Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager
Location: Rockford, IL (On-site)
Our client, an established manufacturing organization, is seeking an Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager to help shape the next chapter of its workplace safety culture. This is an opportunity for a hands-on leader who wants to make a meaningful impact, strengthen employee engagement, and transform safety from a reactive function into a proactive part of everyday operations. With the opportunity to lead a team of four safety leads and partner directly with operational leadership, this individual will play an important role in building a safer, more accountable, and continuously improving manufacturing environment.
This Role Offers:
- Competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Opportunity to influence workplace safety practices and deliver measurable improvements across manufacturing operations.
- Leadership responsibility for a team of four safety leads, with the ability to mentor and develop emerging talent.
- The opportunity to build lasting safety practices that protect employees and strengthen operational performance.
Focus:
- Lead the development of a proactive safety culture by encouraging employee participation, strengthening hazard awareness, and promoting shared accountability.
- Coach and develop four safety leads, providing practical guidance, clear expectations, and ongoing professional development.
- Partner with production teams and facility leadership to identify workplace risks and incorporate effective safety practices into daily operations.
- Oversee compliance with applicable OSHA requirements, environmental regulations, and internal safety expectations.
- Strengthen critical safety controls involving hazardous energy isolation, equipment guarding, and safe access to machinery.
- Direct incident and near-miss investigations, uncover contributing factors, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
- Evaluate safety performance through workplace observations, inspections, employee feedback, and leading indicators to identify improvement opportunities.
- Deliver engaging safety training and collaborate with operational leaders to improve employee involvement, communication, and consistent execution.
Skill Set:
- Approximately five or more years of environmental, health, and safety experience within manufacturing or a comparable industrial setting.
- Strong working knowledge of OSHA standards, lockout/tagout procedures, machine guarding, equipment access, and environmental compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated success improving safety culture and helping manufacturing teams transition from reactive responses to proactive risk prevention.
- Experience leading, mentoring, or developing safety personnel, with the ability to guide a team of four safety leads.
- Proven ability to investigate workplace incidents, evaluate near-miss trends, perform root cause analysis, and implement effective corrective measures.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and influence employees and leaders at all levels.
- A collaborative leadership style that encourages ownership and accountability through coaching, education, and positive reinforcement rather than relying primarily on disciplinary measures.
- Strong organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to prioritize operational risks, track safety performance, and translate findings into practical improvements.
About Blue Signal:
Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services. Learn more at bit.ly/46Gs4yS