HSE Specialist

Inovata Foods Corp. • Tillsonburg, Ontario

Inovata Foods isn’t your average food manufacturing company. We offer the stability of a large company with the feel of a small family business. As a major producer of wholesome, convenient frozen meals for North America’s largest retailers, we’re proud of the environment we’ve built — and we’re committed to keeping it safe.

Inovata Foods Corp. is looking for an HSE Specialist to help us build, strengthen, and lead a proactive safety culture across our Tillsonburg facility. This is a technical role for someone who understands that safety systems are only as good as the people behind them and who thrives on coaching, collaboration, and measurable improvement.

Position Details

• Vacancy Type: New Position
• Shift: Flexible / Varied
• Pay Range: $60,000 – $85,000 annually

A Typical Day

No two days look the same in this role, and that’s part of what makes it interesting. You might start your morning with a floor walk, connecting with supervisors, identifying potential hazards, and following up on outstanding corrective actions. From there, you could investigate an incident from the previous shift, update a safe work procedure following a near miss, or collaborate with the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) to address inspection findings.

Your day may also include preparing health and safety metrics for leadership, tracking injury trends and action items, and coaching supervisors on hazard assessments for new equipment or processes. Throughout it all, you’ll work closely with employees and leaders to strengthen safety practices, build accountability, and foster a proactive health and safety culture.

Primary Responsibilities

HSE Systems Development

• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized HSE policies, procedures, and documentation for a food manufacturing environment
• Establish consistent processes for hazard identification, risk assessment, inspections, incident reporting, and corrective action management
• Maintain job hazard assessments, safe work procedures, and risk control documentation across all operational areas
• Maintain a structured HSE management system and identify gaps with prioritized improvement plans

Leadership & Operational Support

• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, and department leaders to integrate safety into daily planning and performance management
• Coach supervisors and managers on hazard identification, incident prevention, and corrective actions
• Conduct floor observations, safety walks, and operational reviews to assess control effectiveness
• Provide technical advice on machine guarding, lockout/LOUT, ergonomics, chemical handling, and equipment safety
• Escalate significant or unresolved safety risks to the HR & HSE Manager and operational leadership

Risk Assessment, Inspections & Prevention

• Develop and maintain a risk-based schedule of workplace inspections, departmental audits, and hazard assessments
• Analyze inspection results, near misses, and incident trends to prioritize prevention efforts
• Support the JHSC in completing inspections, reviewing concerns, and tracking recommendations to resolution
• Apply the hierarchy of controls, prioritizing engineering and process controls over PPE alone

Incident Investigation & Corrective Action

• Lead or support investigations involving workplace injuries, near misses, and significant safety events
• Apply root cause analysis methods and develop corrective/preventive actions that address underlying factors
• Track investigation findings to ensure timely implementation and share lessons learned across departments

Legislative Compliance & HSE Reporting

• Monitor applicable Ontario OHS legislation and regulatory requirements; maintain a compliance register
• Maintain oversight of HSE performance reporting including incident frequency, near misses, and corrective actions
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, and documentation; partner with HR & HSE Coordinator on WSIB matters

Training, Communication & Safety Culture

• Identify HSE training requirements and partner with the Training & Development Specialist on training matrices and refresher schedules
• Develop safety training materials, toolbox talks, and job aids; support new-hire safety integration
• Promote a culture where hazards are reported promptly and leaders demonstrate visible safety ownership
• Other related duties as assigned

Rewards

• Full medical, dental, and disability insurance package available on date of hire
• Deferred Profit Sharing Plan with Desjardins after 1 year
• Three weeks vacation to start and five sick days per year

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, or a related field — or equivalent experience
• 3–5 years of progressive HSE experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Strong working knowledge of Ontario occupational health and safety legislation
• Demonstrated experience with risk assessments, incident investigation, root cause analysis, audits, and corrective action management
• Experience advising operational leaders and influencing safe work practices across multiple departments or shifts
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills; excellent written and verbal communication
• High emotional intelligence and ability to build trust, coach leaders, and engage employees constructively
• WHMIS 2015 certified (or willing to obtain); CRSP, CRST, or equivalent OHS credential preferred
• Experience in food manufacturing, machinery safety, WSIB processes, or COR certification is an asset

Working Conditions

This role combines a general office environment with regular exposure to manufacturing, sanitation, warehouse, and maintenance areas, which may be cold, wet, noisy, or otherwise demanding. Flexibility to attend different shifts and operational areas is required. Adherence to food safety, hygiene, and PPE requirements applies throughout.

Our Commitment

Inovata Foods Corp. is an inclusive employer. If selected for an interview, please advise our Human Resources Department if you require any accommodation during the interview and assessment process, and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs. Inovata Foods may use artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled tools to support certain aspects of the hiring process. AI is not used as the sole decision-maker, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified Inovata Foods team members.