The Asahi Kasei Group operates with a commitment of creating for tomorrow. Our business sectors, Material, Homes, and Health Care, contribute to the development of society by anticipating the changing needs of those around the world. We look for candidates that offer a fresh perspective and a variety of skills to help us achieve our commitment.

We are currently seeking applications to fill the following job opening at Celgard where we develop and manufacture membrane battery separators that are critical components used in lithium-ion batteries for electric drive vehicles (EDVs) and energy storage systems (ESS).

Company:

Celgard, LLC

Job Description:

ESH Manager

Celgard – Charlotte, NC

We are seeking an Environmental, Safety and Health Manager to be a part of the ES&H team based in Charlotte. This position will lead the development and coordination of Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) programs within a modern, high-tech manufacturing facility. The role is responsible for planning, evaluating, implementing, and maintaining workplace ES&H programs that are consistent with applicable regulatory and corporate requirements. The ES&H Manager coordinates with other employees and contractors with ES&H responsibilities.

This position will report to the Plant Manager with an ESH Specialist reporting to this role.

• Sincerity – Being sincere with everyone
• Challenge – Bolding taking challenges, continually seeking change
• Creativity – Creating new value through unity and synergy

• Actively participate as a valued team member of the site management team to provide ES&H leadership, guidance, and technical support.
• Influence an ES&H “Zero Harm” culture by partnering with site leadership and employees to drive a collective ownership of Environmental and Safety performance.
• Establish and manage annual ES&H expense and capital budget plans.
• Participate in the design and development of facilities, work areas, and work procedures to evaluate potential ES&H risks and make recommendations accordingly.
• Establish an effective ES&H Management System to track, assign, and verify ES&H responsibilities and integrate them into the overall business operation.
• Establish strategic plans and annual ES&H goals and objectives to improve overall ES&H programs and performance.
• Maintain change management processes to ensure proper evaluation of new products, materials, and manufacturing work processes for potential ES&H concerns.
• Oversee a program to ensure proper incident investigation and root-cause analysis of ES&H related events, including tracking and closure of identified actions.
• Develop and deploy training programs that reduce risk and maintain compliance with regulatory and company requirements.
• Lead and participate in ES&H inspections, self-assessments, and audits.
• Monitor, measure and communicate ES&H performance and trends.
• Ensure emergency management programs are developed and maintained in a state of readiness for anticipated emergencies including hazard assessments, personnel training, equipment, and alerting systems.
• Ensure programs that manage ES&H risks associated with contracted services and critical suppliers.
• Coordinate with other functions to ensure the organization successfully implements ES&H medical surveillance requirements and manages Worker’s Compensation claims.
• Develop and maintain ES&H programs consistent with applicable regulatory standards (EPA, OSHA, DOT, etc.).
• Manage and maintain compliance with applicable environmental programs (Air Quality, RCRA, CERCLA, EPCRA, and NPDES).
• Build and maintain an effective regulatory engagement system to foster positive relationships with federal, state, and local regulators.
• Maintain awareness of federal, state, and local environmental, safety, and health regulations, including potential changes that could affect the operation.
• Ensure programs for contractors and construction projects are implemented consistent with company standards, regulatory requirements, and best management practices.

Note: this description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Education Background:

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in environmental safety and health, chemistry, engineering, or the physical sciences.
• Professional environmental or safety certification (CSP, CEP, CHMM, etc.) from a nationally recognized organization is preferred.
• ISO 45001 certification is preferred.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Must have 7+ years of environmental, safety and health experience.
• Must have 3+ years of experience in manufacturing, logistics/distribution or other industrial environment with increasing responsibility; manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.
• Must have experience with direct or indirect leadership.
• Technical writing including development of technical documents, procedures, sampling plans, job hazard analysis, and training presentations is required.
• Intermediate level of knowledge using a standard Microsoft desktop application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook) is required. Experience with Visio & SharePoint is a plus.
• Must have experience creating and presenting presentations.
• Prior experience managing environmental compliance programs in the State of North Carolina is preferred.

• Prior experience with ES&H Management Systems such as ISO 14001 is preferred; must have some level of familiarity.

• Must be able to remain adaptive in a 24/7 manufacturing environment and flex the work schedule as necessary to oversee project work or engage various work shifts or respond to off-hours emergency events.

Key Attributes:

• Working in a team environment with proven decision-making and problem-solving skills is required.
• Bias for action that raises the bar on ES&H results and motivates the organization to embrace this standard of excellence is required.
• Must have demonstrated ability to establish effective workplace relationships by applying a team-player approach that contributes to the organization beyond your traditional functional duties.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences across all levels of the organization is required.
• Must be organized and detail oriented.
• Must be an open and transparent communicator on individual, team and site levels; appropriately adjusts style based on situation and employee level.
• Must be able to effectively handle difficult conversations.

Travel:

Must have the ability to travel on occasion for training or visiting other company locations (<10%).

This position is in a general office environment 80% of the time. Work will require standing and walking for up to 20% of the time, including the ability to climb ladders, walk the plant in its entirety, including platforms at elevated levels, and the ability to work for periods of time within the manufacturing environment including areas with hot or cold temperatures and areas that require the use of PPE, including use of a respirator. You may be required to lift up to 35 pounds and/or push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

Celgard manufacturing sites are IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 certified.

For more than 50 years, Celgard has proven itself as a global leader in the development and production of high-performance membrane technology. Celgard specializes in solvent-free, dry-process, microporous membranes used as separators that are a major component of lithium-ion batteries that power a broad range of electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage systems (ESS). Celgard® membrane is also used in specialty applications such as satellites and military installations as well as other barrier-type applications like technical textiles for waterproof and breathable apparel. Headquartered in the United States, we operate manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and China and have sales and technical service staff located strategically throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Celgard, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polypore International, LP, an Asahi Kasei Company. With manufacturing facilities or sales offices in nine countries serving six continents, Polypore brings advanced development and manufacturing know-how as well as unique problem-solving capabilities to customers' lithium-ion and lead-acid battery development teams. The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the material, homes, and health care business sectors. With more than 46,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. We are Creating for Tomorrow!

Charlotte, NC, known as the Queen City, is a thriving metropolitan area of over 2.6 million people across 15 counties. It is situated just north of the South Carolina border and is close enough to drive to the mountains and the beach in two-three hours. Charlotte brings diversity in people, industries and living, from urban to rural. It is ranked second among 25 largest cities for most desirable place to purchase a home by Nerdwallet.com and is ranked eighth among the top 10 big booming cities by CNNmoney.com. Charlotte is home of one of North Carolina’s largest college campuses, UNC Charlotte. Along with a friendly southern culture, Charlotte offers dining, arts, museums, major league basketball, a national football team, a soccer team, a minor league baseball team, NASCAR, shopping, festivals, a variety of amenities and quick access to several parks for people who love to get outdoors.

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As an equal opportunity employer, Asahi Kasei believes a diverse workforce will provide us with the ability to continuously support the changes in the economy, society, and environment.