| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Environment, Health and Safety |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Plant Head |
| Direct reports | Safety Officer, Environment Engineer, EHS Executive |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in EHS with team leadership |
EHS Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: EHS Manager
Department: Environment, Health and Safety
Reports to: Plant Head
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An EHS Manager runs environment, health and safety at a plant or site, keeping people safe and the site compliant. They lead the EHS team, run risk assessments and audits, drive training and safe systems of work, and manage incident investigation and compliance. The role reports to the Plant Head or Head of EHS. A good EHS manager prevents incidents through strong systems and engagement, keeps the site legally compliant, closes findings fast, and builds a workforce that works safely by habit.
Key responsibilities
- Run the site EHS management system covering safety, health and environment.
- Lead risk assessments and make sure controls are in place for hazardous work.
- Manage permit to work, safe systems of work and contractor safety on site.
- Drive EHS training, induction and toolbox talks across the workforce.
- Conduct EHS audits and inspections and drive closure of the findings.
- Investigate incidents and near misses and implement corrective actions.
- Keep the site compliant with environment, safety and health regulations and consents.
- Manage emergency preparedness, mock drills and response plans for the site.
- Track EHS metrics and report performance to the plant head.
- Build safety engagement so workers report hazards and follow safe practice.
Requirements
- Engineering degree with Advanced Diploma in Industrial Safety
- NEBOSH or IOSH is an advantage
- Experience in plant or site EHS
- 6 to 10 years in EHS with team leadership
KRAs and KPIs for a EHS Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Incident rate | Lost time and recordable injuries kept within the site target each year |
| Compliance | Statutory EHS compliance and consents maintained with no violation |
| Audit closure | Audit and inspection findings closed within the agreed time |
| Training | EHS training and induction coverage meeting the site target |
| Emergency readiness | Mock drills conducted to plan with response gaps closed |
| Near miss reporting | Near miss reporting meeting the target as a leading indicator |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: EHS management software, Risk assessment tools, Incident and audit systems, Gas and safety monitors, Mock drill records.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior EHS Manager, Head of EHS, Plant Head
Interview questions for a EHS Manager
- How do you run a risk assessment for a hazardous job on site?
- How do you make sure contractors follow the same safety standards as employees?
- How do you investigate an incident and prevent it from recurring?
- How do you drive safety engagement so workers actually report hazards?
- How do you keep the site compliant with environment and safety law?
- Tell me about an incident you investigated and the changes you made.
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What does an EHS manager do?
An EHS manager runs environment, health and safety at a plant or site. They lead the EHS team, run risk assessments and audits, manage permit to work and contractor safety, drive training, and handle incident investigation and compliance. They prevent incidents through strong systems and engagement and keep the site legally compliant.
What qualifications do you need to be an EHS manager?
Most EHS managers hold an engineering degree with an Advanced Diploma in Industrial Safety, and NEBOSH or IOSH certification is an advantage. Employers look for plant or site EHS experience, skill in risk assessment, permit to work and incident investigation, knowledge of environment and safety law, and the ability to lead a team and build safety culture.
What is the difference between EHS manager and safety officer?
An EHS manager leads the whole environment, health and safety function at a site, including systems, compliance, teams and reporting. A safety officer focuses on day to day safety on the shop floor or construction site, doing inspections, permits and toolbox talks. The safety officer usually reports to the EHS manager.