EHS Manager

Job Overview

As EHS Manager, you will lead and own Heron Power’s Environment, Health & Safety function across R&D, new product introduction (NPI), manufacturing, and field service operations. Reporting to the Head of Global Compliance, Safety & Technical Policy, you will build and manage a team of EHS professionals, set program strategy, and serve as the organizational authority on safety culture, regulatory compliance, and risk management across all Heron Power sites.

This is a people-manager role with direct responsibility for the growth, performance, and day-to-day direction of the EHS team.

How You Will Contribute

• Own and direct the development of site-specific hazard mitigation analyses (SS-HMA), job hazard analyses (JHA), and safe work procedures for high-voltage R&D labs, NPI areas, manufacturing floors, and field service activities at customer sites; delegate, review, and approve deliverables across the EHS team.

• Lead the field service safety program for technicians commissioning, servicing, and decommissioning Heron Power equipment at customer and third-party sites; establish standards for pre-deployment safety briefings, site-specific hazard assessments, PPE provisioning, and off-site incident reporting, and ensure consistent execution by the team.

• Direct the evaluation of production process controls and safety-related machine control systems against ISO 13849-1 performance level requirements; partner with manufacturing engineering leadership to establish documentation standards and approval workflows for safety function integrity across automated and semi-automated assembly equipment.

• Oversee EHS inspection programs, arc flash boundary compliance audits per NFPA 70E, and corrective action management; establish audit cadences, review findings, and hold the team accountable for closure of action items.

• Direct hazardous waste program management including characterization, manifest tracking, and disposal under RCRA and California Title 22; own facility waste inventory, annual reporting obligations, and agency relationships.

• Set strategy and standards for Heron Power’s chemical inventory management, SDS library, and regulatory screening for substances including epoxy potting systems, conformal coatings, thermal interface materials, and dielectric coolants; ensure team execution and program currency.

• Own BAAQMD permit compliance, TRI reporting, and Cal/OSHA chemical-specific obligations across all Heron Power facilities; serve as signatory and primary point of contact for regulatory submissions.

• Serve as the senior organizational liaison with Cal/OSHA, local fire authorities, and environmental agencies; represent Heron Power in inspections, hearings, and negotiations; maintain compliance calendars, permit registers, and agency correspondence.

• Establish and govern the manufacturing equipment safety review program; direct compliance audits against applicable 29 CFR 1910 machine guarding, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and electrical safety subparts; hold manufacturing leadership accountable for corrective action closure.

• Lead the ergonomics program across lab and manufacturing operations; direct ergonomic assessments and studies, set improvement priorities, and guide the team in implementing solutions consistent with Cal/OSHA Title 85110 and 29 CFR 1910 General Duty Clause obligations.

• Own emergency response planning and readiness across all Heron Power sites, including BESS pilot installations and high-voltage test environments; direct drills, first-responder coordination, and NFPA 855 compliance; ensure the team maintains current emergency action plans at all facilities.

• Own and oversee EHS training programs across engineering, lab, manufacturing, and field personnel; set curriculum standards covering NFPA 70E arc flash safety, hazard communication (GHS/HazCom), PPE selection, powered industrial truck (forklift) operation, aerial work platform and scissor lift safety, fall protection (29 CFR 1910.23/1926 Subpart M), CPR, and AED use; ensure training records and completion rates are maintained for all site personnel.

• Chair safety committee meetings; lead incident investigations, near-miss reviews, and root cause analyses; drive corrective and preventive action closure and report findings to senior leadership.

• Define, track, and report leading and lagging EHS metrics to the Head of Global Compliance, Safety & Technical Policy and executive leadership; use data to drive resource allocation decisions and continuous improvement across Heron Power’s 3-tier lab safety plan (R&D, NPI, Manufacturing).

What You Will Bring

• We have a focused list of requirements. We prioritize candidates who combine deep EHS technical expertise with demonstrated people leadership, the ability to influence cross-functional teams, and the drive to build a world-class safety organization in a fast-scaling hardware company.

• Must-Have Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field.

  • 7+ years of EHS experience in a manufacturing, R&D, or energy technology environment, including at least 2 years in a people-management or team-lead role.

  • Working knowledge of Cal/OSHA Title 8, 29 CFR 1910 (OSHA General Industry standards), NFPA 70E, RCRA, and California hazardous waste regulations (Title 22).

  • Experience conducting job hazard analyses, arc flash studies, and site EHS audits.

  • Proficiency with SDS management systems, waste manifest tracking, and compliance calendars.

  • Experience with hazardous waste classification, characterization, and manifest preparation under federal and California requirements.

  • Demonstrated ability to build, manage, and develop EHS teams; experience setting team goals, conducting performance reviews, and hiring EHS professionals.

  • Ability to operate at strategic and tactical levels simultaneously; comfortable setting program direction in ambiguity while also rolling up sleeves to execute in a lean, resource-constrained startup environment.

  • Highly effective communicator and cross-functional influencer; able to represent EHS priorities credibly to executives, engineers, manufacturing operators, and external regulators.

• Nice-to-Haves:

  • Experience supporting energy storage systems (BESS), high-voltage power electronics, or utility-scale electrical equipment.

  • Experience with medium-voltage (up to 34.5 kV) electrical safety, including familiarity with NFPA 70E arc flash and shock hazard boundaries, PPE selection, and safe work practices applicable to medium-voltage equipment in R&D and field environments.

  • Familiarity with NFPA 855, IEC 62368-1, UL 9540, or related energy storage and power electronics standards.

  • CSP, CHMM, or equivalent professional certification (active preferred at manager level).

  • Knowledge of BAAQMD permitting and TRI reporting obligations.

  • Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint) and EHS management software.

  • Familiarity with Cal/OSHA PSM requirements and chemical process safety at R&D scale.