Vice President Environmental, Health & Safety

Job Summary

Sun Tribe EPC (“ST EPC”) is Virginia’s premier utility scale Solar design and build firm focused on designing and constructing sub 20MW ground mounted Solar Photovoltaic (PV) facilities. The VP Environmental, Health and Safety (VP-EHS) is a key position with Sun Tribe’s EPC company (ST-EPC).  This position is a leadership role with primary responsibility over the company’s environmental, health and safety outcomes including policies and procedures that govern Sun Tribe EPC’s construction standards. Sun Tribe EPC’s construction efforts are primarily focused on the building of ground mounted and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) facilities throughout the commonwealth of Virginia and surrounding states.

The VP-EHS position reports directly to the CEO and works closely with the Vice President of Construction. This role interfaces with other key staff, including engineering, supply chain, field operations, and project management.  The ultimate goal of this position is company EHS success through safe, healthy practices and environmental stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Develops, fosters and promotes best-in-class EHS company values and culture
• Sets strategic direction and vision for the environmental, health and safety functions that aligns with company-wide objectives
• Sets environmental, health and safety goals and measure performance against goals
• Manages EHS’s interaction with the broader organization by representing EHS in leadership decision making, negotiating interdepartmental challenges, and communicating regularly back to team members relevant information regarding the company-at large and other departments
• Controls expenses and personnel decisions for the function
• Organizes workflows, establish SOPs, and assign accountability
• Continuously improves the department’s capability
• Responsible for difficult, high-risk, or complex decisions, elevating when necessary
• Support contract negotiations on all safety, employee training, and environmental provisions.
• Support business development activities by representing EHS as core values of ST-EPC including locality presentations, client presentations, RFP responses, guided site visits, key partner meetings, and industry speaking opportunities.  

• Manages and continuously improves ST EPC company-wide EHS initiatives
• Coaches and mentors members of safety committee, ST-EPC employees, and sub-contractors on safety issues
• Ensures company and job site compliance to OSHA Construction, EPA, and applicable Federal, State and local regulations, utilizing routine site visits, perpetual improvement of ST EPC EHS Program, development of site-specific safety and environmental programs, and approval of sub-contractor EHS submittals.
• Maintains current practices and standards with changing applicable Federal, State, and local regulations and positive relationships with regulatory personnel when necessary
• Develops and maintains: EHS training criteria, materials and records for all ST-EPC personnel.  Organizes and conducts all related training.
• Ensures ST-EPC and its subcontractors are fully compliant with EHS-related regulations and project Owner EHS requirements
• Maintains ultimate accountability for: 1.) Reporting on ST-EPC’s internal and third party-tracked safety metrics (OSHA 300, DART, EMR, etc.); 2.) Incident & accident investigation, (including root cause analysis) response, and follow-up; 3.) Organization and maintenance of all EHS-related documentation; 4.) Review & development of project-specific safety and environmental plans; 5.) Resource staffing of regular job-site safety inspections and onsite safety management personnel; 6.) Specification and management of STS’s safety inventory; 7.) Construction-focused regulatory SWPPP compliance and accountability
• Acts as primary interface between ST-EPC and all other external stakeholders on matters pertaining to safety, health, and the environment, to include but not limited to coordination of actions or responses with EHS regulatory personnel.
• Understand DEQ point status for each project with open VPDES permits.
• Be available to lead (or manage an acceptable alternative) any EHS incident response coordination for all construction projects. Develop and lead framework for incident/accident response
• Fosters a positive EHS environment that promotes transparency, learning, reporting and open communication
• Serves as key stakeholder for the vetting and approval of construction sub-contractors
• Maintains employee training and certification records
• Works collaboratively with workers compensation claims management to return workers to duty
• Develop and maintain the ST-EPC Environmental Management System (EMS) with a focus on continuous improvement and construction best management practices
• Lead efforts in project-specific Stormwater and Spill Prevention initiatives including project planning to support and comply with established permits.
• Develop and maintain the ST EPC industrial hygiene programs.
• Consult with other Sun Tribe business units as requested for applicable EHS issues.
• Manage RCRA and DOT needs and waste determinations and analysis. Develop protocols for lab testing as needed and coordinate with suppliers and owner stakeholders on requirements.

• Degree required: Bachelor's Degree is required, Master’s Degree preferred in Occupational Safety, Health, Environmental Management or equivalent
• A minimum 10 years’ experience in Construction Industry EHS, EHS Management, or related field is required
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), or equivalent board recognized certification is required 

• Extensive knowledge of applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards
• Proven EHS executive leadership duties and responsibilities in Construction industry  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to conduct training
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to details
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• VA DEQ erosion and sediment inspector or VA DEQ Storm water Mgmt. inspector certifications a plus
• Demonstration of company core values; Community, Safety, Perpetual Improvement, Nature, Joy, and Respect

• Must be able to traverse and inspect all areas of jobsite in all types of weather; this may include walking, climbing, reaching, bending, crawling, or stretching to conduct safety inspections
• This role will report to the Charlottesville, VA office, the ability to travel locally is required; traveling to worksites and projects as needed
• Some evening and weekend work is required
• Exposure to characteristic construction site dangers

 Review of Applications will continue until the position is filled.

If you don't check every box, don't let that stop you. We prioritize talent, passion, and drive over what looks good on paper. If you're on the fence, we encourage you to hit the apply button and highlight what draws you to Sun Tribe.

Sun Tribe provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.

Sun Tribe complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Sun Tribe has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.