EHS Specialist

Job Title:

EHS Specialist

Job Description

The EHS Specialist supports and leads environmental, health, and safety initiatives across office, laboratory, production, and warehouse areas within a food manufacturing environment. This role drives continuous EHS improvement, ensures regulatory compliance, and serves as a key partner to operations by identifying hazards, mitigating risks, and fostering a strong safety culture. The position operates in a GMP-regulated setting and requires both hands-on engagement on the floor and strong analytical and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

* Support and drive continuous environmental, health, and safety (EHS) improvement projects across the site.

* Own, maintain, and continuously update site safety programs, procedures, and documentation.

* Lead and participate in daily safety observations and engagements with employees in offices, labs, production, and warehouse areas.

* Conduct thorough incident investigations, perform root cause analyses, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.

* Perform and document risk assessments and near-miss investigations to proactively identify and reduce hazards.

* Execute internal EHS audits and support external regulatory and customer audits, including preparation, documentation, and follow-up actions.

* Maintain compliance with OSHA (Federal and Illinois), EPA, and other applicable environmental regulations.

* Support GMP-regulated environments, including laboratories and production areas, by ensuring adherence to safety and compliance standards.

* Facilitate safety trainings for small groups, large groups, and one-on-one sessions, tailoring content to different audiences and work areas.

* Partner closely with operations teams to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement proactive risk mitigation strategies.

* Track, trend, and manage safety metrics, incidents, and corrective actions, using data to drive continuous improvement.

* Review data and camera footage as needed to support incident investigations and hazard identification.

* Communicate investigation findings and safety recommendations clearly to coworkers and leadership.

* Operate independently as a site EHS resource, providing guidance and support to teams throughout the facility.

* Occasionally lift laboratory equipment and materials weighing up to 50 pounds as part of routine EHS activities.

Essential Skills

* Bachelor's degree in occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene, chemistry, environmental science, chemical engineering, or a related field.

* Minimum of 1-2+ years of experience in EHS leadership roles, with required experience in the food manufacturing industry.

* Demonstrated experience conducting incident investigations and implementing corrective actions.

* Proven ability to perform risk assessments and hazard investigations in production and laboratory environments.

* Strong skills in root cause analysis and the ability to translate findings into clear, actionable suggestions for coworkers.

* Experience maintaining compliance with OSHA (Federal and Illinois), EPA, and environmental regulations.

* Ability to execute internal EHS audits and support external regulatory or customer audits.

* Comfort working in and moving between offices, labs, production areas, and warehouses.

* Ability to facilitate safety training sessions in group and one-on-one formats.

* Capability to occasionally lift laboratory equipment up to 50 pounds.

* Experience working in GMP-regulated environments, particularly within food manufacturing.

* Background in safety consulting or serving as a primary EHS resource.

* Experience with continuous improvement initiatives related to safety and compliance.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

* Experience in food manufacturing environments, including exposure to production and packaging operations.

* Familiarity with GMP, HACCP, and SQF standards and their application in a manufacturing setting.

* Experience operating independently as a site EHS resource or safety consultant.

* Exposure to environmental and EPA-related compliance activities.

* Experience with hazardous waste management practices and documentation.

* Prior audit leadership experience, including internal audits and EHS management reviews.

* Strong analytical skills for tracking, trending, and interpreting safety metrics.

* Effective communication skills to influence, train, and engage employees at all levels.

* Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement in safety processes and culture.

Work Environment

This role is a 6-month contract position to provide coverage for a leave. The primary schedule is first shift, with occasional coverage needed on an off-shift as operational needs arise. The EHS Specialist works across all parts of the facility, including offices, laboratories, production lines, and warehouse areas, and must be comfortable regularly entering and engaging in each of these environments.

The facility is modern, visually appealing, and up to date, supporting work on products…