EHS Manager - Paints and Coatings sector

Axalta has remained at the forefront of the coatings industry by continually investing in innovative solutions. We engineer technologies that protect customers’ products – whether they are battling heat, light, corrosion, abrasion, moisture, or chemicals – and add dimension and beauty with colourful finishes. We have a vast and ever-evolving portfolio of brands primed to play an important part in everything from modernizing infrastructure around the world to enabling the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.

We are currently looking for an EHS Manager to join us at our facility in Darlington. This is a strategic role for someone who wants to lead, influence, and continuously improve EHS and operational standards across the site.

As the EHS Manager, you will act as the site’s Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) expert, responsible for developing, implementing, and improving all EHS activities. You will ensure full compliance with UK legislation, Axalta corporate requirements, and international standards such as ISO 9001 and RC14001.

You will be the key liaison between the Darlington site, the EMEA EHS organisation, and Axalta’s Corporate EHS teams. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a hands‐on operational environment, enjoys leading change, and is passionate about building a strong safety culture.

Key responsibilities:

• EHS Leadership & Culture
  • Lead the site’s EHS strategy and ensure alignment with Axalta’s corporate objectives.
  • Promote a proactive, positive safety culture through leadership and employee engagement.
  • Act as the site’s competent person for all EHS matters.
  • Embed EHS accountability across all functions and operational decisions.
• Regulatory Compliance & Management Systems
  • Ensure compliance with all UK environmental, health, safety, and occupational hygiene legislation.
  • Maintain RC14001 certification and support integration with ISO 9001.
  • Lead audits, inspections, and regulatory visits.
  • Manage permits, licences, and regulatory submissions.
  • Maintain and update EHS procedures, standards, and documentation.
• Risk Management & Process Safety
  • Lead risk assessments across all operational activities.
  • Oversee COSHH, environmental impact, manual handling, contractor, process safety, and fire risk assessments.
  • Implement effective hazard identification and risk reduction measures.
  • Ensure EHS risks are addressed in all project phases and Management of Change (MoC) processes.
• Incident Investigation & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead investigations into accidents, near misses, and environmental events.
  • Apply root cause analysis and ensure timely corrective actions.
  • Track incident trends and identify improvement opportunities.
  • Share lessons learned across the organisation.
• Environmental Performance & Sustainability
  • Drive initiatives to reduce energy, water, waste, and emissions.
  • Develop environmental KPIs and improvement plans.
  • Ensure compliant waste management and support Axalta’s sustainability goals.
• PPE & Occupational Safety
• Training & Competency Development
• Contractor & Visitor Management
• Authority & Budget Management

Key requirements:

• Degree in EHS, Engineering, Environmental Science, or related field.
• NEBOSH Diploma, NVQ Level 6, or equivalent required.
• CMIOSH preferred.
• Experience in manufacturing or chemical environments.
• Strong knowledge of UK EHS legislation and RC14001.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and EHS reporting systems.