Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist

Location: Bayonne, New Jersey
Employment Type: Direct Hire

Position Summary

An established and busy ship repair facility is seeking an experienced Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Safety Specialist to support daily ship repair operations. This role is ideal for a safety professional with shipyard or maritime experience who is passionate about maintaining a safe working environment and ensuring compliance with OSHA, company, and customer safety standards.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Safety Manager to promote a strong safety culture throughout the shipyard, onboard vessels, and across all operational areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Safety Manager with daily safety inspections aboard vessels and throughout the shipyard facility.
• Conduct routine safety audits of vessels, dry docks, shops, and work areas to ensure compliance with all safety regulations.
• Investigate workplace incidents and accidents, prepare detailed reports, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop, coordinate, and deliver safety and health training programs for employees and subcontractors.
• Conduct annual employee safety training and orientation programs.
• Monitor compliance with company safety policies, customer contract requirements, OSHA regulations, and other applicable federal and state standards.
• Perform atmospheric testing, calibrate and operate gas monitoring equipment, interpret test results, and evaluate confined spaces for safe entry.
• Identify when additional evaluation by a Certified Marine Chemist is required.
• Complete and maintain injury, incident, and safety documentation in a timely and accurate manner.
• Partner with supervisors and project teams to proactively identify and eliminate workplace hazards.
• Promote continuous improvement through employee engagement and safety awareness initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in an Environmental Health & Safety role, preferably within a shipyard, ship repair, marine, or heavy industrial environment.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and maritime safety standards.
• Familiarity with vessel structures, shipboard compartments, and confined spaces is strongly preferred.
• Ability to perform atmospheric testing and safely evaluate workspaces.
• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Shipyard Competent Person Certification or the ability to obtain certification.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) communication skills are a plus.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with operations and management teams.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to safely perform work in an active shipyard environment, including:

• Walking long distances throughout the facility and aboard large vessels
• Climbing ladders and scaffolding
• Squatting, kneeling, bending, and standing for extended periods
• Entering and exiting confined spaces, tanks, voids, and other shipboard compartments
• Wearing all required personal protective equipment (PPE)

Work Schedule

• Rotating schedule, Monday through Sunday
• Typical hours: 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Flexibility to work additional hours as operational needs require

Compensation

• Competitive compensation based on experience and qualifications.
• Excellent opportunity to join a growing ship repair team supporting U.S. Navy and commercial vessel repair projects.