Health, Safety & Environmental Director

The HSE Director serves as the organization's senior HSE authority and principal advisor to executive leadership on occupational safety, environmental compliance, regulatory matters, risk management, and incident prevention.

The position oversees HSE operations supporting commercial shipbuilding, U.S. Navy and federal shipbuilding programs, repair activities, and associated industrial operations. Prior experience supporting naval or federal shipbuilding projects is highly desired, along with familiarity with applicable NAVSEA requirements, particularly the NAVSEA 8010 Manual. Strong working knowledge of OSHA Construction (29 CFR 1926) and Maritime/Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915) regulations is essential.

Provides overall leadership and management of the Health, Safety & Environmental Department, including departmental managers, supervisors, coordinators, specialists, training personnel, and emergency response staff.

Responsibilities include workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, professional development, departmental budgeting, and allocation of personnel and resources.

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the shipyard's comprehensive HSE programs, policies, procedures, and initiatives.
• Establish and implement HSE objectives, performance measures, and continuous improvement strategies aligned with organizational goals and operational requirements.
• Advise executive leadership and operational management on significant HSE risks, regulatory obligations, emerging safety concerns, and corrective actions.
• Promote a proactive safety culture emphasizing leadership accountability, employee engagement, hazard recognition, and incident prevention.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Human Resources, Facilities, and other departments to integrate HSE requirements into operational planning and execution.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, resources, and organizational capabilities to support current operations and future shipyard expansion.
• Ensure HSE organizational capabilities, staffing, training, and operational controls are sufficient to support expanding U.S. Navy and federal shipbuilding programs.

• Direct the development, implementation, and enforcement of occupational health and safety policies, procedures, and safe work practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA regulations, with particular emphasis on Construction Standards (29 CFR 1926) and Maritime/Shipyard Employment Standards (29 CFR 1915), including the ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements to commercial shipbuilding, naval construction, ship repair, facility construction, and other industrial activities.
• Oversee workplace inspections, hazard assessments, job safety analyses, incident investigations, and corrective action programs.
• Establish effective controls for high-risk shipyard activities, including hot work, confined and enclosed space entry, working at heights, lifting operations, hazardous energy control, and industrial equipment operations.
• Ensure appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are established, communicated, implemented, and enforced.
• Direct occupational health initiatives addressing industrial hygiene, respiratory protection, noise exposure, hazardous substances, and other workplace health hazards.
• Develop and monitor leading and lagging safety performance indicators to identify trends, evaluate program effectiveness, and drive improvements.

• Provide oversight of environmental compliance programs to ensure adherence to applicable Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), and other federal, state, and local requirements.
• Direct programs addressing hazardous waste management, air emissions, stormwater management, wastewater discharge, spill prevention, and pollution control.
• Ensure required environmental permits, inspections, monitoring activities, regulatory submissions, and reporting obligations are maintained.
• Oversee environmental audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support environmentally responsible shipyard operations through pollution prevention, resource conservation, and sustainable operating practices.

• Serve as the primary organizational representative for HSE-related regulatory inspections, investigations, inquiries, and compliance matters.
• Maintain effective working relationships with applicable regulatory agencies, industry organizations, and external stakeholders.
• Direct the development, implementation, and maintenance of HSE management systems consistent with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards.
• Oversee internal audits, management reviews, corrective actions, and certification activities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable U.S. Navy, NAVSEA, Department of Defense, and federal contracting safety and environmental requirements.
• Provide HSE oversight for naval and federal shipbuilding programs, ensuring applicable contractual safety requirements are incorporated into shipyard procedures, operational planning, and workforce training.
• Direct the implementation and oversight of applicable NAVSEA 8010 Manual requirements, including industrial ship safety, fire prevention, hot work controls, fire watch requirements, emergency preparedness, and coordination with Navy representatives.
• Maintain familiarity with applicable NAVSEA Standard Items, including Standard Item 009-07 where contractually applicable, and ensure appropriate compliance processes are established for assigned naval contracts.
• Coordinate with Navy representatives, government inspectors, program management, and production leadership regarding HSE compliance, inspections, corrective actions, and contractual requirements.
• Monitor changes in applicable legislation, regulatory standards, Navy requirements, and industry best practices, and implement necessary program updates.

• Direct the development, implementation, and maintenance of shipyard emergency preparedness and response programs.
• Oversee fire prevention, emergency response planning, evacuation procedures, incident command coordination, and emergency response training.
• Coordinate with local fire departments, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and other external emergency response organizations.
• Ensure appropriate emergency response personnel, equipment, procedures, and capabilities are maintained to support shipyard operations, including naval construction activities.
• Oversee emergency exercises, drills, and evaluations to assess preparedness and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Provide oversight of HSE training programs, including new employee orientation, regulatory training, supervisor development, and specialized safety qualifications.
• Ensure employees and subcontractors receive appropriate HSE instruction and training for their assigned responsibilities.
• Establish processes to maintain required training records, qualifications, and certifications.
• Promote workforce engagement and management accountability through safety communication, awareness initiatives, and continuous education.
• Develop the professional capabilities of HSE managers, supervisors, coordinators, and other departmental personnel.
• Ensure specialized training and qualification requirements associated with naval and federal shipbuilding contracts are identified, implemented, and maintained.

• Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development for HSE management and staff.
• Establish departmental priorities, performance expectations, work schedules, and resource allocations.
• Ensure adequate HSE support and field coverage across shipyard operations, shifts, and work locations.
• Support new construction programs, naval projects, facility expansion, and operational changes through appropriate HSE planning and risk assessments.
• Prepare and present HSE performance reports, management briefings, and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to develop and execute comprehensive HSE strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
• Regulatory Expertise: Strong working knowledge of OSHA Construction (29 CFR 1926), Maritime/Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915), environmental regulations, and applicable federal shipbuilding requirements.
• Naval Shipbuilding Compliance: Demonstrated understanding of NAVSEA safety requirements, particularly NAVSEA 8010, including fire prevention, hot work management, and applicable contractual safety obligations.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all organizational levels and with government representatives.
• Decision-Making: Sound judgment and the ability to make timely, risk-based decisions in complex industrial environments.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical, investigative, and root cause analysis capabilities.
• Leadership and Accountability: Ability to establish expectations, develop personnel, and promote consistent compliance with HSE requirements.
• Conflict Resolution: Ability to address competing operational priorities while maintaining regulatory compliance and safety standards.
• Organizational Management: Strong planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and project management capabilities.
• Adaptability: Ability to respond effectively to changing operational demands and emerging risks.
• Professional Integrity: Demonstrated commitment to ethical conduct, regulatory compliance, and employee well-being.

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in occupational health, safety, and environmental (HSE) management, preferably within shipbuilding, ship repair, maritime, heavy manufacturing, construction, or similarly complex industrial environments.
• Minimum of 7 years of demonstrated HSE management or leadership experience, including responsibility for supervising HSE personnel, directing comprehensive safety and environmental programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting operational leadership.
• Experience supporting commercial shipbuilding, naval or federal shipbuilding programs, or other highly regulated industrial operations is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated professional experience supporting U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, or federal shipbuilding, ship repair, or maritime construction programs is required.
• Strong working knowledge and demonstrated practical application of OSHA Construction Standards (29 CFR 1926) and OSHA Maritime/Shipyard Employment Standards (29 CFR 1915) is required.
• Strong working knowledge of NAVSEA 8010 requirements, including industrial ship safety, fire prevention, hot work management, fire watch requirements, and associated operational controls.
• Familiarity with applicable NAVSEA Standard Items, federal contracting requirements, and Navy-specific safety and environmental compliance obligations.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and managing comprehensive HSE programs within heavy industrial, maritime, or construction environments.
• Working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
• Experience managing departmental personnel, budgets, and organizational resources.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and related business reporting tools.

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification is highly preferred. Other recognized professional certifications, such as Safety Management Specialist (SMS), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or equivalent credentials, will also be given strong consideration.
• Direct HSE leadership experience within a major U.S. shipyard performing naval construction or repair.
• Experience coordinating with NAVSEA, Navy program offices, government inspectors, and federal contracting representatives.
• Experience implementing or maintaining ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 management systems.
• Experience leading HSE programs in a large, multi-shift industrial workforce.
• Familiarity with industrial hygiene, environmental permitting, emergency response management, and workers’ compensation administration.

The position operates in both office and active shipyard environments.

Workplace exposures may include industrial noise, temperature extremes, vibration, dust, welding fumes, smoke, hazardous materials, and other conditions commonly associated with heavy industrial operations.

Duties may require working outdoors in varying weather conditions and accessing vessels, dry docks, fabrication shops, production facilities, and other industrial work areas.

Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn in designated areas.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard is a tobacco-free facility.

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

The position may require prolonged walking or standing, climbing stairs and ladders, bending, stooping, accessing vessels and elevated work areas, and navigating uneven industrial surfaces.

The employee must be able to safely access operational areas of the shipyard and perform necessary inspections and evaluations.

Employment may be contingent upon successfully completing applicable job-related medical evaluations consistent with company policy and applicable law.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

This is a full-time, exempt, safety-sensitive management position.

The position generally follows a regular business schedule; however, flexibility is required to support shipyard production schedules, multiple shifts, weekend operations, emergencies, and other operational requirements.

Occasional travel may be required for company business, regulatory matters, professional development, and industry-related activities.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications.

Duties, responsibilities, and work assignments may be modified at any time based on organizational and operational requirements.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard is committed to equal opportunity for all applicants.  The recruitment, selection, employment and training of employees during employment, shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, gender or age-except that the applicant must meet the minimum age requirement.  Hanwha Philly Shipyard does not, and will not, discriminate because of the disability of such individual.