Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Environmental Health and Safety Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of health, safety, and environmental programs that ensure regulatory compliance, protect people and assets, and support sustainable operations. This role develops corporate EHS strategy, conducts risk assessments and audits, manages incident investigations and corrective action, provides frontline and leadership training, and serves as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies (OSHA, EPA, DOT, state/local regulators). The EHS Manager drives culture change through coaching, metrics, and systems (ISO 14001 / ISO 45001), while influencing operational decisions across manufacturing, construction, warehousing, or corporate facilities.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

EHS Specialist / EHS Coordinator with 2–5 years of hands-on experience
Safety Supervisor or Production Supervisor who led safety initiatives
Environmental Specialist or Industrial Hygienist transitioning to management

Advancement To:

Director of Environmental Health & Safety
Head of Global EHS / VP of EHS, Sustainability & Compliance
Operations or Facilities Director with EHS oversight

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Compliance Manager
Risk Manager / Business Continuity Manager
Corporate Sustainability Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive EHS management system (policies, procedures, programs) aligned with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, ensuring continuous improvement and readiness for internal and external audits.
Lead and execute site-wide hazard identification, risk assessments, job safety analyses (JSA/JHA), and process safety reviews (PSM/HAZOP), then translate findings into prioritized corrective actions tracked to completion.
Manage OSHA, EPA, DOT and state regulatory compliance programs including recordkeeping (OSHA 300/300A/301), permitting, reporting (SPCC, TRI, RCRA), and timely response to inspections and notices of violation.
Develop, deliver, and evaluate job-specific and leadership safety training programs (new hire safety orientation, PPE, LOTO, confined space, respiratory protection, fall protection, forklift/vehicle safety) to ensure competency and reduce incident rates.
Investigate incidents, near misses and root causes using structured methodologies (Root Cause Analysis, 5 Whys, Bowtie), prepare investigation reports, implement corrective/preventive actions and track effectiveness with KPIs.
Establish and report EHS metrics and dashboards (TRIR, LTIR, DART, near miss rate, leading indicator metrics) to leadership and stakeholders, driving data-informed decisions and accountability.
Lead emergency preparedness and response planning (spill response, fire, medical, natural disaster), conduct drills with operations and emergency responders and maintain emergency response resources and contact plans.
Provide oversight and technical guidance on industrial hygiene programs (air monitoring, noise, chemical exposure assessments, respirator fit testing), ensuring exposure controls and medical surveillance compliance.
Manage contractor safety programs: pre-qualification, safety orientation, contractor oversight, permit-to-work processes, and enforce contractor compliance to site EHS requirements.
Direct hazardous materials and waste management programs (RCRA, hazardous waste accumulation, labeling, satellite storage, manifesting), and coordinate with licensed vendors for proper disposal and manifest reconciliation.
Supervise and coach EHS staff and cross-functional safety champions; recruit, develop and retain talent, and create career development plans to build EHS capability across the organization.
Perform environmental permitting: support submittals, renewals, compliance sampling, monitoring and corrective actions for air emissions, water discharges and stormwater management (NPDES).
Collaborate with operations, engineering and maintenance to design inherently safer processes, implement engineering controls, and ensure safe design reviews for capital projects.
Lead behavioral safety and culture initiatives (safety observation programs, hazard recognition campaigns, safety leadership rounds) to increase employee engagement and reduce at-risk behaviors.
Oversee PPE programs including specification, procurement guidance, and PPE audits to ensure appropriate protection based on hazards and job tasks.
Coordinate and manage relationships with external agencies (OSHA, EPA, DOT, state environmental agencies, local fire departments), serve as the company representative during inspections and enforcement actions.
Maintain and improve the permit-to-work / confined space entry / hot work programs: approvals, monitoring, rescue plans and training to mitigate high-risk work activities.
Support product stewardship and chemical management: maintain Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS), chemical inventories, substitution evaluations and safe storage and handling practices.
Drive energy, waste and emissions reduction projects tied to sustainability goals and cost savings, collaborating with facilities and operations to minimize environmental footprint.
Design and manage behavior-based and leadership training programs that embed EHS expectations into daily operational decision-making and leadership performance reviews.
Implement machine guarding, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and electrical safety programs aligned with NFPA 70E and applicable consensus standards to reduce mechanical and electrical hazards.
Lead ergonomics assessments and injury prevention programs to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and improve workplace design.
Manage budget and capital projects for EHS equipment (spill containment, monitoring devices, emergency showers/eyewash, PPE) and justify expenditures through loss prevention ROI analyses.
Maintain and update site-specific emergency response plans, coordinate community right-to-know reporting (EPCRA), and ensure public and stakeholder communications are compliant and timely.
Facilitate cross-functional incident prevention committees and change-management reviews to ensure EHS is integrated into process changes, new product introductions, and supplier selection.

