Senior EHS Manager

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms. JOB OVERVIEW The Senior EHS Manager is a hands-on people leader responsible for building, scaling, and implementing Environmental, Health & Safety programs across Saronic shipyards and maritime operations. Operating in a startup and high-growth environment, this role balances day-to-day execution with program development, team leadership, and change management. The EHS Manager partners closely with operations, engineering, and leadership to establish scalable EHS systems that support rapid growth while maintaining regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and promoting a culture of learning and operational excellence. RESPONSIBILITIES - People Leadership & Team Development · Lead, mentor, and develop a growing EHS team in a fast-paced, evolving organization · Hire, onboard, and train EHS team members as the company scales · Set clear priorities, performance expectations, and development plans for direct reports · Foster accountability, adaptability, and ownership within the EHS team · Drive a proactive and HOP-based EHS culture in a rapidly changing organization · Support organizational change as processes, teams, and facilities evolve · Provide strategic people management, including hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and succession planning. · Mentor and develop direct reports through regular coaching, goal setting, and career development discussions. · Drive employee engagement and retention through effective leadership and clear communication. Program Development & Scaling · Lead EHS team initiatives and responsibilities including regulatory reports, inspections, or information requests; internal audits; emergency drills; management system improvements; and program development and assessments · Build and implement EHS programs, policies, and procedures suitable for a startup and scalable to future operations · Establish foundational EHS management systems for shipyard and vessel testing environments · Adapt EHS programs to support new yards, test sites, vessels, and operational profiles · Balance operational speed of execution with risk management and regulatory requirements · Ensure environmental programs scale with increased testing and yard activity · Drive a proactive safety culture in high-risk maritime environments · Support organizational change as shipyard operations, vessel capabilities, and test complexity evolve Shipyard and Vessel Maintenance, Repair, and Operations EHS · Oversee EHS programs supporting shipyard activities such as fabrication, welding, blasting, coating, electrical work, rigging, and heavy equipment operations · Ensure safe practices for dry dock, pier-side, and yard-based work · Manage high-risk activities including hot work, confined spaces, working at heights, lifting operations, and contractor safety · Ensure that environmental compliance programs are established and maintained including hazardous waste, stormwater, air emissions, chemical management, and spill prevention · Partner with operations and engineering to embed safety into yard layout, work planning, and equipment selection Partner with engineering and operations to embed safety-by-design into equipment, facilities, and vessel design · Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable marine safety standards for vessels under 60 ft (e.g., USCG, ISM as applicable) Vessel Testing & On-Water Operations · Develop and enforce EHS procedures for vessel commissioning, dock trials, sea trials, and operational testing · Ensure safe launch, recovery, mooring, and towing operations · Support safe execution of test plans involving propulsion, electrical systems, autonomy, and mission equipment · Coordinate emergency response readiness for on-water testing activities Compliance, Risk & Incident Management · Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, USCG, ISM, and state/local regulations · Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action implementation · Prepare for and support regulatory inspections and audits · Identify emerging risks associated with growth and operational change · Stay current on emerging EHS regulations, trends, and best practices, and communicate relevant updates to stakeholders within the organization. · Develop individual and team objectives and key results and track progress towards completion. QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety, environmental science, engineering, public health, or a related field; professional certification (e.g., ASP, CSP, CIH, CHMM) preferred. - 7+ years of experience in EHS, preferably in boat building, aerospace, or general manufacturing or industrial environments. - Experience leading, coaching, developing team members to achieve individual and organizational goals. Preferred Skills and Experience · 7+ years working on or with industrial hygiene, exposure assessments, indoor air quality, ventilation. · Thorough understanding of federal, state, and local EHS regulations, including OSHA, EPA/TCEQ, DOT, USCG requirements and marine safety practices applicable to small vessels · Experience building, scaling, or formalizing EHS programs in startup, scale-up, or rapidly growing manufacturing organizations · Demonstrated success leading and developing EHS teams, including hiring, onboarding, and coaching in evolving environments · Hands-on experience supporting complex manufacturing operations (e.g., welding, composites, machining, electrical systems, testing, and integration) · Experience supporting marine or maritime operations, including vessel launch/recovery, sea trials, dockside work, or field operations (under 60 ft) · Experience integrating EHS into engineering and operational decision-making, including safety-by-design and design-for-manufacturability considerations · Strong background in incident investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective action management in fast-paced environments · Experience managing environmental compliance programs such as hazardous waste, stormwater, chemical management, and spill prevention (SPCC) · Familiarity with regulatory inspections, audits, and permitting at the federal, state, and local levels · Ability to establish and track leading and lagging EHS metrics to support data-driven decision-making · Experience driving safety culture initiatives during periods of organizational change · Strong communication skills with the ability to influence frontline employees through executive leadership · Comfortable operating with limited structure, balancing urgency, risk, and business objectives PHYSICAL DEMANDS - Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer - Occasional standing and walking within the office - Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment - Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports - Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies - Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages) BENEFITS Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office Saronic CCPA Notice for Candidates and California Employees https://saronic-assets-public.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Saronic%20CCPA%20Notice%20for%20Candidates%20and%20California%20Employees.pdf If this role is based in the United States, it requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/8/1324b. Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.