Environmental Health and Safety Manager job description.
An environmental health and safety (EHS) manager develops and oversees programs that protect employees, the public, and the environment from workplace hazards. They ensure compliance with occupational safety and environmental regulations, lead incident investigations, and drive a culture of safety across the organization. This role works closely with operations leadership to identify risks and implement corrective actions before incidents occur.
The Environmental Health and Safety Manager job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Environmental Health and Safety Manager Reports to: Director of Operations or VP of EHS
An environmental health and safety (EHS) manager develops and oversees programs that protect employees, the public, and the environment from workplace hazards. They ensure compliance with occupational safety and environmental regulations, lead incident investigations, and drive a culture of safety across the organization. This role works closely with operations leadership to identify risks and implement corrective actions before incidents occur.
- Develop, implement, and maintain environmental health and safety programs and policies
- Conduct workplace inspections and risk assessments to identify hazards and compliance gaps
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and other applicable regulatory requirements
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Director of Operations or VP of EHS
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Develop, implement, and maintain environmental health and safety programs and policies
- Conduct workplace inspections and risk assessments to identify hazards and compliance gaps
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and other applicable regulatory requirements
- Lead investigations of workplace incidents, near misses, and environmental releases
- Deliver safety training and certification programs to employees and contractors
- Maintain required safety records, permits, and regulatory reporting documentation
- Partner with operations leadership to integrate safety into processes and equipment design
- Manage emergency response plans and coordinate drills across facilities
- Track and report safety metrics and lead continuous improvement initiatives
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety, environmental science, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in EHS management, preferably in an industrial or manufacturing setting
- Working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and other relevant regulatory frameworks
- Strong incident investigation and root cause analysis skills
- Excellent communication and training delivery skills across all organizational levels
- Professional certification such as CSP, CIH, or CHMM
- Experience with ISO 14001 or ISO 45001 management systems
- Background in a specific regulated industry such as manufacturing, construction, or energy
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Environmental Health and Safety Manager job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Environmental Health and Safety Manager job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The senior band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Director of Operations or VP of EHS) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What certifications are valuable for an EHS manager?
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) are widely recognized credentials.
- How does an EHS manager differ from a safety coordinator?
- An EHS manager typically owns strategy, compliance, and program oversight across a facility or organization, while a safety coordinator handles day-to-day implementation and support tasks.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
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A Safety Manager develops and oversees workplace safety programs to prevent injuries and ensure regulatory compliance.
Safety Coordinator
A safety coordinator supports the implementation of workplace health and safety programs.
Environmental Engineer
An Environmental Engineer designs and evaluates systems and processes to protect air, water, and soil quality while ensuring regulatory compliance.
This Environmental Health and Safety Manager job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.