Position Summary

The Vice President of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) provides strategic leadership and direction for all environmental, occupational health, safety, and regulatory compliance programs across [Company Name]’s national food manufacturing operations.

This role ensures the protection of our employees, customers, and communities while maintaining compliance with OSHA, EPA, FDA, USDA, and local environmental agencies. The VP drives a culture of safety, sustainability, and operational excellence across all facilities—focusing on risk reduction, continuous improvement, and integration of EHS with food safety and quality systems.

The ideal candidate is an experienced EHS executive from the food or beverage manufacturing sector, with strong technical expertise, leadership capability, and the ability to influence across multiple business units and plant locations.

Key Responsibilities

🧭 Strategic Leadership

Develop and execute a comprehensive EHS strategy aligned with business and operational goals.
Serve as the executive advisor to senior leadership on EHS compliance, risk mitigation, and sustainability performance.
Embed a proactive, “zero-incident” culture throughout all levels of the organization.
Integrate EHS principles with food safety and quality assurance programs for a unified compliance framework.

⚙️ Operational Oversight

Lead and mentor EHS managers and coordinators across all production plants, warehouses, and corporate facilities.
Ensure consistent implementation of corporate EHS and food safety standards across multiple sites.
Oversee investigations of safety incidents, environmental events, and food safety non-conformances; ensure root cause analysis and corrective actions are completed.
Partner with plant managers and quality leaders to drive improvements in sanitation, allergen control, and chemical management practices.

🌎 Environmental Compliance & Sustainability

Oversee compliance with EPA, TCEQ, and local environmental regulations (air, water, waste, stormwater, hazardous materials).
Manage programs for wastewater pretreatment, refrigeration/ammonia systems, and solid waste reduction.
Drive environmental sustainability initiatives focused on energy reduction, renewable sourcing, and waste-to-landfill goals.
Lead corporate reporting for sustainability and EHS performance metrics.

🧑 🤝 🧑 Leadership & Culture

Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing EHS team that partners effectively with operations and quality.
Develop and deliver engaging EHS training programs for all levels—from plant floor employees to senior executives.
Promote shared ownership of safety performance through leadership visibility and communication.
Recognize and celebrate EHS achievements to reinforce a culture of accountability and improvement.

📈 Metrics, Auditing & Continuous Improvement

Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for safety, environmental, and sustainability objectives.
Conduct site audits and management reviews to ensure compliance with internal and external requirements.
Leverage digital systems and analytics to drive proactive decision-making and trend analysis.
Benchmark performance against industry standards and implement best practices from leading food manufacturers.

Qualifications

🎓 Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Safety, Engineering, Food Science, or related field required.
Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CHMM, or CSHO highly valued.

💼 Experience

15+ years of progressive EHS experience, with at least 5 years in a corporate or multi-site executive role within food or beverage manufacturing.
Proven experience leading EHS programs in FDA- and/or USDA-regulated facilities.
Demonstrated success reducing incidents, improving compliance metrics, and fostering a safety-first culture.
Experience integrating EHS systems with food safety (HACCP, GMP, SQF, BRC) frameworks.
Strong knowledge of OSHA, EPA, FDA, USDA, DOT, and state environmental regulations.

🧠 Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Deep understanding of industrial hygiene, process safety, sanitation, and environmental management.
Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills; capable of influencing at all organizational levels.
Data-driven approach to performance measurement and program improvement.
Ability to operate in a fast-paced, multi-site environment with changing priorities.

Performance Metrics

TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) and DART reductions
Compliance audit outcomes and closure rates
Environmental permit adherence and reporting accuracy
Employee EHS engagement and training completion rates
Food safety and sanitation compliance improvements
Progress toward sustainability goals (energy, water, waste)

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive executive base salary
Annual performance bonus and long-term incentive eligibility
Comprehensive health, retirement, and wellness benefits
Relocation support (if applicable)

JGT Global

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