EHS Specialist

Job Title: EHS Specialist

Job Description

The EHS Specialist supports the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) function by identifying, evaluating, and mitigating environmental, health, and safety risks to ensure full compliance with local, state, and federal regulations such as EPA and OSHA. This role performs field inspections, assists with hazardous waste management, supports emergency response activities, and drives site-wide safety initiatives to maintain a safe, compliant, and continuously improving workplace. The position will begin with foundational, hands-on safety tasks and will progressively expand to contributing to the design and implementation of the site’s overall safety program.

Responsibilities

• Assist in identifying, assessing, and controlling EHS risks across operations, partnering with departments to complete risk assessments and ensure timely implementation of risk-reduction measures.
• Support departments in conducting and updating risk assessments and process hazard reviews, and track corrective actions to closure.
• Maintain and update EHS management documentation, including safety procedures, emergency response plans, and chemical management programs, ensuring alignment with local, state, and federal regulations as well as internal standards.
• Support hazardous waste management by performing routine inspections, characterizing waste, and managing satellite accumulation areas to ensure compliant storage, labeling, and disposal.
• Provide assistance during chemical spill emergencies by coordinating containment, cleanup, and hazardous material disposal in accordance with regulatory and internal requirements.
• Conduct regular inspections of critical safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire protection systems, eyewash and safety shower units, gas detectors, ventilation systems, and emergency response equipment to verify functionality and compliance.
• Perform safety inspections in laboratories, production areas, and other site locations, documenting findings and supporting corrective and preventive actions.
• Prepare and lead site EHS onboarding and safety orientation sessions for new employees and contractors to promote strong safety awareness and understanding of site-specific requirements.
• Support ongoing employee training and development activities related to environmental, health, and safety topics to reinforce a strong safety culture.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the site safety program, including procedures, tools, and metrics.
• Support EHS audits and inspections, including internal reviews and those related to regulatory agencies or quality standards such as FDA and GMP.
• Contribute to the monitoring and improvement of compliance with hazard communication requirements, including labeling, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and employee awareness.
• Participate in initiatives related to construction safety, ensuring that contractors and projects adhere to site EHS expectations and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support quality standards and regulatory expectations, including those related to FDA and GMP environments.
• Maintain accurate EHS records, reports, and documentation, ensuring data integrity and timely reporting.
• Work closely with the EHS manager to identify opportunities for facility improvements and containment strategies that reduce risk and enhance overall safety performance.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, safety management, or a closely related field.
• Experience supporting environmental, health, and safety activities in an operational setting, including inspections and compliance tasks.
• Knowledge of EPA and OSHA regulations and their application in a workplace setting.
• Understanding of hazardous waste management practices, including storage, labeling, inspection, and disposal requirements.
• Familiarity with hazard communication requirements and safe handling of hazardous chemicals.
• Ability to conduct safety inspections of equipment such as shower stations, eyewash units, fire extinguishers, and other critical safety devices.
• Experience supporting or working within safety programs, including incident prevention and compliance initiatives.
• Proven experience in containment strategies and facility improvements related to environmental or safety risks.
• Proficient skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for documentation, reporting, and presentations.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in maintaining records and documentation.
• Ability to work effectively both as a member of a team and independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey safety expectations clearly to employees at all levels.
• Effective problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze issues and recommend practical solutions.
• Strong relationship-building skills to collaborate with operations, laboratory, production, and other site teams.
• Valid driver’s license.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Strong understanding of environmental regulations, safety protocols, and waste management practices.
• Experience with Behavior Based Safety programs and initiatives.
• Proficiency in field sampling techniques for environmental or occupational monitoring.
• Experience working with or around FDA- and GMP-regulated operations and quality standards.
• Experience in construction safety or supporting EHS for construction or expansion projects.
• Familiarity with audit processes, including planning, participation, and follow-up on EHS audits.
• Interest in developing into a future EHS leader and growing into broader program-building responsibilities over time.

Work Environment

The EHS Specialist works in diverse settings, including offices, laboratories, production areas, and occasionally outdoor environments. The role supports a growing site that is undergoing significant expansion and increased project activity, offering exposure to a wide range of operations and processes. The position reports into the site EHS function and collaborates closely with an experienced EHS manager who provides mentorship and guidance. Work involves frequent movement throughout the facility to conduct inspections, interact with teams, and respond to EHS needs. The environment includes regulated operations that follow quality standards such as FDA and GMP, with a strong emphasis on safety, compliance, and continuous improvement. The role begins with hands-on, foundational tasks such as fire extinguisher checks, safety shower inspections, and inspections in laboratory and production areas, and evolves into deeper involvement in building and enhancing the site’s safety program in its entirety.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Morton Grove, IL.

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $43.27/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Morton Grove,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 18, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.