Regional SHER Manager

The
Regional SHER Manager
is responsible for overseeing the SHER programs across three manufacturing plants within a designated region. This role ensures that the plants comply with all local and national SHER regulations, best practices and internal company policies. The manager will lead efforts in improving safety performance, environmental sustainability, health programs and mitigating operational risks.

Key Reponsibilities

Strategy

• Contribute to the development of the Divisional SHER strategy
• Drive the implementation of the Divisional SHER strategy at plant level

Safety

• Develop, implement and enforce SHER policies and programs across all plants.
• Conduct regular safety audits, inspections and risk assessments to identify hazards.
• Lead root cause analysis and investigations into accidents, incidents and near misses.
• Oversee SHER training programs to ensure all employees are trained in risk management and emergency procedures.
• Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring that safety is integrated into daily operations.
• Lead Safety audits and maintain certification for the Health and Safety management systems (e.g., ISO

Health

• Implement and manage workplace health initiatives, including wellness programs and occupational health screenings.
• Monitor and ensure the workplace complies with health-related regulations (e.g., air quality, noise levels, ergonomics).
• Address health and well-being concerns, such as mental health support and physical health programs for employees.

Environmental

• Ensure compliance with local and global environmental regulations and standards (e.g., waste disposal, emissions, energy consumption).
• Drive environmental sustainability initiatives such as waste reduction, recycling programs, and energy efficiency.
• Lead environmental audits and maintain certification for environmental management systems (e.g., ISO

Risk

• Manage access to the plant (access control) to eliminate theft as per Plant Procedure and Security Site Instruction
• Oversee the planning and coordination of the certification processes of ISO14001, and ISO45001
• Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate operational risks across all plants.
• Oversee the preparation and review of risk assessments for new projects, processes and equipment.
• Ensure the development of emergency response and business continuity plans for each site.
• Maintain accurate records of risk mitigation activities, including incident reports, corrective actions, and preventive measures.

Compliance & Reporting:

• Ensure compliance with local, provincial and national SHER regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, ISO standards).
• Prepare and deliver SHER performance reports for senior management, highlighting key issues and trends.
• Lead internal and external audits and ensure plants are audit-ready for SHER-related inspections.
• Monitor KPIs and ensure continuous improvement in SHER performance across the plants.

Training & Development:

• Develop and implement SHER training programs tailored to each plant's needs, ensuring employees understand their responsibilities for safety, health and environmental compliance.
• Provide leadership and support to plant SHER Officers and SHER Administrators
• Foster a culture of proactive safety engagement, ensuring staff at all levels are empowered to report hazards and suggest improvements.

Emergency Preparedness:

• Lead the development and periodic review of emergency response and evacuation plans.
• Conduct regular emergency drills and safety exercises to ensure plant readiness for potential incidents.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement:

• Collaborate with plant leadership to align SHER goals with overall business objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts across SHER metrics, reducing risk, injury and environmental impact.
• Share best practices and lessons learned across the three plants to standardize and improve SHER performance.

Lead the team

• Lead and manage the SHER teams across the three sites
• Manage and quality assure team deliverables
• Review skill set of team, identify training needs with members and facilitate the necessary training
• Resource the team and recruit when required, manage individual performance of team members and apply all relevant Human Capital practices to ensure an engaged and focused team
• Drive Talent Management and succession planning
• Facilitate the skills transfer in the team to build capabilities within the team

Requirements

Qualifications

• B-Tech in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant certifications
• SAMTRAC/ NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent occupational SHER training advantageous.

Job Related Experience Required (and time span)

• Minimum 5-7 years of SHER experience, ideally within the FMCG or manufacturing sector, including multi-site or regional responsibility.

Job Related Knowledge

• Strong understanding of SHER regulations, industry standards and best practices. Experience with risk management, environmental compliance, and safety audits.

Job Related Skills

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence and engage employees at all levels.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data and trends to drive improvements.
• Proficient in SHER management software and reporting tools

Regulatory Requirements

• Registration to a SHER regulatory body

Additional Job Requirements

Regular travel to the three plant locations is required.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and solution-oriented with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
• Strong attention to detail, especially in compliance and risk management.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities across multiple sites.
• Committed to fostering a culture of safety and well-being in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.