Plant EHSS & Operations Risk Manager

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Position Summary

The Plant EHSS and Operational Risk Manager leads all Environmental, Health, Safety, Security (EHSS), and operational risk management programs for the pellet mill facility. This role is responsible for ensuring a safe, healthy, environmentally responsible, and secure workplace while supporting operational excellence, business continuity, and sustainable manufacturing performance.

This position drives execution of Outdoor Brands LLC's Domestic Operations Safety Program through standardized processes, behavior-based safety systems, operational risk management, leadership engagement, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement. The role partners cross-functionally across all plant functions, Distribution Center teams, and the Plant Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager to ensure alignment between EHSS requirements, operational excellence initiatives, and overall plant performance.

The Plant EHSS and Operational Risk Manager serves as the senior site authority for Environmental, Health, Safety, Security (EHSS), operational risk management, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and business continuity. The position exercises significant independent judgment in managing operational risk, regulatory strategy, environmental stewardship, and operational resilience while serving as a strategic advisor to plant leadership. As a member of the plant leadership team, this role ensures EHSS and operational risk principles are integrated into operational excellence, capital projects, and long-term business objectives.

The Plant EHSS and Operational Risk Manager provides leadership and engagement across all shifts in a 24/7 manufacturing environment, ensuring consistent execution of EHSS programs, operational risk management processes, and safety expectations throughout the operation.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Sustained reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR), DART Rate, and Severity Rate
• Strong safety culture demonstrated through active employee engagement, safety observations, near-miss reporting, and proactive hazard identification
• Successful implementation and sustainment of Behavior-Based Safety (BBS), Safety GEMBA, and operational risk reduction programs
• Consistent compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and applicable environmental and safety regulations
• Effective execution of Outdoor Brands LLC's Domestic Operations Safety Program
• Timely completion and sustainability of corrective actions resulting from incidents, audits, inspections, and risk assessments
• Strong engagement and trust across all shifts in a 24/7 operation
• Strong partnership with plant leadership to improve operational performance while reducing business risk
• Effective emergency preparedness and business continuity capability
• Strong leadership engagement and accountability for EHSS and operational risk performance
• Consistent achievement of EHSS KPI targets and year-over-year improvement in leading and lagging indicators

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Accountability

• Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to drive accountability across all plant functions for EHSS performance, compliance, and operational risk reduction.
• Serve as a member of the plant leadership team responsible for balancing operational performance, regulatory compliance, workforce safety, environmental stewardship, and operational risk in support of the facility's business objectives.
• Establish clear expectations for safety leadership, environmental stewardship, incident prevention, and operational risk management.
• Coach and develop supervisors and frontline leaders on EHSS responsibilities, hazard recognition, leadership engagement, and risk-based decision making.
• Reinforce company culture including safety, integrity, accountability, and ownership.
• Lead the plant leadership team in structured Safety GEMBA walks and safety engagement activities.
• Maintain a visible presence across all shifts and departments in a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Promote proactive identification and elimination of hazards through employee involvement and leadership accountability.
• Support development of site EHSS objectives aligned with plant and Domestic Operations goals.

 Enterprise Risk Management and Governance

• Own the facility's operational risk management framework, ensuring EHSS risks are identified, prioritized, mitigated, and communicated to plant leadership and Domestic Operations EHSS leadership.
• Lead formal operational risk assessments for manufacturing processes, critical equipment, contractors, utilities, facility modifications, and business continuity risks.
• Develop long-term operational risk reduction strategies that improve manufacturing resilience, regulatory compliance, and operational performance.
• Serve as the site's primary advisor regarding operational, environmental, regulatory, and business risks.
• Present significant operational risks, mitigation strategies, and emerging regulatory issues to plant and Domestic Operations leadership.
• Drive implementation of structured operational risk management processes through risk assessments, mitigation planning, and continuous monitoring.

