EHS Engineer in Asheville, North Carolina at Worksite - North Carolina

Company Overview

Who is Costa Farms? We’re one of the world’s largest horticultural growers—but without an ego to match our acreage. Our headquarters are in Miami, Florida, where we were founded in 1961. Costa Farms started on just 30 acres, and over the last 60 years, we’ve grown to more than 5,000 acres around the world. We have farms in North and South Carolina, Central and South Florida, and the Dominican Republic, plus an office in China. Costa Farms now employs nearly 6,000 people: engineers, marketers, accountants/analysts, human resources professionals, and of course, growers and plant scientists!

Here at Costa Farms, we live by the values of H3: being Humble, staying Hungry, and always Hustling. The team rallies to the mission of being a lean, green, growing machine dedicated to enriching the world by bringing plants into everyone’s life.

True to that mission, we grow more than 1,500 plant varieties. Driven by the spirit of innovation, the team is always testing new plants and developing new solutions to make it easier for retailers and plant parents to enjoy plants. We’re also continuously testing different ways of growing our plants to increase quality and improve their ecological footprint as one aspect of our many sustainability efforts.

We cultivate plants, as well as a winning culture. Join the team, and you’ll find opportunities to learn and grow. You’ll collaborate with other driven, determined people who together keep Costa Farms an industry leader. You’ll support and be supported by a team that cares about each other, our customers, our consumers, and our community.

You’ll also find right away that Costa Farms is committed to providing a diverse environment. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, military status, marital status or veteran status, or any other group status protected by federal, state, or local law.

DESCRIPTION

The Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Engineer is responsible for promoting continuous improvement in workplace safety, health, and environmental compliance. This role emphasizes mitigating workplace risks, ensuring adherence to regulations, and cultivating a safety-focused culture across the organization. The EHS Engineer offers expert guidance to both management and staff, providing technical support to ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and company EHS standards. Additionally, this role contributes to strategic planning aimed at enhancing safety efforts, reducing liabilities, and improving operational efficiency.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct environmental, health, and safety inspections to proactively identify hazards, compliance gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Identify hazards requiring formal risk assessments on an ongoing basis and ensure timely evaluation of new and existing processes.
• Perform comprehensive risk assessments, including evaluation and determination of appropriate PPE.
• Conduct audits and inspections to ensure compliance with OSHA and company standards
• Develop, implement, and maintain training programs based on risk assessments, including structured training cadence and renewal schedule.
• Ensure facilities meet all applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations
• Ensure supervisors are trained and accountable for delivering safety training to their teams.
• Monitor training compliance, deadlines, and recertification requirements.
• Create and deliver '5-Minute Huddle' safety training topics company-wide.
• Train employees on hazard identification, control, and reporting of incidents and near misses.
• Investigate incidents and lead root cause analysis (RCA) with Operations.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
• Analyze incident trends and recommend data-driven improvements.
• Evaluate and recommend solutions to mitigate risks.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Maintenance on safety improvements and compliance.
• Ensure equipment meets OSHA standards before in-house fabrication or modification.
• Assess hazards related to non-routine and emergency situations.
• Support emergency response, including witness identification and initial statements.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align safety initiatives with operations.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and local regulations.
• Analyze EHS performance data and recommend improvements.
• Stay current on regulatory changes, industry best practices, and emerging EHS technologies.
• Perform additional related duties as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional Responsibilities

• Ability to collaborate effectively with employees at all levels, promoting a culture of safety and compliance.
• Adaptable to changing priorities and evolving business needs.
• Able to work independently as well as contribute effectively within a team environment.
• Keen attention to detail with the ability to identify opportunities for operational improvements.
• Must be able to adjust schedule as needed to meet business demands, including seasonal fluctuations and working outside regular hours, such as weekends, nights, and holidays.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to gather information or provide support as needed.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess risks, develop solutions, and drive their implementation.
• Capable of handling sensitive information with discretion and maintaining confidentiality.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Safety, Occupational Safety and Health, Engineering, or a related field required.
• 3+ years of progressive experience in environmental, health, safety, or EHS engineering roles preferred
• Experience in EHS, safety programs, or industrial/environmental compliance.
• Knowledge of OSHA and environmental regulations
• Experience with engineering controls, risk assessments, and safety system implementation preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical writing skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or equivalent software.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with strong attention to detail.
• Knowledge of equipment safety, basic maintenance concepts, and electronic/control systems.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Physical Demands

• Medium Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Primarily involves sitting, with occasional requirements to stand, walk, or lift objects to a certain weight.

Work Environment:The role involves utilizing standard office equipment, such as computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, telephones, and other essential digital tools required for daily tasks.

• Office outdoors: Office-based settings may feature open environments with background noise from conversations, office equipment, and phone calls. The role may also occasionally require working outdoors in various weather conditions.

SKILLS

• Strong technical and regulatory knowledge in EHS and engineering controls.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze complex systems and recommend practical improvements.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex information to employees.
• Basic understanding of mechanical systems and components to identify and address equipment malfunctions or maintenance needs.
• Strong problem-solving skills to address and resolve issues related to machinery operation and maintenance efficiently.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Effective time management skills to complete tasks within project deadlines and maintain productivity.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment.

COMPETENCIES

• Ensures Accountability
• Decision Quality
• Plans and Aligns
• Manages Complexity
• Collaborates
• Communicates Effectively
• Problem Solving
• Optimizes Work Processes
• Technical Knowledge

All applicants must be work-authorized. Costa Farms will not sponsor any visa for this position.After applying, follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on what’s happening around Costa Farms and to start becoming part of our family. Come Grow with Us™!

Costa Farms offers competitive wages and benefits, including:

• 401(k) Plan
• Company 401(k) Matching Contributions
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, and Dependent Care
• Telemedicine/ Mental Health Services
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance (Aflac)
• Growth Opportunities
• Challenging and exciting work environment
• Costa Farms Scholarship
• Employee discounts on plants

Costa Farms headquarters also has:

• On-site gym with showers
• Subsidized on-site cafeteria, a quiet room, and indoor games
• Love Where You Work activities throughout the year