Senior Director of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE)

Location: Northern Indiana

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Summary:

The Senior Director of HSE will plan and manage all aspects of the organization's safety, health, and environmental program, holding direct responsibility for compliance with national regulations and company policies designed to exceed compliance standards across the business's national facilities. This role requires a passionate, strategic leader capable of influencing at both the manufacturing and executive levels, building and leading a high-performing H&S team, maintaining and fostering a culture of safety throughout the organization.

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Key Responsibilities:

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1. Leadership and Strategy:

• Create, design, evaluate, and communicate a clear environmental, health, and safety vision, direction, and strategy that motivates and influences others to support and commit to the organization's strategic direction and vision.

• Develop an HSE roadmap and strategic initiatives aligning with the organization's values and strategy.

• Influence and engage with both manufacturing operations and C-suite executives to integrate safety into all business decisions.

• Drive a culture of safety, ensuring it is a core value spoken to frequently and palpably felt throughout the organization.

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2. Team Building and Management:

• Build, lead, and mentor a team of health and safety professionals.

• Foster a collaborative environment where team members are empowered to take ownership of safety initiatives.

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3. Operational Excellence:

• Oversee safety operations across 100 sites including factories and distribution centers.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations and standards.

• Develop and implement health, environmental, and safety programs, policies, and procedures for monitoring and preventing physical and environmental hazards in compliance with local, state, and federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations.

• Implement robust safety programs and practices to minimize risks and prevent injuries.

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4. Continuous Improvement:

• Identify gaps in current safety practices and develop effective solutions.

• Monitor and analyze safety performance metrics to drive continuous improvement.

• Analyze data relating to safety, health, and environmental risks to identify and execute global improvement efforts.

• Lead safety audits and investigations, ensuring root causes are identified and corrective actions are implemented.

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5. Integration and Change Management:

• Manage health and safety integration during acquisitions, ensuring new entities align with the company's safety standards.

• Promote and facilitate a culture of change and improvement within the organization.

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6. Employee Engagement and Training:

• Cultivate a workplace where safety is a shared responsibility and employees feel cared for.

• Oversee communications and programs to train managers and employees in work site safety practices, fire prevention, and correct handling techniques for chemicals, toxins, equipment, and other materials.

• Communicate safety expectations clearly and consistently, ensuring all employees understand their role in maintaining a safe work environment.

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7. Compliance and Reporting:

• Be accountable for, define metrics, and report to the Executive Management Committee on HSE performance.

• Lead the team to coordinate internal and external global risk audits to assess facility compliance with company and regulatory requirements.

• Ensure accident reports required by regulatory agencies are accurate and timely.

• Represent the organization in community or industry safety groups and programs.

• Maintain safety files and records.

• Partner with Human Resources to manage workers' compensation cases and injury management.

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8. Environmental Compliance:

• Oversee air, water, and industrial waste permit compliance and renewals.

• Inspect organization facilities to detect existing or potential accident and health hazards, determine corrective or preventative measures where indicated, and follow up to ensure measures have been implemented.

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Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum of 15 years of related experience in a senior health and safety role within industrial heavy manufacturing, with a history of increasing responsibility within the HSE area of expertise.

• Proven success in creating and implementing HSE compliance and improvement plans.

• Demonstrated strong leadership skills and specialized knowledge of risk management and safety practices.

• Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.

• Proficient in various computer applications such as Excel, MS Word, and database-derived applications.

• Knowledge of US federal and state regulations pertaining to occupational safety, health, and the environment.

• Ability to take initiative in all aspects of HSE management, including interaction with various business unit leads, facility managers, regulatory agency staff members, and implementation of emergency response procedures.

• Strong managerial, communication, and interpersonal relationship skills with the ability to work with various functional groups.

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Why Join the Organization?

We treat our employees like family, fostering a supportive and safety-focused environment. We believe that caring for our people naturally leads to injury-free operations. Join us and be a part of a company where safety is not just a priority but a value that we live by every day.