Health and Safety Leadership

• Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to lead implementation and sustainment of all safety programs, policies, procedures, and standards
• Manage and continuously improve the facility's Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) program
• Implement and sustain safety observation, hazard recognition, and employee engagement processes
• Establish and sustain a robust near-miss reporting, investigation, and corrective action process to identify hazards, eliminate risk, and prevent incidents before they occur
• Engage regularly with team members across all shifts in a 24/7 operation to reinforce safety culture, gather feedback, identify emerging risks, and ensure consistent execution of EHSS programs and expectations
• Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and lessons learned processes
• Develop and maintain risk assessment processes for equipment, processes, tasks, and facility operations
• Ensure effective management of PPE programs, machine guarding, lockout/tagout, confined space, fall protection, contractor safety, ergonomics, and other critical risk programs
• Support return-to-work and modified duty programs in partnership with Human Resources and plant leadership
• Drive continuous improvement of safety performance through leading and lagging indicator analysis
• Integrate operational risk assessments into safety initiatives, process changes, and daily operations to proactively reduce organizational risk.

Environmental Management

• Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to lead environmental compliance and sustainability efforts for the facility
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations
• Manage environmental programs including air emissions, waste management, stormwater, spill prevention, environmental permitting, and environmental reporting requirements
• Conduct environmental inspections and assessments to identify and mitigate risks
• Partner with plant leadership to reduce environmental impacts and improve sustainability performance
• Maintain environmental permits, records, and required reporting documentation
• Support environmental audits and implementation of corrective actions
• Develop and implement site environmental improvement initiatives that reduce operational risk, improve regulatory compliance, and enhance resource efficiency.
• Identify and implement projects that reduce waste, emissions, and environmental impact while supporting operational and financial objectives.

Security and Emergency Preparedness

• Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to lead facility security programs designed to protect employees, visitors, assets, and operations
• Maintain emergency response plans, crisis management procedures, and business continuity readiness
• Coordinate emergency response drills and preparedness exercises
• Partner with local emergency responders and regulatory agencies as required
• Ensure facility emergency equipment and response systems are maintained and operational
• Support site security assessments and implementation of corrective actions as needed

Business Continuity and Crisis Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain the site's Business Continuity and Crisis Management program.
• Lead planning for significant operational disruptions including natural disasters, utility interruptions, environmental releases, supply chain interruptions, and other operational risks.
• Coordinate annual emergency response and business continuity exercises with plant leadership.
• Ensure continuity planning supports operational resilience and minimizes business interruption during emergency events.

Domestic Operations Safety Program Leadership

• Execute Outdoor Brands LLC's Domestic Operations Safety Program at the site level
• Support standardization of safety processes, metrics, reporting, and best practices across pellet plants and distribution centers
• Partner with Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to implement company safety initiatives and improvement strategies
• Facilitate sharing of lessons learned, incident trends, and successful risk reduction initiatives across locations
• Support the development and deployment of enterprise safety standards and training programs
• Participate in cross-site EHSS reviews, audits, and continuous improvement activities

EHSS Systems, Auditing, and Risk Management

• Conduct routine EHSS audits, inspections, and compliance assessments
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are implemented, verified, and sustained
• Maintain OSHA logs, environmental records, training documentation, and required reporting systems
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement required updates to site programs
• Support internal and external audits related to EHSS requirements
• Drive risk reduction initiatives through structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies
• Maintain site readiness for regulatory inspections and corporate assessments
• Develop regulatory compliance strategies that proactively address changing federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Represent the facility during OSHA, EPA, state regulatory agency, insurance, and third-party compliance inspections.
• Serve as the primary site liaison with regulatory agencies regarding inspections, permitting activities, compliance issues, and corrective action programs.
• Maintain site readiness for regulatory inspections, insurance audits, and corporate assessments through ongoing risk evaluations and compliance verification.

