Health & Safety Sr. Manager
Kokkola, FI
About Umicore
Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.
About Battery Metals Refining
We are all on the move. Umicore’s rechargeable battery materials give people autonomy and connectivity. We are a pioneer in battery materials that give added range and performance to electric vehicles. Our materials also ensure longer battery life for portable electronics. To enable our customers to produce even better performing batteries we cannot stand still. We need to find new ways to do things, discover new solutions and develop new ideas. Which is where you come in.
Job Purpose
As the Health & Safety Manager you are responsible for developing, implementing and continuously improving the site's health and safety management. The role ensures compliance with Finnish legislation, Umicore standards and industry best practices while fostering a proactive health & safety culture that protects employees, contractors, visitors and the surrounding community.
The position acts as the site's subject matter expert for occupational health and safety and partners with operational leaders to achieve world-class safety performance.
Your Key Accountabilities
Health & Safety Strategy
- Develop and execute the site's Health & Safety strategy aligned with Umicore's sustainable development objectives.
- Drive a strong safety culture through leadership engagement, coaching and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support achievement of site and business safety KPIs and objectives.
- Lead the annual H&S improvement roadmap and ensure effective implementation.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with Finnish occupational safety legislation and Umicore EHS standards.
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments and translate requirements into site practices.
- Lead risk assessments, support incident investigations, hazard identification and control programs.
- Ensure robust management of permits, contractor safety, machine safety and high-risk activities.
Incident Prevention & Investigation
- Lead investigations of incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions.
- Ensure root-cause analysis is completed and corrective actions are implemented effectively.
- Monitor trends and proactively identify opportunities for risk reduction.
- Report safety performance and significant incidents to site and business leadership.
Operational Safety Support
- Partner with production, maintenance, engineering and project teams to ensure safety is integrated into daily operations.
- Support process safety reviews, management of change activities and capital projects.
- Participate in site audits, inspections and safety walk programs.
- Ensure appropriate emergency preparedness and response capabilities are maintained.
Training & Safety Culture
- Develop and maintain H&S training programs.
- Coach managers and supervisors in health & safety leadership.
- Facilitate health & safety campaigns, awareness programs and toolbox talks.
- Promote employee engagement through EHS committees and improvement initiatives.
Management Systems & Reporting
- Maintain site health and safety management systems and documentation.
- Track and analyze safety KPIs and performance indicators.
- Ensure readiness for internal and external audits.
- Lead continuous improvement efforts through data analysis and standardization.
Leadership Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the local H&S team.
- Set objectives in alignment with global strategy and local needs, provide coaching and support professional development.
- Influence and engage stakeholders across all organizational levels.
- Foster collaboration with Occupational Health, HR, Operations, Engineering and global EHS functions.
Who we are looking for
- Master's or Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Chemical Engineering or related discipline.
- Professional H&S qualifications are considered an advantage.
- Minimum 5–7 years of experience in Health & Safety management within manufacturing, chemical processing, metals, mining, battery materials or other high-risk industrial environments.
- Experience leading investigations, audits and risk management programs
- Experience in interaction with the authorities
- Proven experience driving safety culture transformation and continuous improvement.
- Strong leadership (accountability, courage & collaboration) and influencing skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
- Analytical and data-driven decision making.
- Ability to work effectively across functions and cultures.
- Results oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.
- Strong commitment to Umicore Values and sustainable development.
- Strong passion for EHS in the field
- Fluency in English and Finnish is required
What we offer
We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?