Environmental Health Safety Specialist

Blackfield Associates are currently partnered with a global pharmaceutical manufacturer to support their search for a EHS Specialist to join their project based in Illinois on an initial 12-month contract.

• Provide environmental, health, and safety support across construction, engineering, commissioning, and operational project activities.
• Ensure compliance with EHS standards, OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, and site-specific safety procedures.
• Conduct routine site inspections, audits, and safety observations to identify hazards and verify compliance.
• Support development and implementation of project EHS plans, risk assessments, job hazard analyses, and safe work permits.
• Monitor contractor activities to ensure adherence to safety requirements, permit conditions, and approved work practices.
• Lead incident reporting, investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action follow-up.
• Facilitate safety orientations, toolbox talks, training sessions, and ongoing EHS awareness initiatives.
• Review high-risk activities including confined space entry, hot work, working at height, lifting operations, and lockout/tagout procedures.
• Track and report EHS metrics, observations, incidents, and corrective actions to project leadership.
• Support environmental compliance activities including waste management, spill prevention, hazardous materials handling, and regulatory reporting.
• Participate in project meetings and provide guidance on EHS risks, mitigation strategies, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Promote a strong safety culture and reinforce safe behaviors across all project teams and contractors.

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
• Sufficient EHS experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, or industrial construction projects.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations, environmental compliance requirements, and construction safety programs.
• Experience conducting safety audits, inspections, incident investigations, and risk assessments.
• Familiarity with GMP-regulated environments and pharmaceutical industry safety requirements.
• Experience managing contractor safety and overseeing high-risk construction activities.
• Knowledge of permit-to-work systems, lockout/tagout, confined space entry, hot work, and working-at-height programs.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence safe behaviors across multiple teams.
• Proven ability to identify hazards, implement corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Professional certifications such as CSP, ASP, CHMM, OSHA 30, or equivalent are advantageous.