HSE Lead

Job Description

We make a difference 

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta’s HSE team is seeking a HSE Lead in Jalapa, Guatemala. This role will lead the implementation and continuous improvement of an effective Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Management System at the Jalapa site, ensuring governance, compliance and HSE leadership across all site operations. The role is accountable for ensuring that working practices, procedures, instructions and guidelines comply with Syngenta's HSE policies, local regulations and applicable international standards. This includes all inputs, processes and outputs of site operations, as well as contractor and temporary workforce management.

Accountabilities 

1. HSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Ensure the HSE Management System is implemented and maintained in accordance with Syngenta's Requirements and Codes of Practice (CoPs), embedding HSE standards into day-to-day operations across all organizational areas.

2. RISK ASSESSMENT

Lead the site HSE risk assessment process, ensuring all risks are identified, mapped and mitigated through defined action plans tracked to closure.

3. HSE PERFORMANCE & KPIs

Monitor, analyze and report HSE KPIs to the Leadership Team on a monthly basis, identifying trends, deviations and opportunities for continuous improvement.

4. INCIDENT MANAGEMENT & REPORTING

Lead effective incident management for all events occurring on site, ensuring timely and accurate reporting into the Reliance/Enablon system in full compliance with Syngenta's Incident Reporting CoP — including correct classification, QOTIF standards, root cause analysis for all recordable, serious and frequently recurring events, and follow-up to closure. Under-reporting or late reporting is not acceptable under any circumstance.

5. AUDIT & COMPLIANCE

Lead the site HSE internal audit program and ensure full preparation, evidence availability and corrective action closure for Global HSE Audits. Track and drive closure of all findings from internal and external audits, inspections and regulatory visits, ensuring QOTIF standards are met.

6. EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Maintain and continuously improve the site Emergency Response system, including brigade readiness, ECMT processes, scheduling of drills (minimum 2 per year) and annual ECMS desktop exercises.

7. TRAINING & COMPETENCE

Develop and implement HSE training and competency programs for all employees, temporary workers and contractors, ensuring training matrices are current, individual training plans are in place, and only competent personnel perform safety-critical tasks.

8. ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS

Lead the site environmental programs including waste management, wastewater treatment, water monitoring and minimization, ensuring site operations do not cause negative environmental impact and that all discharge parameters comply with Legislation

9. LICENSE TO OPERATE (LTO)

Support the Site Manager in maintaining the License to Operate, including the Legal Compliance Matrix, HSE permits and licenses, ETAR, and external certifications. Ensure timely renewal of all HSE-related permits and flag any compliance gaps to the Site Manager and Legal team.

10. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Oversee the site occupational health program, including exposure monitoring (noise, chemicals, ergonomics, organic dust), medical surveillance, spirometry program, medical records procedure and health provider oversight — in compliance with Syngenta HSE standards and Guatemalan legislation.

11. SSO LEGAL COMPLIANCE — GUATEMALA

Ensure compliance with Guatemalan SSO legislation, including Plan SSO registration at Ministerio de Trabajo, Comité Bipartito SSO operation and IGSS annual reporting, Monitor SSO designation, and CONRED Emergency Response Plan requirements.

12. CONTRACTOR & TEMPORARY WORKFORCE HSE

Define and enforce HSE requirements for all contractors and supervised third-party workers operating on site, including induction, periodic monitoring, performance review and contractual HSE clauses.

13. HSE DOCUMENTATION & SYSTEMS

Manage all HSE documentation and protocols, ensuring they are current, version-controlled and uploaded into the Reliance system. Administer all HSE management tools including incident investigation, MoC, Permit to Work, observations tracking and KPI dashboards.

14. REGULATORY COMMUNICATIONS

Record and archive all communications with regulatory authorities (MARN, MINTRAB, IGSS, MAGA, MEM, CONRED, Ministerio de Salud), ensuring the site maintains a complete log of inspections, official correspondence and commitments made to regulators.

15. REGIONAL HSE ENGAGEMENT

Represent the site in regional HSE networks, projects and meetings as requested by HSE Business Partners. Contribute to the site's strategic agenda by integrating HSE priorities into broader operational and business planning.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Agility and discipline to report and act
• Technical HSE expertise
• Field Leadership Presence
• Influence without authority
• Plan - Do - Check – Act discipline
• Audit readiness

Qualifications

Required

Critical knowledge

• ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) - working knowledge; certification preferred
• Guatemalan HSE legislation: AG 191-2001 (SSO), AG 236-2006 (Wastewater), Código de
• Trabajo, IGSS regulations, and CONRED requirements
• Incident investigation methodologies - Root Cause Analysis (5-Why, ABS Consulting RCA
• Map)
• HSE management systems and digital tools
• Protocol and procedure development and implementation
• Business English - written and spoken (regional reporting requirement)

Critical experience

• Minimum 3 years in an operational HSE role, with direct field exposure - office-based HSE experience alone is not sufficient
• Demonstrated experience leading internal and external HSE audits, including corrective action management
• Experience managing HSE compliance for contractor and temporary workforces
• Proven track record of incident reporting discipline -
• Experience implementing or maintaining an occupational health program (exposure monitoring, medical surveillance)
• Experience working under regulatory inspection from environmental or labor authorities
• Internal auditor certification - HSE or equivalent management system
• People Communication and Management, integrity

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Analytical and detail-oriented
• Disciplined executor
• Influential communicator
• Resilient under pressure
• Proactive problem solver
• Organized and structured

Critical leadership capabilities

• Set direction
• Sets ambitious strategic goals

1. Develops a clear HSE strategic roadmap for the site, sets aligned objectives for the HSE team and department coordinators, and ensures these are connected to Syngenta's global HSE ambitions
2. Prioritizes actions and ensures appropriate support and resource

• Communicates inspirationally

1. Builds genuine commitment to HSE across the site
2. Connects site HSE objectives to Syngenta's broader strategy and values in a way that is meaningful to a diverse workforce of FTEs, temporary workers and contractors

• Drive results
• Manages Performance to ensure high standards

1. Plans, organizes and monitors HSE deliverables with discipline - audit programs, training plans, permit renewals, incident investigations
2. Adapts quickly when circumstances change (regulatory updates, organizational transitions, emergency events) without losing focus on commitments

• Recognizes and celebrates success

1. Rewards successes
2. Learns from failures

Additional Information

What We Offer  

• A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs. 
• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day. 
• Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits. 

Important: 

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

Beyond just believing in the power of diversity, Syngenta Group promotes an inclusive culture that includes differences in all its forms. We believe that the feeling of belonging allows people to become their best version, building an increasingly welcoming and productive environment. 

All qualified candidates will be considered for our positions, without distinction of race, gender, age, nationality or disability 

*This position will not provide relocation support. 

*This position will require immediate availability. 

Be part of a leading company that brings the potential of plants to life. 

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