EHS Program Manager

Position Overview

Zero Carbon Systems seeks an experienced Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Program Manager to lead ZCS's EHS program. This role owns the company's hazardous waste program end to end, leads process safety reviews for the laboratory and R&D environment, and maintains the full library of EHS and process safety documentation. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in chemical operations and a proven record of implementing EHS best practices across a range of environments. This full-time position, based in Brighton, CO, is on-site and reports to the Director of Site Engineering.

Responsibilities Include:

EHS Program Leadership

• Serve as the lead of ZCS's EHS program, setting strategy, priorities, and standards across sites and functions.
• Develop, implement, and maintain EHS policies, procedures, and programs to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, as well as industry standards.
• Conduct regular inspections and audits of facilities, processes, and equipment to identify potential hazards, assess risks, and implement corrective actions.
• Provide guidance and support to management and employees on EHS issues including training, hazard communication, emergency response, and accident prevention.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies, industry groups, and other stakeholders on EHS matters including permitting, reporting, and compliance requirements.
• Stay current on emerging EHS trends, regulations, and best practices to continuously improve program effectiveness.

Hazardous Waste Program

• Own and manage ZCS's hazardous waste program end-to-end, including waste characterization, labeling, accumulation area management, and manifesting.
• Schedule and coordinate hazardous waste pickups with licensed disposal vendors; maintain vendor relationships and service agreements.
• Maintain complete and audit-ready hazardous waste records including manifests, land disposal restriction (LDR) forms, and biennial/annual reports as required by RCRA and state regulations.
• Set up and routinely audit material handling protocols including materials shipping/receiving and hazardous chemical inventory and disposal.
• Train employees on proper hazardous waste handling, segregation, and emergency response for spills or releases.
• Maintain SDS library and chemical inventory.

Process Safety & Documentation

• Lead company Hazard Identification (HAZID), Hazard and Operability (HAZOP), Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) activities and author or approve the resulting safety documentation.
• Lead and document Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSRs) for new and modified equipment, ensuring all action items are closed prior to startup.
• Own the full library of EHS and process safety documentation including PHAs, PSSRs, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), JHAs, permit-to-work records, and management-of-change (MOC) files.
• Support engineering design reviews (equipment selection, startup/shutdown/upset planning, operability) to ensure EHS considerations are integrated from the outset.
• Review all SOPs for accuracy and safety and confirm they are being implemented as written.
• Review and sign off on non-standard operational procedures (deviations from SOPs) and equipment maintenance; develop and administer the permit-to-work program.

Construction & Contractor Safety

• Ensure all construction and contractor plans meet industry best practices (e.g., lifting, welding, hot work, LOTO).
• Oversee contractor onboarding, safety orientation, and on-site compliance with ZCS safety requirements.

Occupational Health & Industrial Hygiene

• Identify potential health hazards, including exposure to chemicals, heat, noise, ergonomic risks, and other physical hazards.
• Conduct exposure assessments, environmental monitoring, and workplace sampling to determine employee exposure levels.
• Analyze potential health effects associated with workplace hazard exposure and recommend controls to mitigate risks.
• Develop and recommend administrative and engineering controls to minimize or eliminate hazard exposure.
• Assess the need for and effectiveness of PPE and provide guidance on its selection, use, and maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations set by OSHA and other regulatory bodies.

Incident Response & Continuous Improvement

• Investigate incidents, accidents, and near misses to determine root causes and develop prevention strategies.
• Develop emergency response plans and procedures for spills, fires, and other workplace emergencies to minimize harm to people and property.
• Develop, monitor, and maintain safe operations programs including leading and lagging performance indicators.
• Oversee and advise on EHS aspects of current technology (air and water emissions, TSCA compliance, SDS authoring, and supporting test work).

Preferred Skills:

• Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CHMM, or OSHA 30.
• Direct experience with Process Safety Management Systems (PSMS).
• Startup or early-stage company experience.
• Familiarity with carbon capture, direct air capture (DAC), or other clean energy technologies.
• VOC and air emission regulatory experience.

Physical Requirements:

• Standing, bending, and walking in and around an industrial environment.
• Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs; ability to work in confined spaces and at heights may be required.
• Regular fieldwork on experimental and operating equipment; must work safely around energized electrical systems, high-pressure equipment, and hazardous materials.
• Willingness to work flexible hours during commissioning, startup, and incident response as needed.