Hecla Mining Company is a precious metals company. Established in 1891 in one of the world’s most prolific silver-producing districts, northern Idaho’s Silver Valley, Hecla Mining Company’s rich history of mining has distinguished it as a respected precious metals producer. Hecla is the oldest U.S.-based precious metals mining company in North America and the largest producer of silver in the U.S. Headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with a sister office in Vancouver, B.C., our international, publicly traded company is 120 years old.
Hecla mines, processes and explores for silver, gold, lead and zinc in the U.S. and Mexico. Hecla currently produces silver from two underground mines, Lucky Friday in Idaho’s scenic Silver Valley and Greens Creek near Juneau in beautiful Southeast Alaska. In 2010 Hecla produced over 10.5 million ounces of silver, along with gold, lead and zinc. Hecla also has two development projects, San Juan Silver in Colorado and San Sebastian near Durango, Mexico.    Ideally positioned to grow, Hecla has developed a solid base with long-life, low-cost mines; four district-sized land positions with organic growth opportunities; and an excellent cash position with no debt.
Hecla has a current opportunity at our Headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for a Corporate Safety & Health Manager.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Vice President - Operations this role is responsible for the design, development and operational maintenance of Hecla’s Health & Safety (H&S) program across all locations. It supports operations, exploration and development projects in the execution of Corporate H&S strategy, ensuring alignment with the organization’s long-term strategy across all sites. This role supports the development of site H&S policies, procedures, hazard assessment & corrective action, and training programs to minimize risk, loss and accidents and ensure compliance with company guidelines and relevant safety & health regulations. It oversees S&H training and mentors site safety management and personnel, sharing H&S best practices across Hecla and with external organizations as well. The Corporate Health & Safety Manager leads by example, demonstrating the necessary behaviors, attitudes and mindset to strengthen Hecla’s corporate safety values and culture. This role is based out of the Corporate Office in Coeur d’Alene but devotes significant time at operations, exploration and development sites in the US and Latin America.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities of the Position
•    Leads by example, demonstrating the necessary behaviors, attitudes and mindset to strengthen Hecla’s corporate safety values and culture, and acts in a manner so as to motivate alignment throughout the Company.
•    Oversees the development, administration and maintenance of corporate safety policies, procedures and other company wide safety systems and standards. Interfaces with federal, state, local regulatory bodies to stay apprised of regulatory laws. Ensures that all Hecla sites and operational activities are in accordance with the safety, health and environmental standards and regulations set forth by the Company and federal, state and local regulatory agencies.
•    Supports Operations, Exploration, and Development Projects in the execution of Hecla’s H&S strategy. Supports the execution of strategies that support growth of the H&S function and enhance
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H&S practices and performance; provides recommendations on how to improve alignment with the organization’s overall strategy.
•    Oversees the development of performance-based H&S goals that motivate employee participation and support the accomplishment of Company tactical objectives and quantitative results. Provides relevant, insightful reports, coordinating frequent, timely reporting to management on key H&S issues. Provides expertise and recommendations on site incident reporting processes, investigation reports, statistical analysis, property damage cost assessments, and worker’s compensation activity.
•    Ensures that accident and near-miss incident investigations are conducted on a timely basis, and that effective assessment and analysis, identification of corrective action, and desired follow-up are achieved. Provides support and expertise in identifying site risks and hazards, and provides recommendations on appropriate actions to mitigate risks. Personally leads / conducts investigations of major incidents, making recommendations for corrective action and following up to ensure that recommendations are acted upon. Works with various stakeholders to ensure compliance with incident reporting and develop and monitor behavior-based safety process and systems.
•    Oversees and directs all required H&S training for site safety personnel, managers, employees and contractors, including the maintenance of company and regulatory records and files. Mentors and advises site H&S Managers on strategies, key performance goals and how to deal with challenges and mitigate risk.
•    Supports hiring of operations H&S staff by reviewing applicants and recommending candidates.
•    Supports the implementation of sites’ industrial hygiene programs (sampling, sampling data analysis, and employee notification); provides recommendations on how to reduce identified exposures and how to comply with regulations and company standards.
•    Develops and maintains H&S systems to ensure that continuous improvement is achieved. Liaises with various stakeholders to monitor workplace trends, fostering the sharing of best practices and benchmarking data to develop new policies and standards.
•    Fosters and develops relevant external partnerships related to workplace health and safety and environment.
•    Coordinates internal as well as external audits and inspections of Hecla operations, exploration and development projects, ensuring strict compliance with company and regulatory H&S requirements, provides recommendations and conducts programs to mitigate gaps in compliance, and follows up to make sure that non-compliance issues are corrected in timely fashion.
•    Travels to other countries as needed and demonstrates the ability to work effectively cross-culturally.
•    Develops and submits for approval where necessary operating plans and programs that are compatible with corporate goals. Establishes realistic budgets, production plans, forecasts, and equipment justifications.
The successful candidate will have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in health, safety or a related discipline. In addition to ten-plus years of related experience including management responsibilities, ideally in the mining industry, the candidate should have a proven track record in a fast-paced business environment. Bi- lingual English/Spanish is a plus. Health & Safety professional certification beneficial. Must be able to travel (approximately 25%) – domestic, as well as international.
This role requires a well-organized, self-motivated, high energy individual with excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team. Candidates must be computer literate with knowledge of computer programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; HSE system knowledge beneficial.
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Hecla is proud to offer competitive compensation commensurate with education and experience and a comprehensive benefit portfolio to provide health & welfare, income protection, paid time off and retirement plans for employees, including medical, dental and vision coverage for eligible dependents.