Esg Program Manager Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Regional Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager provides strategic leadership and operational support for 2–4 manufacturing facilities within an assigned geographic region while serving as a key resource for the successful integration of newly acquired or startup facilities. This position partners with regional operations leadership to build a proactive safety culture, strengthen operational excellence, and ensure consistent implementation of corporate EHS standards.

The Regional EHS Manager is responsible for driving Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) prevention initiatives, critical risk management, regulatory compliance, leadership development, and continuous improvement across multiple facilities. This role requires extensive collaboration with plant leadership teams and significant travel (60–75%) to provide field coaching, assessments, and operational support.

Regional Safety Leadership

• Provide strategic EHS leadership and support to 2–4 manufacturing facilities within an assigned region.
• Lead the implementation, standardization, and continuous improvement of corporate EHS management systems across assigned facilities.
• Partner with Plant Managers and Operations Leadership to develop local ownership and accountability for EHS performance.
• Support the successful integration of newly acquired or startup facilities into corporate EHS programs, standards, and culture.
• Drive continuous improvement of proactive safety culture initiatives that promote employee engagement and operational ownership.
• Develop regional implementation plans to ensure consistent execution of corporate safety initiatives and strategic objectives.
• Build leadership capability by coaching supervisors and managers on safety leadership, risk recognition, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Ensure standardized EHS calendars, audits, inspections, and compliance activities are executed consistently across assigned facilities.
• Maintain a strong field presence through routine site visits, coaching, observations, and leadership engagement.
• Support regional operational reviews by analyzing trends, identifying risks, and recommending improvement strategies.

Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) Prevention

• Lead regional Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) prevention initiatives by ensuring high-energy hazards are identified, controlled, and verified before work begins.
• Drive implementation and sustainability of Critical Control Verification (CCV), Fatality & Life-Changing Event Prevention (Life Savers), and other corporate critical risk programs.
• Conduct SIF potential incident reviews and ensure thorough investigations identify systemic causes and sustainable corrective actions.
• Facilitate regional learning by developing and sharing lessons learned, leadership communications, and best practices following SIF and high-potential events.
• Partner with Operations Leadership to verify critical controls are consistently implemented and effective in the field.
• Monitor regional leading indicators to identify emerging SIF exposure trends and recommend proactive mitigation strategies.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Standardize safety management processes across facilities to improve consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Lead regional audits, risk assessments, and corrective action management processes.
• Develop systems to improve leading indicator performance, corrective action closure, and leadership accountability.
• Support equipment risk assessments, machine safeguarding improvements, lockout/tagout effectiveness, and operational risk reduction initiatives.
• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations to implement sustainable risk reduction and engineered safety improvements.
• Support Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives including waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation, and sustainability projects.

Audit & Risk Management

• Conduct comprehensive regional EHS audits and operational assessments.
• Evaluate compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and applicable state and local regulations.
• Identify systemic risks, assign corrective actions, verify completion, and measure effectiveness.
• Analyze incident trends and leading indicators to anticipate and prevent future incidents.
• Support emergency preparedness planning and business continuity initiatives across assigned facilities.
• Provide guidance regarding Workers' Compensation management, occupational health programs, industrial hygiene, and fitness-for-duty processes.

Training, Leadership Development & Communication

• Coach plant leadership teams to build strong safety leadership behaviors and accountability.
• Deliver regional leadership development focused on SIF prevention, Human & Organizational Performance (HOP), critical risk management, and employee engagement.
• Support implementation of standardized onboarding, contractor orientation, and recurring regulatory training programs.
• Facilitate regional safety workshops, leadership meetings, and continuous improvement events.
• Develop and distribute regional safety communications, learning lessons, toolbox talks, and awareness campaigns.
• Promote the sharing of best practices and operational learning across all assigned facilities.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure consistent implementation of corporate EHS policies, standards, and management systems across assigned facilities.
• Monitor compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local regulations.
• Coordinate regulatory inspections, agency interactions, and corporate reporting requirements.
• Escalate significant regulatory issues, Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) events, and high-risk exposures to Business Leadership and Corporate EHS.
• Ensure incident investigations are completed on time, root causes identified, corrective actions implemented, and organizational learning communicated throughout the region.

Regional Support

• Serve as the primary EHS resource for facility leadership within the assigned region.
• Support due diligence, integration, and startup activities for new facilities and acquisitions.
• Represent the company in industry associations, customer audits, regulatory meetings, and professional organizations.
• Build strong partnerships with Corporate EHS, Operations Leadership, Engineering, Human Resources, and regional support functions.
• Travel 60–75% throughout the assigned geographic region to provide on-site coaching, assessments, project support, and leadership development.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 7-10 years progressive EHS leadership experience in manufacturing, heavy industry, utilities, or industrial operations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Experience leading Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) prevention initiatives and critical risk management programs.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, DOT, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience leading incident investigations utilizing root cause analysis methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to influence leaders without direct authority.
• Strong project management, organizational, and change management skills.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and presentation skills.
• Ability to travel 60–75% throughout the assigned region.

Preferred

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, facility startups, or operational integrations.
• Experience implementing Human & Organizational Performance (HOP), Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) prevention programs, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Lean Manufacturing, or Operational Excellence systems.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.