Data, Reporting, and Performance Management

• Analyze EHSS performance data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools to monitor site safety and environmental performance
• Track and report key performance indicators including:
• Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR)
• Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR)
• Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) Rate
• Severity Rate
• Near-Miss Reporting Rate
• Near-Miss Investigation Completion Rate
• Safety Observation Completion
• Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) Participation
• Safety GEMBA Completion
• Corrective Action Closure Rate
• Training Completion and Compliance
• Environmental Compliance Metrics
• Workers' Compensation Performance
• Regulatory Inspection and Audit Results
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly performance reviews with plant leadership
• Ensure alignment between site metrics, Domestic Operations objectives, and company goals
• Prepare executive-level EHSS performance reviews, operational risk summaries, and strategic recommendations for Domestic Operations and plant leadership.
• Present site EHSS performance, operational risks, regulatory trends, and continuous improvement initiatives during leadership reviews.
• Utilize leading and lagging indicators to prioritize operational risk reduction initiatives and support strategic business decisions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with leaders and team members across all plant functions to improve overall plant performance and reduce operational risk
• Collaborate with Distribution Center teams and Domestic Operations EHSS leadership to drive consistency, standardization, and sharing of best practices
• Partner with the Plant Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager to ensure alignment between EHSS requirements, GMP expectations, operational discipline, audit readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Support implementation of Lean manufacturing principles, standard work, visual management, and operational excellence initiatives where safety and risk reduction intersect
• Participate in capital projects, process improvements, and facility modifications to ensure EHSS requirements are incorporated into project planning and execution
• Drive alignment across departments to eliminate silos and ensure consistent execution
• Serve as a trusted advisor to plant leadership on EHSS risks, opportunities, and strategic initiatives

• Lead EHSS design reviews for capital projects, facility expansions, equipment installations, and process modifications to ensure compliance, operational risk reduction, and long-term sustainability.
• Partner with Engineering to incorporate inherently safer design principles into new equipment and facility modifications.
• Review and approve EHSS requirements prior to commissioning new equipment, production processes, or facility modifications.
• Serve as the strategic EHSS and operational risk advisor to plant leadership during operational planning, facility expansion, and organizational change initiatives.
• Participate in cross-site EHSS councils, benchmarking activities, and best-practice sharing to support continuous improvement across Domestic Operations.
• Ensure EHSS and operational risk management principles are integrated into Lean manufacturing, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Performs other duties as requested

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum seven years of progressive EHSS, operational risk management, manufacturing, or industrial leadership experience, including demonstrated responsibility for regulatory compliance, operational risk management, and strategic EHSS program development.
• Three to five years of leadership or influencing experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting multi-shift manufacturing operations, including 24/7 environments.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and industrial EHSS requirements.
• Experience leading Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) programs and safety culture initiatives.
• Experience with environmental compliance and regulatory reporting.
• Strong understanding of operational risk assessment, incident investigation, and root cause analysis methodologies.
• Experience leading business continuity planning, emergency preparedness, or operational resilience initiatives preferred.
• Demonstrated experience influencing senior leadership and managing complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement experience preferred.
• CSP, ASP, CHMM, or equivalent certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of operational risk management frameworks and structured risk assessment methodologies.
• Ability to influence plant leadership and provide strategic recommendations balancing operational performance, regulatory compliance, and organizational risk.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to align EHSS strategy with operational objectives.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and drive sustainable operational improvement.
• Excellent executive communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex operational risks to diverse audiences.
• Strong understanding of EHSS management systems and regulatory requirements
• Proven ability to drive behavioral and cultural change in frontline operations without direct authority
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and accountability skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on risk reduction and prevention
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and build strong partnerships throughout the organization
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and follow-through
• Results-driven with a strong sense of ownership and operational discipline
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and EHSS reporting systems

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk, stand, climb, and work in an industrial manufacturing environment
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds as needed
• Comfortable working in hot, cold, dusty, noisy, and outdoor conditions
• Ability to work at heights and enter confined spaces using proper personal protective equipment
• Ability to respond to emergency situations and support off-shift activities as required

For employment within the United States, the W.C. Bradley Co. uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired team members.  To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service at www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

The W.C. Bradley Co. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Discrimination and all unlawful harassment (including sexual harassment) in employment is not tolerated. We encourage success based on our individual merits and abilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military status, or veteran status. We support and obey laws that prohibit discrimination where we do business.

Federal law requires the W.C. Bradley Co. to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. If you are interested in applying for employment with the W.C. Bradley Co. and require special assistance or accommodation to complete any part of the application and pre-employment process, please contact our Human Resources Office