EHS Group Lead

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Job Description:

Position Summary:

The EHS Group Lead at the Newport facility is responsible for the daily leadership of Environmental, Health, and Safety operations. This position provides supervisory oversight of technician-level staff and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local environmental and occupational health and safety regulations. With a primary emphasis on environmental reporting and compliance, the EHS Group Lead will work closely with the Environmental & Sustainability Manager to implement standardized processes and Lean-based waste reduction strategies. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, regulatory fluency, and the ability to guide operational teams toward continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Environmental Compliance & Reporting

• Manage and ensure compliance with all applicable environmental regulations, including but not limited to RCRA, CWA, CAA, EPCRA, SPCC, and local ordinances.
• Lead and coordinate the accurate and timely submission of all required environmental reporting at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Maintain all required documentation and electronic filing systems in a ready-for-audit state.
• Coordinate with vendors and haulers for waste removal and maintenance activities.

Health & Safety Oversight

• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, including maintaining and posting OSHA 300 logs.
• Lead or delegate weekly safety inspections, including spill kits, eyewash stations, fire extinguishers, and PPE stations.
• Oversee incident reporting, investigation, and corrective actions using root cause analysis.
• Support and manage workers' compensation claims and reporting, coordinating with HR, on-site nurse, and insurance providers.

Team Leadership & Training

• Direct the daily activities of EHS Technicians, ensuring consistent task completion and adherence to safety and environmental protocols.
• Assign roles and priorities, conduct daily meetings, and maintain open communication channels.
• Provide training, mentorship, and real-time feedback to team members on compliance and operational procedures.
• Collaborate closely with operations and maintenance personnel, serving as an environmental and safety advisor to facility leadership.

Process Improvement & Lean Integration

• Partner with the Environmental & Sustainability Manager to apply Lean manufacturing principles to the environmental program as a strategy for pollution prevention, waste minimization, and efficiency improvements.
• Assist in the development of standardized documentation templates, inspection forms, and reporting workflows.
• Identify process inefficiencies and support resolution through structured root cause analysis and preventive action planning.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Health, Safety, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in environmental compliance or EHS in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state environmental regulations and OSHA standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams, enforce standards, and communicate across departments.
• Familiarity with wastewater treatment, hazardous waste handling, and chemical storage practices.
• Experience with Lean, 5S, or Kaizen methodologies is a plus.
• Competency in performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective and preventive actions.

Desired Competencies:

• Clear and confident communication with both frontline staff and facility leadership.
• Exceptional organizational and documentation skills.
• Proactive problem-solver with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Comfortable coordinating with regulatory agencies, vendors, and internal departments.