Secondary Functions

Support cross-functional continuous improvement projects (lean, Six Sigma) to eliminate safety risks and waste in operational processes.
Provide subject matter expertise for supplier and vendor selection, incorporating EHS criteria into procurement and contract language.
Support sustainability reporting and ESG data collection for annual reports, CDP, and investor or customer requests.
Assist HR and operations with return-to-work, light-duty programs and management of workers’ compensation claims to minimize claim costs and facilitate employee recovery.
Maintain document control of policies, permits, SDS library and inspection records and ensure easy retrieval during regulatory inspections.
Participate in safety committees, plant leadership meetings, and monthly EHS steering group to ensure alignment with business priorities.
Coordinate periodic third-party audits (insurance, vendor, customer) and drive corrective action closure to maintain certifications and customer requirements.
Maintain capital asset safety reviews for new equipment purchases and installation to ensure compliance with applicable safety codes and standards.
Mentor and support junior EHS team members in report writing, regulatory interpretation and audit preparation.
Lead internal communications and recognition programs celebrating safety wins and reinforcing best practices across shifts and locations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

OSHA regulatory compliance (29 CFR 1910, 1926) — inspection readiness, citations response and abatement planning.
Environmental regulatory knowledge (EPA, RCRA, CERCLA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, EPCRA) and permits management.
EHS management systems design and implementation (ISO 14001, ISO 45001) and experience leading certification audits.
Incident investigation and root cause analysis (RCA, 5 Whys, Fault Tree Analysis) and CAPA management.
Industrial hygiene measurement and exposure assessment (air sampling, noise surveys, respirator programs).
Process Safety Management (PSM) experience including HAZOP, MOC, process hazard analysis for chemical or high-hazard operations.
Hazardous materials and waste handling, manifesting, DOT/HazMat shipping regulations and SPCC plan development.
Emergency response planning and incident command coordination (ICS/NIMS familiarity).
Risk assessment techniques, job hazard analysis (JHA/JSA) and development of control strategies (hierarchy of controls).
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, NFPA 70E electrical safety and confined space program management.
Data-driven EHS performance management (TRIR, LTIR, DART, leading indicators) and dashboard/reporting skills.
Chemical management and SDS stewardship, GHS classification and labeling experience.
Proficiency with EHS software and tools (incident management, audit software, CMMS integrations, Excel/Power BI for analytics).
Environmental sampling and monitoring program oversight (air, water, soil, stormwater sampling protocols).

Soft Skills

Strong leadership presence with ability to influence front-line supervisors and senior executives to drive EHS improvements.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for regulatory correspondence, training delivery, and executive reporting.
Strong problem-solving aptitude and critical thinking to prioritize EHS risks under operational constraints.
Collaborative mindset: proven ability to partner with operations, engineering and HR to implement practical controls.
Coaching and mentoring skills to develop safety champions and build team capability.
Project management and change-management experience to deliver EHS improvements on schedule and budget.
High attention to detail with the ability to synthesize technical regulations into clear operational guidance.
Resilience and adaptability to manage multiple sites, shifting priorities and regulatory developments.
Conflict resolution skills to handle contractor and employee non-compliance issues professionally.
Cultural sensitivity and inclusiveness to engage diverse teams across shifts, locations and languages.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related technical field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Environmental Management, Occupational Safety, Public Health, Environmental Engineering, or MBA with sustainability focus.
Professional certifications such as CSP (Certified Safety Professional), CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist), ISO Lead Auditor, or CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Occupational Safety & Health
Environmental Science / Environmental Engineering
Industrial Hygiene
Chemical Engineering
Public Health / Environmental Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5–10+ years of progressive EHS experience in manufacturing, industrial, construction, energy, chemical or logistics environments; 3–5+ years for smaller sites with broad responsibilities.

Preferred:

7–12 years with demonstrated experience managing multi-site programs, regulatory permitting, PSM and successful ISO 14001 / ISO 45001 implementations.
Prior supervisory or managerial experience leading EHS teams, contractors and cross-functional initiatives.
Direct experience interacting with OSHA/EPA/state regulators, managing enforcement actions, and negotiating corrective action plans.