Site EHS Manager - BESS Project (H/F)

Site EHS Manager – BESS Project (Dual Civil & High-Voltage Focus) Location: Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (100% Site-Based) Position Type: Full-time, Project-Based Reports To: Project Director Language Requirement: Native or Fluent Japanese & Business-level English Job Purpose The Site EHS Manager will lead all safety operations for the utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Ako. This complex infrastructure project demands a rare dual-expertise: managing high-risk heavy civil works and deep foundation engineering during the initial phases, and seamlessly transitioning to supervise high-voltage (HV) electrical installation, substation integration, and energization phases. The candidate ensures a zero-incident environment across both engineering disciplines. Key Responsibilities: Civil Works & Structural Infrastructure Safety Oversight of Earthworks & Excavation: Monitor heavy excavation, slope stability, retaining wall construction, and deep trenching. Enforce strict shoring requirements to prevent soil collapse. Heavy Equipment & Traffic Segregation: Manage a high volume of heavy machinery (excavators, piling rigs, concrete trucks) and establish foolproof traffic plans to separate heavy plant machinery from ground workers. Foundation & Structural Civil Works: Supervise the structural integrity of deep piling and the pouring of massive reinforced concrete pads engineered to support heavy battery enclosures. Heavy Lifting Operations: Review and approve critical rigging and heavy-crane lift plans for placing high-tonnage battery containers, transformers, and electrical skids. High-Voltage Electrical & Commissioning Safety Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO) Governance: Establish, audit, and strictly enforce the site’s LOTO and Permit-to-Work (PTW) systems during electrical fit-out and testing. Arc Flash & High-Voltage Hazards: Enforce personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance, safe approach distances, and boundary controls for high-voltage substation areas and grid-connection points. [1] Battery Specific Hazards: Manage specialized risks associated with DC battery strings, including stranded energy hazards, chemical exposure, and thermal runaway prevention during cell installation and testing. Utility Integration Liaison: Collaborate closely with the appointed Chief Electrical Engineer (Denki Shunin Gijutsusha) to ensure all safety steps align with the Electricity Business Act (Denki Jigyou-hou) and Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) grid requirements. Site Governance & Contractor Management EPC Oversight Across Phases: Manage the high-risk transition window where civil subcontractors hand over work areas to electrical and commissioning teams. Lead Joint Safety Initiatives: Conduct daily TKY (Teiki Kyouniku / Tool Box Talks) addressing both civil hazards (e.g., open trenches, blind spots) and electrical hazards (e.g., live circuits, cable pull tracking). Emergency Response Execution: Design and test an agile Site Emergency Response Plan (ERP) capable of handling both civil emergencies (landslips, machinery entrapment) and electrical disasters (arc flash, lithium battery fires). [1] Corporate HSE Governance: Act as the primary interface between project site, local management, and Group HSE leadership team (Equans Solar & Storage). Ensure the timely and accurate reporting of HSE performance indicators, significant incidents, near misses, and ESG-related metrics in accordance with project requirements, client expectations, Japan regulatory obligations, and company corporate governance standards. Support the implementation of site-specific safety initiatives, compliance monitoring, and continuous improvement programs to maintain the highest standards of health, safety, environmental, and operational performance. Required Qualifications & Skills Technical, Civil & Electrical Certifications Mandatory Certification: Licensed Health Officer (Eisei Kanrisha, Type 1). Highly Desirable Civil/Electrical Credentials: Operati