Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist

The Legends Agency • Full-time • Cape Town • 1w ago

Introduction

A leading FMCG manufacturing business is seeking a highly driven EHS Specialist to take full ownership of environmental, health, and safety compliance at a high-volume production facility. This is a hands-on, operational role suited to a resilient, action-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced plant environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for driving EHS strategy, ensuring legal compliance, improving safety culture, and partnering cross-functionally to maintain best-in-class safety and environmental standards.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Lead and drive all Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) activities on site
Ensure full compliance with South African legislation, internal policies, and global standards
Develop, implement, and continuously improve EHS systems, policies, and procedures
Conduct internal audits and prepare for external/global audits, ensuring corrective actions are implemented
Monitor and report on plant safety performance and environmental impact
Lead incident investigations, identify root causes, and implement preventative measures
Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to safety, sustainability, and cost efficiency
Collaborate with Production, Engineering, HR, and Finance teams
Manage employer liability claims and liaise with insurers
Identify training needs and partner with HR to implement EHS training programmes
Implement and maintain ISO standards (e.g. ISO 14001)
Oversee medical surveillance programmes with occupational health practitioners
Manage site safety systems including breathalyser controls and risk mitigation processes
Support the Plant Manager with broader operational requirements

Candidate Profile (Critical Success Factors)

The ideal candidate must demonstrate:

Proactive mindset – identifies risks and acts without being prompted
Strong bias for action – delivers tasks fully and on time
Firm but fair approach – able to enforce standards while maintaining credibility
Practical problem-solving ability – makes quick, sound decisions in a production environment
Resilience – able to handle pressure, pushback, and difficult conversations
High accountability – hands-on, reliable, and present on the factory floor
Cross-functional collaboration – able to influence multiple departments
Commercial awareness – able to manage budgets and work with finance

Desired Experience & Qualification

Minimum Requirements

NQF Level 6 qualification in a technical field plus EHS certification, or
National Diploma in Health & Safety (or equivalent)
Minimum 5 years’ experience in food manufacturing / FMCG environment
Strong knowledge of:
- GMP, HACCP, Food Safety standards
- EHS legislation (South Africa)
- SOPs, pest control, and production environments
Experience with SAP and MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Proven ability to identify and mitigate safety and environmental risks