Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager – Manufacturing

Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager – Manufacturing

Primary Location: Des Plaines, IL
Secondary Location: New Berlin, WI (approximately one day per week)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried
Salary Range: $90,000–$105,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications
Schedule: Primarily an 8:00 a.m. start, with flexibility to support second-shift operations as needed

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands-on, results-driven Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Manager to lead and continuously improve safety and environmental compliance across two manufacturing facilities supporting approximately 300 employees.

Reporting to the HR Manager, the EHS Manager will be responsible for developing and maintaining effective safety programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, delivering employee training, investigating incidents, and driving corrective actions that reduce risk and prevent workplace injuries. This role will also oversee environmental compliance activities, including regulatory reporting, permit tracking, and required documentation.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge with a practical, floor-focused approach to safety. This individual will work closely with employees, supervisors, production leadership, HR, and external partners to build a proactive safety culture and ensure compliance with applicable OSHA and environmental regulations.

The position is primarily based in Des Plaines, IL, with travel to the New Berlin, WI facility approximately one day per week. The role requires a visible presence on the manufacturing floor and occasional flexibility to support a two-shift operation, including the 3:30 p.m. second-shift transition.

Key Responsibilities

Safety Leadership & Risk Management

• Lead, administer, and continuously improve the company's EHS programs, policies, and procedures across both facilities.
• Conduct routine facility inspections, job hazard assessments, safety audits, and risk evaluations.
• Identify unsafe conditions and work practices, implement corrective actions, and verify their timely completion.
• Maintain and enforce safety standards related to personal protective equipment (PPE), machine guarding, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Hazard Communication, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), forklift safety, and other applicable requirements.
• Partner with production leaders and employees to identify risks, improve work practices, and incorporate safety into daily operations.
• Promote employee engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement in workplace safety.

Training & Employee Engagement

• Develop and deliver new-hire orientation, refresher training, toolbox talks, and job-specific safety training.
• Ensure employees and supervisors understand applicable safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate employee training, certification, and safety documentation.
• Reinforce safe work practices through regular floor presence, coaching, and collaboration with production teams.

Incident Investigation & Injury Prevention

• Lead investigations into workplace injuries, accidents, near misses, and other safety-related events.
• Identify root causes, document findings, and implement preventive and corrective actions.
• Maintain OSHA injury and illness records and coordinate required reporting.
• Support workers' compensation documentation and collaborate with HR and management on injury follow-up and return-to-work processes, as applicable.
• Analyze incident trends and recommend proactive measures to reduce risk and prevent recurrence.

Environmental Compliance & Regulatory Reporting

• Coordinate and complete required environmental compliance reports, regulatory filings, and submissions accurately and on time.
• Track environmental permits, reporting deadlines, hazardous materials and waste records, and other applicable compliance obligations.
• Maintain organized, audit-ready environmental documentation and records.
• Monitor applicable regulatory requirements and coordinate with consultants, vendors, and regulatory agencies as needed.
• Support environmental inspections, audits, and corrective actions to maintain ongoing compliance.

Audits, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Coordinate and support OSHA, environmental, insurance, customer, and other regulatory audits and inspections.
• Maintain current EHS policies, procedures, records, and compliance documentation.
• Track key safety and environmental performance indicators, identify trends, and report findings and recommendations to management.
• Develop and implement practical initiatives to improve compliance, reduce workplace hazards, and strengthen overall EHS performance.
• Collaborate with HR, operations, production supervisors, and employees to integrate safety and environmental responsibility into daily business practices.

Required Qualifications

• At least 3 years of EHS or industrial safety experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations, industrial safety practices, and workplace hazard prevention.
• Demonstrated experience administering safety programs, conducting inspections, and delivering employee safety training.
• Experience with incident investigations, root-cause analysis, OSHA recordkeeping, and corrective action management.
• Experience with environmental compliance, regulatory reporting, and maintenance of required records.
• Working knowledge of PPE, machine guarding, Lockout/Tagout, Hazard Communication, and SDS requirements.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently while building effective relationships with HR, production, operations, employees, vendors, consultants, and regulatory agencies.
• Willingness to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor and travel between Des Plaines, IL, and New Berlin, WI, approximately one day per week.

Preferred Qualifications

• OSHA 30-Hour certification.
• EHS experience in metalworking, sheet metal fabrication, machining, welding, or a similar industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience with environmental permits, regulatory filings, and environmental compliance reporting.
• Practical experience with Lockout/Tagout, machine guarding, forklift safety, and Hazard Communication.
• First Aid/CPR certification.
• Experience supporting OSHA, environmental, insurance, or customer audits.
• Professional EHS certification, such as CSP, ASP, or CHMM.

Please apply with your updated resume

Pay: $90,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• EHS or industrial safety: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $90,000 - $105,000