EHS Specialist in Dayton, Tennessee at Nokian Tyres

The Occupational Health & Safety Specialist supports the execution, continual improvement, and daily operational effectiveness of the site Environmental, Health & Safety management system within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role serves as a highly visible technical and operational resource to supervisors, managers, and employees, with a strong focus on proactive risk reduction, regulatory compliance, operational engagement, and development of a positive safety culture.

The position is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and professional judgment. The successful candidate must be capable of independently identifying priorities, building relationships across departments, influencing operational decision-making, and driving EHS initiatives with limited day-to-day direction.

This role requires a strong field presence and close partnership with manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, and leadership teams to identify and reduce risk, improve operational discipline, strengthen organizational learning from events, and support the site’s long-term EHS strategy.

The role also serves as a key coordinator for occupational injury management and workers’ compensation administration, helping ensure effective case management, regulatory compliance, timely communication, early return-to-work coordination, and reduction of overall organizational risk and cost.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a visible and engaged EHS presence within manufacturing operations, providing day-to-day support, coaching, and technical guidance to employees, supervisors, and managers.
• Identify, evaluate, and help reduce operational risk exposures, with emphasis on serious injury and fatality (SIF) prevention and critical risk management.
• Lead and support incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action development with a focus on organizational learning and sustainable improvement.
• Develop, coordinate, and facilitate EHS training programs related to regulatory compliance, critical safety procedures, and operational risk reduction.
• Support and improve employee participation initiatives including the KETO® safety observation and engagement process.
• Conduct field assessments, inspections, audits, and risk evaluations to identify gaps, verify effectiveness of controls, and drive timely corrective actions.
• Partner with supervisors and operational leaders to strengthen hazard recognition, risk ownership, and safety leadership capabilities within their departments.
• Provide technical guidance regarding OSHA/TOSHA requirements and applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations and standards.
• Support contractor safety oversight and ensure external service providers comply with site EHS expectations.
• Participate in emergency preparedness and response activities, including injury response, spill response, and incident coordination.
• Coordinate and help manage workers’ compensation cases, including injury documentation, case tracking, communication with medical providers and insurance representatives, return-to-work coordination, and follow-up activities.
• Maintain OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping requirements, including accurate management of OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 logs, case classification determinations, and associated regulatory reporting obligations.
• Partner with HR, supervisors, and medical providers to support effective occupational injury management and transitional duty processes.
• Analyze injury and claims data to identify trends, recurring exposures, and opportunities for operational improvement and injury prevention.
• Support ergonomic evaluations, physical demands considerations, and other occupational health initiatives intended to reduce injury risk.
• Support implementation and continual improvement of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management systems.
• Maintain accurate and compliant EHS records, documentation, and reporting systems.
• Support sustainability initiatives, environmental stewardship efforts, and waste reduction programs.
• Interface with external agencies, vendors, contractors, consultants, and auditors as needed.
• Assist with development and implementation of EHS policies, standards, procedures, and site initiatives.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 7+ years of EHS experience within manufacturing, industrial, or high-risk operations preferred.
• Experience supporting occupational injury management, workers’ compensation administration, or return-to-work processes within an industrial or manufacturing environment preferred.
• Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Graduate Safety Professional (GSP), or Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credentials preferred.
• Working knowledge of OSHA/TOSHA regulations required; familiarity with EPA/TDEC regulations, ANSI standards, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 management systems preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and drive initiatives with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal, coaching, and communication skills with the ability to influence all levels of the organization.
• Ability to build credibility and effective working relationships across operational and leadership teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and EHS-related systems.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Nokian Tyres will not provide visa sponsorship.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Operates in both office and manufacturing environments, including periodic outdoor exposure.
• Requires routine presence within active manufacturing areas.
• Must be able to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb stairs and ladders, and traverse varying industrial surfaces including expanded metal flooring.
• Occasionally required to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds.
• Must be capable of wearing required personal protective equipment and working safely within an industrial manufacturing environment.

This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Nokian Tyres is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other status protected by law.