Health & Safety Lead - Marine and Waterway Operations

EHS Support is a specialty environmental consulting firm that provides solutions to complex environmental, health, and safety challenges across a range of market sectors and industries. With experts located throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, we form long-lasting partnerships with our clients through a culture of excellence, innovation, work ethic, and integrity. We focus on hiring and retaining talented, motivated people who enjoy collaborating with and delivering value to our clients. Our team does more than identify problems— we provide solutions.

Location

Flexible / Remote: This is a fully remote role with required travel to domestic and international project sites, including the U.S. and Australia, as needed.

Position Overview

The Health & Safety Lead - Marine and Waterway Operations will serve as both a technical specialist and strategic leader, supporting a growing portfolio of complex over-water projects while helping to build and scale a global health and safety function.

This role is critical as we expand our work in marine and nearshore environments, where risk profiles are elevated and require specialized expertise. The Health & Safety Lead - Marine and Waterway Operations will act as the lead safety authority for over-water operations while also driving the development of global health and safety systems, programs, and culture.

Strategy & Execution:

• Develop, implement, and oversee detailed Health and Safety Plans (HASPs), Job Safety Analyses (JSAs/JHAs), and emergency response procedures specific to over-water and marine-based work.
• Serve as the senior safety authority in the field, with stop-work authority across high-risk activities conducted from vessels, barges, docks, and shoreline structures.
• Ensure safe execution of field programs involving:
• Marine and overwater sampling programs
• Vibracore and sediment coring operations
• Sediment, surface water, and tissue sample collection
• Bathymetric surveys and associated marine geophysical activities
• Coordinate over-water emergency preparedness, including man-overboard response planning, rescue equipment readiness, and drills.

Develop & Lead Global Strategy:

• Drive the creation and implementation of a global health and safety strategy, systems, and framework that scales across offices, remote teams, and field operations.

• Ensure consistency in policies, standards, and application across all regions while adapting to local regulatory requirements.

• Advise leadership on emerging risks, regulatory changes, and best practices in both general and marine-specific safety.

Train & Empower:

• Build and deliver training programs for employees, contractors, and leadership, with emphasis on over-water safety practices.

• Ensure compliance with training requirements and maintain documentation standards.

• Promote a strong, behavior-based safety culture across all levels of the organization.

Specific Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in developing, implementing, and overseeing detailed Health and Safety Plans (HASPs) for complex over-water and marine field work.

• Direct experience supporting and managing safety for:

• Marine and overwater sampling programs

• Vibracore and sediment coring operations

• Sediment, surface water, and tissue sample collection

• Bathymetric surveys and marine geophysical activities

• Strong experience managing high-risk over-water hazards, including drowning risk, vessel interface, currents, weather exposure, and unstable work surfaces.

• Proven ability to act as the lead safety authority on complex field projects, including subcontractor and marine crew oversight.

• Experience coordinating vessel safety, marine contractors, and offshore or nearshore operations (offshore oil & gas experience is highly relevant).

• Strong understanding of hazard identification, task-specific risk assessments, and integration of safety into field execution.

• 10+ years of progressive health and safety experience, including leadership in complex, multi-site or global environments.

• Experience in environmental consulting, remediation, or marine-based project work is strongly preferred.

• Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to influence teams and enforce safety standards.

Education and Licenses

• Bachelor’s or master's degree in occupational health and safety, Environmental Science, or a related field.

• First Aid / CPR / AED required.

Preferred Certifications:

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

• Marine or small-vessel safety training or certification

• Over-water rescue or emergency response training

Benefits

• Generous Vacation Policy
• Health Benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 401k w/matching options
• Short- & Long-Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Sick Time
• Bonus Opportunities

Our Principles

• Strive for excellence, always
• Be open, honest, and direct
• Assume good intentions
• Trust coworkers, leadership, and clients
• Listen to learn
• Be accountable for our work
• Foster teamwork
• Demonstrate integrity
• Take pride in one’s work
• Live your personal values
• Provide a safe and healthy work environment that promotes wellness
• Have fun!

EHS Support is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.