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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…