Job Description
Safety Manager (EHS Manager)
About us
American Paper Bag is an American owned company that is proud to offer what no other US manufacturer can: revolutionary paper shopping bags with unmatched customization options. Because we produce products with less paper that require lower shipping costs, we are environmentally friendly. We are currently experiencing rapid growth and seeking an experienced safety professional to strengthen our environmental, health, and safety programs.
The Position:
The Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving environmental, health, and safety programs throughout the manufacturing facility. This role ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while building a proactive safety culture that protects employees, contractors, visitors, equipment, and the environment. The EHS Manager works closely with Operations, Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Human Resources, and leadership to identify hazards, reduce risk, investigate incidents, deliver training, manage environmental requirements, and drive measurable improvements in workplace safety. This position reports to Chief Technology Officer.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive environmental, health, and safety policies, procedures, programs, and standards for the facility.
- Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, state, local, fire code, and company requirements.
- Conduct routine facility inspections, job hazard analyses, risk assessments, and safety audits to identify unsafe conditions and work practices.
- Lead incident, injury, near-miss, property damage, and environmental investigations using effective root cause analysis methods.
- Develop and track corrective and preventive actions, verify completion, and evaluate their effectiveness.
- Manage required safety programs including lockout/tagout, machine guarding, powered industrial trucks, personal protective equipment, hazard communication, fall protection, confined space, electrical safety, and emergency response.
- Coordinate employee safety orientation, recurring training, toolbox talks, refresher training, and qualification programs.
- Maintain accurate OSHA logs, training records, inspection records, incident documentation, permits, and other required EHS documentation.
- Monitor safety performance indicators, identify trends, and provide regular EHS reports and recommendations to facility leadership.
- Partner with Production, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to evaluate equipment, processes, layouts, and capital projects for safety and environmental risks.
- Support machine safety reviews, pre-startup safety reviews, contractor safety requirements, and management-of-change activities.
- Manage environmental compliance activities related to waste handling, recycling, hazardous materials, spill prevention, stormwater, air emissions, and required reporting.
- Maintain Safety Data Sheets, chemical inventories, labeling systems, and chemical approval processes.
- Lead emergency preparedness activities, including evacuation plans, drills, first-aid readiness, fire prevention, and response coordination.
- Work with Human Resources and insurance partners on injury management, workers’ compensation, return-to-work programs, and loss-prevention initiatives.
- Coordinate with regulatory agencies, auditors, consultants, vendors, and contractors during inspections, projects, and corrective-action activities.
- Coach supervisors and employees on safe work practices, accountability, hazard recognition, and effective safety leadership.
- Lead or support the facility safety committee and encourage employee participation in safety improvement initiatives.
- Maintain a visible presence on the production floor and respond promptly to urgent safety, environmental, or compliance concerns.
- All duties as assigned by management.
Position Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health and Safety, Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
- 5–8 years of progressive EHS experience in manufacturing, packaging, converting, food and beverage, plastics, paper products, warehousing, or a similar industrial environment preferred.
- Previous experience leading or managing plant-level safety and environmental programs strongly preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations, injury and illness recordkeeping, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, machine guarding, powered industrial trucks, and emergency response requirements.
- Knowledge of environmental compliance requirements involving waste management, hazardous materials, spill prevention, stormwater, air emissions, and regulatory reporting.
- Experience conducting incident investigations, root cause analysis, job hazard analyses, risk assessments, and compliance audits.
- Ability to develop and deliver engaging safety training for employees, supervisors, contractors, and leadership.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing equipment, production processes, maintenance activities, and common industrial hazards.
- Experience working with regulatory agencies, third-party auditors, insurance carriers, and outside consultants preferred.
- Professional certification such as CSP, ASP, CHMM, CIH, or OSHA 30-hour training is a plus.
- Strong leadership and influencing skills with the ability to build accountability and employee engagement at all levels of the organization.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to prepare reports, procedures, training materials, and regulatory documentation.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with close attention to detail.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience using EHS management, incident tracking, or training systems preferred.
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and respond effectively to urgent incidents or compliance concerns.
- Comfortable working on the production floor for extended periods and performing inspections in active manufacturing areas.
- Ability to occasionally lift, bend, climb stairs or ladders, and wear required personal protective equipment.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, shutdowns, and overtime as needed.
Benefits: 401K matching Health, Vision, Life and Dental insurance Paid time off Referral Program
Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
