EHS Manager

Nalco Water, An Ecolab Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Nalco Water, An Ecolab Company in Bedford Park, IL is seeking a Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE) Manager to lead the site’s safety culture and SH&E systems. This role partners with operations and maintenance to embed SHE across equipment design, operation, and TPM, drives performance metrics, and leads investigations to prevent incidents.

The role requires 5–8 years of SHE experience in manufacturing, a relevant bachelor’s degree, and strong regulatory knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental, Health, or related field.
• 5–8 years of SHE experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and state regulatory requirements.
• Experience with Safety / EHS Management Systems.
• Supervisory or people‑leadership experience.
• Ability to influence and partner effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Highly motivated; able to perform effectively in a fast‑paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• No immigration sponsorship available for this position.

Responsibilities

• Lead SHE management systems and regulatory compliance across the site.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to embed SHE into design, operation, maintenance, and TPM.
• Drive leading and lagging SHE metrics; analyze trends and drive action plans.
• Investigate serious incidents with root‑cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Coordinate audits and close findings with site leadership to prevent recurrence.
• Mentor and coach the SHE team; contribute to capital project reviews and strategy.

Skills

SHE leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder influence

Leadership experience

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Safety/Env/Health

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

MS Project

Job description

Join Ecolab as the Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE) Manager at our Nalco Water, Bedford Park, IL Plant. This role is a key member of the Plant Leadership Team and is responsible for building, leading, and sustaining a strong safety culture and world‑class SH&E systems across a 24/7, high‑complexity manufacturing operation.

What You Will Do

• Lead, own, and continuously improve the site’s Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE) Management Systems, ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and applicable state and local regulations.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to integrate SHE requirements into equipment design, operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement activities, using TPM methodologies to prevent injuries and equipment‑related safety risks.
• Drive the use of leading and lagging SHE performance metrics, analyze trends, and lead action plans with clear accountability.
• Lead effective investigations of serious incidents, near misses, and support process safety events using robust root‑cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.
• Lead industrial hygiene, chemical exposure control, and support process safety programs to reduce risk to employees, equipment, and the environment.
• Drive site programs including 5S, TPM continuous improvement activities, safety observations, and safety committees.
• Coordinate ECAP and other SHE audits; partner with site leadership to close findings effectively and prevent recurrence.
• Provide technical SHE guidance and coaching to plant leaders, engineers, and frontline teams.
• Maintain environmental permits and compliance records, including air, water, and waste requirements.
• Develop, mentor, and coach the SHE team, strengthening site capability and succession readiness.
• Actively contribute to plant strategy, capital project reviews, and operational decision‑making to ensure safety is embedded upstream rather than retrofitted.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental, Health, or a related field
• 5-8 years of SHE experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and state regulatory requirements
• Experience with Safety / EHS Management Systems
• Supervisory or people‑leadership experience
• Ability to influence and partner effectively across all levels of the organization
• Highly motivated; able to perform effectively in a fast‑paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment
• No immigration sponsorship available for this position

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree
• Demonstrated experience leading SHE within a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) operating system
• Experience driving change and influencing without formal authority
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and MS Project

Annual Or Hourly Compensation Range

The base salary range for this position is $107,600.00 - $161,500.00. This position is eligible for annual bonus pay based on performance, per plan terms. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.

Benefits

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families.

Potential Customer Requirements Notice

• Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.

Our Commitment to a Culture of Inclusion & Belonging

At Ecolab, we believe the best teams are inclusive. We are on a journey to create a workplace where every associate can grow and achieve their best. We are committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement based on individual qualifications and job performance. In all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement, we will not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, disability, or status as a covered veteran.

In addition, we are committed to furthering the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) through affirmative action (AA).

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.