Global SHES Manager - Chemical

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Job Summary

The Global SHES Manager – Chemicals is the technical authority and driving force behind the implementation of Process Safety Management (PSM) across Austin Powder. The position leads the deployment, standardization, and continuous improvement of process safety across the company's chemical manufacturing footprint, ensuring that hazardous processes are designed, operated, maintained, and changed under a disciplined management system that protects people, assets, communities, and the environment.

The position provides global SHES support to the ammonium nitrate (AN), ammonia, and nitric acid plants, and extends that support to explosives and emulsion plants whenever the subject matter touches any of the fourteen OSHA PSM elements. The Manager is expected to set the standard, challenge the status quo, and lead technical decisions with authority rather than wait for direction.
This role requires demonstrated mastery of process safety in chemical operations and the credibility to influence plant managers, engineers, and executives across multiple countries and regulatory regimes.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

This position reports directly to the Global Director of Safety, Health, Environment and Security, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the President of Manufacturing. The Manager works closely with plant managers, process and project engineering, operations leadership, and regional and local SHES managers worldwide.

PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT (PSM)

• Own and drive the global PSM program across all sites handling highly hazardous chemicals, covering the fourteen OSHA PSM elements and their international equivalents.
• Establish, implement, and sustain the corporate PSM standard, defining minimum requirements, roles, timelines, and verification methods for every covered process.
• Drives the building  and maintenance of Process Safety Information (PSI): chemical hazard data, process technology, block flow and process flow diagrams, P&IDs, design codes and standards, relief system design basis, electrical classification, ventilation, and safe operating limits.
• Lead, facilitate, and quality-assure Process Hazard Analyses (PHA) using HAZOP, What-If, FMEA, LOPA, and bow-tie methodologies, and drive closure of recommendations to completion rather than to acknowledgement.
• Direct the Management of Change (MOC) and Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) processes for chemical assets, ensuring no change reaches startup without documented technical review.
• Lead the definition of requirements for mechanical integrity programs, including inspection, testing, and preventive maintenance of critical equipment, instrumented protective systems, and relief devices.
• Overview operating procedures, safe work practices, hot work controls, contractor management, and employee participation requirements consistent with PSM expectations.
• Drive and support process safety incident investigations, including root cause analysis of loss-of-containment events, near misses, and high-potential occurrences, and ensure learnings are shared globally.
• Conduct and drive PSM compliance audits and technical assessments at AN, ammonia, nitric acid, explosives, and emulsion plants, verifying corrective action effectiveness rather than completion alone.
• Lead compliance with REGAGEPS and applicable regional process safety and major accident hazard regulations, advising leadership on their operational impact.
• Define and track leading and lagging process safety metrics, reporting performance and program maturity to senior leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as global SHES technical reference for the AN, ammonia, and nitric acid plants, , and for explosives and emulsion plants on process safety matters.
• Support new plant projects, expansions, and modifications from concept through commissioning, embedding inherently safer design and process safety requirements at the earliest stage.
• Develop and deliver technical training that raises process safety competence among operators, technicians, engineers, and site leadership.
• Drive SHES data collection, analysis, and reporting for chemical operations, and maintain process safety content within the corporate EHS software platform.
• Participate actively in corporate SHES governance forums, including Safety Focus Meetings, and represent process safety in operational and capital decision-making.
• Interface with regulators, insurers, auditors, and external technical bodies on process safety matters affecting the chemical plants.
• Demonstrate strong leadership in a cross-functional, multicultural environment, influencing without direct authority and holding sites accountable to corporate standards.

SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT

• Integrate process safety with occupational safety and health requirements at chemical sites, ensuring both are managed within one coherent safety management system.
• Support risk assessments, hazard studies, industrial hygiene evaluations, and emergency response planning for chemical exposure, ammonia release, and nitric acid handling scenarios.
• Monitor key performance metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and recommend improvement plans, hazard controls, training, and equipment standards.
• Remain current on industry regulations and technical standards, advising management of changes and their operational impact.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

• Support the implementation of corporate environmental standards and KPIs at chemical manufacturing sites, with particular attention to emissions, effluents, and nitrogen-based process streams.
• Ensure environmental risks arising from process deviations, loss of containment, and abnormal operation are identified within hazard studies and adequately controlled.
• Support corporate sustainability initiatives and promote good environmental practice across the chemical plant network.

SECURITY

• Support the implementation of the company's Security Policy at chemical sites, including control of precursor and regulated chemicals.
• Assist in developing security standards and KPIs applicable to chemical manufacturing, storage, and transport.
• Support the reporting and analysis of security incidents and promote good security practice across the organization.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemistry, Safety Engineering, or a related technical field required; Master's degree or specialized process safety certification a strong plus.
• Minimum of ten years of experience in process safety, SHES, or process engineering within chemical manufacturing, with direct exposure to ammonia, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, or comparable high-hazard processes. This is not an entry-level position.
• Expert working knowledge of the fourteen OSHA PSM elements (29 CFR 1910.119) and demonstrated experience implementing them in an operating plant environment.
• Deep, hands-on command of Process Safety Information (PSI) development and control, and of Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) as a facilitator, not only as a participant.
• Practical knowledge of REGAGEPS requirements and experience applying them at operating chemical facilities.
• Proven experience with HAZOP, What-If, LOPA, FMEA, root cause analysis, MOC, PSSR, and mechanical integrity programs.
• Self-directed leadership: a professional who sets the agenda, drives implementation, and closes gaps without needing to be managed toward the result.
• Ability to influence across organizational and geographic boundaries, including experience supporting remote and multicultural teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical risk to operators, engineers, and executives with equal clarity.
• Proficiency in English required; Spanish is a strong advantage given the plant footprint.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and with EHS management software platforms; familiarity with process safety and risk modeling tools a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities across time zones.
• Ability to work in plant and field environments, including elevated structures, confined spaces, and areas requiring respiratory protection.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time, including extended stays at plant sites during hazard studies, commissioning activities, audits, and incident investigations. A valid passport and the ability to obtain the required visas are essential.

OTHER DUTIES

Perform other duties as assigned to support the company's SHES and process safety objectives.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify.

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.