Safety Specialist

Position Overview

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities, we are able to develop new products from our core technologies and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Europe and China. As a privately held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

The Safety Specialist provides functional occupational safety and health (OSH) leadership and technical expertise to the site operations team to support business needs based on compliance requirements, business risk profile, change management needs, and performance objectives. Safety Specialist supports and implements workplace safety programs through planning and tactical execution enabling the site to achieve regulatory compliance, change mindsets, influence safe behaviors of team members, and help drive safety program performance.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

• Establish networking relationships across the site and within the company that translates problems/solutions directly into business improvements.
• Become a change agent by demonstrating coaching and influencing skills for safety best practices.
• Provide recognition, evaluation, and control of physical, chemical, radiological, biological, thermal, electrical, noise, and machine safety hazards as a part of a comprehensive world class OSH program within a Multi-Employer worksite.
• Support and lead efforts to ensure OSH program, with strategies and tactical execution, that not only achieves OSH regulatory, VPP Star, NFPA, Radiation Safety, RC14001, and corporate requirements but also changes mindsets and behaviors to advance the OH&S program to world class, including the operating discipline of all personnel while onsite.
• Execute and improve the plans for industrial hygiene, ergonomics, audits and inspections, emergency response, Ascend’s critical life safety programs, machine safeguarding, radiation safety and electrical safety within our multi-employer worksite.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate leadership and influence in driving Ascend’s zero-incident safety culture through safe work practices and operator engagement.
• Manages SDS information and Hazard Communication program
• Conducts PPE, ergonomic and health risk assessments and exposure monitoring.
• Maintains job physical requirements and conducts physical assessments for the site as may be required.
• Support incident and near miss investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions and follow-up
• Provides technical expertise and consultation on pre-job planning, accident prevention, regulatory compliance, job safety analysis, hazard management, behavior modification, site safety work permitting, and auditing programs.
• Provide trend analysis from observations, incidents, near misses, audits, inspections and training.
• Create modules and deliver employee safety and health training
• Execute compliance/improvement strategies and effectiveness follow-up
• Support contractor safety program training and initiatives
• Interface with regulatory agencies
  
  

TEAM

• Reports to: ESSH Manager
• Team: Sr. Safety Engineer, Industrial Hygiene Specialist, Safety Manager (Fire Chief), and contracted medical staff.
  
  

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Safety or Engineering; or equivalent technical experience
• 2+ years safety compliance experience in manufacturing or chemical processing
  
  

DESIRED CERTIFICATIONS/ KNOWLEDGE

• Certified Safety Professional preferred
• Experience with certified OSHA VPP program preferred
• Radiation Safety Officer required within 12 months
• OSHA 30-hour General Industry Training or equivalent
• Working knowledge of American Chemistry Council Responsible Care and/or Quality Management Systems is a plus
  
  

Required Skills

• Technically proficient in all areas of occupational safety compliance, ANSI standards
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills
• Self-motivated
• Able to plan, execute and implement projects in a timely manner
• Achieve results through diverse cross-functional teams
• Proficient in computer skills and data management
  
  

Physical Requirements & Working Environment

• Willing to adjust work schedule as needed to support safety initiatives and objectives on alternate shifts
• Ability to meet all physical requirements of working in an industrial environment including ability to work in extreme temperatures, sitting, standing, walking, use of hands, climbing and use of ladders, etc.
• Lift up to 50 pounds
  
  

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

Skills Summary

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies, and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company, our people do big things and make big decisions, often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big, meaningful ways—all within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees, our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets, and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities, a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters, an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries, zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation, led by Ascend employees, supports Ascend families in times of need, provides inspiring opportunities for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable, and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesn’t only apply to the marketplace – it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E, our continuous improvement program, guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. You’ll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development, skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesn’t mean simply working quickly – it means critical thinking, creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together, with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We don’t accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments, sites and geography. This means you won’t be boxed into a single role at Ascend – you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people, our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.