working knowledge of OSHA (or local equivalent), EPA, state and municipal regulations, and practical experience maintaining compliance in industrial environments.
Experience implementing and auditing to ISO 45001 and/or ISO 14001 management systems, including corrective action and management review processes.
Proven incident investigation and root cause analysis skills (5-Why, RCA, TapRoot) with documented closure and effectiveness tracking.
Proficient in risk assessment methodologies (JSA/JHA, HAZOP participation, Bow-Tie analysis) and application of hierarchy of controls.
Hazardous materials management expertise: GHS/SDS management, chemical inventory controls, safe storage and spill response.
Proficient with permit-to-work systems, LOTO procedures, confined space entry programs and other high-risk work controls.
Occupational hygiene fundamentals: exposure monitoring, interpretation of sampling data, noise and ventilation controls.
Familiarity with EHS software platforms (e.g., Enablon, Intelex, Gensuite, SAP EHS) and strong Excel/data analysis skills (pivot tables, charts).
Auditing experience (internal and external), corrective action tracking and preparation for third-party or regulatory inspections.
Emergency response planning and incident command experience, including coordination with external emergency services.
Knowledge of workers’ compensation processes, return-to-work coordination and case management collaboration.
Experience developing and delivering adult-learning EHS training programs and producing engaging toolbox talks.
Familiar with environmental permitting, emissions reporting, waste manifests and environmental compliance reporting.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to prepare clear reports, present to leadership and influence operational stakeholders.
Leadership and coaching: able to mentor operators, supervisors and contractors to adopt safer work practices.
Analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and the ability to translate data into actionable safety improvements.
Relationship-building and stakeholder management across multi-disciplinary teams and external agencies.
Strong organizational and time-management skills; able to prioritize multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
Resilience and adaptability—able to lead through change and manage stress during incidents or audits.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills to drive corrective action with operational partners.
Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in diverse, multi-site or multi-national environments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Health, Environmental Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Industrial Hygiene or related technical field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Management, or related discipline.
Professional certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), NEBOSH International Diploma, Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), CHMM, or equivalent.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Health & Safety
Occupational Health or Industrial Hygiene
Environmental Science or Engineering
Chemical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering
Public Health or Toxicology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–8 years of progressive EHS experience in industrial, manufacturing, construction or high-hazard environments.

Preferred:

5+ years of hands-on EHS advisory or specialist experience with documented achievements in incident reduction, audit performance improvement or successful regulatory interactions.
Demonstrated experience in implementing ISO 45001/14001 systems, conducting HAZOPs or PSSRs, and managing contractor safety on complex projects.
Prior experience with EHS software systems, data-driven performance reporting and coordinating multi-disciplinary emergency response.