Senior Environmental Health Safety Specialist

At Quaker Houghton, we are experts in the development, production and application of industrial process fluids, lubricants and coatings for the manufacturing industry. We have been an integral part in the growth of the world’s largest industrial and manufacturing companies from aerospace and automotive to primary metal and energy. Today, we have a global presence, with our corporate headquarters located in Conshohocken, PA.

Quaker

Houghton is a global publicly traded company with a unique collaborative culture that supports career growth for its colleagues and offers competitive compensation and benefit programs.

About the Job

We have a great opportunity to join our team in Barcelona as the EHS lead for our Barberà del Vallès site. In this role, you’ll partner directly with our production teams, lab, and office staff to strengthen our safety culture and drive continuous improvement. You’ll play a key part in implementing EHS standards, supporting sustainability initiatives, and contributing to Europe‑wide projects that shape how we work.

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a real impact, grow your expertise, and help create a safer, more innovative workplace, we’d love to connect with you. Safety is the core of our culture.

What will you do ?

You will be the SME for Environmental, Health & Safety programs and systems at the Barberà del Vallès site and you will:

• Lead EHS Program Implementation: Support and manage corporate EHS programs, software systems, and online training platforms.
• Drive Incident & Risk Management: Conduct and participate in incident and near‑miss investigations, identify root causes, ensure corrective actions, and perform regular EHSQ audits/inspections.
• Support Compliance & Standards: Help maintain compliance with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management systems, occupational hygiene programs, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide EHS Expertise & Training: Offer coaching, guidance, and training to build a strong safety culture and act as a key knowledge resource for EHS topics.
• Oversee Emergency Preparedness: Coordinate emergency response planning and collaborate with engineering, operations, and external partners on loss prevention and change‑management processes.
• Manage Contractors & External Support: Supervise external EHS consultants and contractors involved in testing, audits, and compliance activities.
• Interact with Regulators: Serve as the point of contact for regulatory inspections, correspondence, and permit‑related requirements.
• Collaborate Across Regions: Work closely with EHS colleagues in EMEA and other Spanish facilities and support risk‑management activities at customer sites (up to ~15% travel).

What’s in it For You?

• Ideal salary range 35,000-45,000€ + 10% annual bonus.Compensation is flexible and based on the experience you bring.
• Private health insurance, pension plan, life insurance, and other additional benefits
• Working hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
• Company mobile phone, laptop, business IT tools
• Contract according to the "General Collective Agreement of the Chemical Industry"
• Attractive Wellbeing, Sustainability, Women Inclusion & other Diversity and Inclusion programs
• 2 annual days paid volunteering leave to dedicate to the cause of your choice
• Joining an international team where empowered decision making and innovative initiatives are expected

What do we look for?

Education: Bachelor's degree and PRL training and certification are required.

Experience: At least 3 years in EHS roles with strong safety focus; ideally in chemical, oil & gas, food, or related manufacturing industries.

Technical skills:

• Solid understanding of regional/national EHS regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of and some implementation experience with applicable industry standards including but not limited to ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, Responsible Care, etc.
• Solid technical and regulatory expertise in relevant regional and national product safety/stewardship regulatory requirements and associated management systems and programs.
• Process risk management best practices.
• Strong incident investigation and root cause analysis skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply hazardous materials legislation, storage and handling rules, and industrial risk controls.

Language: High-level Spanish and English (spoken and written)

Location: Reasonable commuting distance to Barberà del Vallès. Willingness to travel across customer sites in Spain 10-15% annual- driver's license required.

Soft skills:

• Strong safety conscious
• Autonomous and proactive
• Strong communication and listening skills
• Practical problem-solving with strong attention to detail
• Team-oriented and committed to delivering success

Who are we?

We are the global leader in industrial process fluids present in 40+ countries continually improving and innovating so the world’s steel, aluminum, automotive, aircraft, machinery and industrial parts manufacturers can stay ahead in a changing world. Throughout our 100+ locations, our chemists, engineers and industry experts partner with our customers to continually improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next.

Our values: Live Safe, Exceed Customer Expectations, Drive Results, Embrace Diversity, Do Great Things Together, Act with integrity.

Our core values embody who we are as a company, guide our decisions and inspire us. Our commitment to these values, in words and actions, builds a safer, stronger Quaker Houghton. They are the fundamental beliefs that guide our internal conduct and our relationship with the outside world.

Join our EHS team and Make an Impact Where Safety, Innovation, and Sustainability Meet.

Interested in learning more about Sustainability at QH? Click here