Identifying an Environmental Management Representative - the EMS Champion
The EMR is the clearly identified EMS team leader who has responsibility of implementing the EMS from start to finish. The EMR is the Project Manager and has the designated authority of senior managers to get the job done.
Typical Responsibilities
• Build and lead the EMS Core Team
• Plan the EMS project and implementation schedule
• Be the “internal consultant”
• Report to top management
• Gather, organize, and disseminate information
• Delegate tasks and establish deadlines
• Collect and evaluate work
• Organize training
• Facilitate top management visibility and involvement
• Obtain cross-functional support and buy-in
Certain qualifications and attributes of an EMR can contribute significantly to the likelihood of successfully implementing an EMS.
Qualifications
• Knowledge of overall operations
• Excellence in project management
• Excellent organizational skills
• Good communicator up and down the ladder
• Available, enthusiastic, and committed
• Trusted by employees and managers
• Pleasant personality
• Thick skinned
Positive Attributes
• Goal-oriented and patient
• Driven - either has authority or takes it
• Not afraid to fail - can handle setbacks
• Willing to ruffle feathers if necessary
• Team builder
• Respected at all levels of the organization
Difficult Situations
• Lack of upper management support
• Unclear or insufficient authority
• EMS champion decides to do it alone
• Skimping on training
• Lack of time and/or resources
• Employees brought in at the last minute
• Neglecting to account for culture change issues
Lessons Learned
• Pivotal to the success of the EMS
• Needs authority that matches responsibility
• Must have sufficient training
• Must have time to commit to the EMS development
• Communicate “good news” regularly – build a business case
• Ask for assistance
• DELEGATE!!!