Environmental Health and Safety Manager (EHS)

Readerlink Distribution Services; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Environmental Health & Safety Manager to lead compliance efforts across its distribution operations. This pivotal role involves developing and implementing EHS programs, ensuring adherence to OSHA and EPA regulations, and fostering a culture of safety and accountability. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a background in EHS management, and the ability to communicate effectively at all organizational levels. If you're passionate about safety and compliance in a dynamic environment, this opportunity offers a chance to make a significant impact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of EHS experience in warehouse and logistics environments.
• Strong leadership and communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee EHS compliance across U.S. office and distribution operations.
• Lead development and implementation of EHS programs and training.
• Conduct audits and manage incident investigations.

Skills

EHS Management

Leadership

Communication Skills

Incident Reporting

Change Management

Regulatory Compliance

Problem Solving

Bilingual in Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

EHS electronic data systems

Job description

ReaderLink. We Link. Publishers. Books. Retailers. Customers.

We are North America’s largest book distributor with over 70,000 customer store locations. We move over 325,000,000 books per year and work with over 700 retailers and 500 publishers. If you want to end every day knowing that you helped deliver a book into the hands of readers across America, let’s talk. We are currently recruiting for an Environmental Health & Safety Manager (EHS) position primarily based out of our Oak Brook, Illinois corporate headquarters, but also working in our National Distribution Centers.

The Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager will serve as a key leader and partner within Readerlink’s EHS Department, with responsibility for overseeing and managing all aspects of environmental, health, and safety compliance across U.S.-based office and warehouse/distribution operations. This includes the planning, development, execution, and implementation of EHS related programs and training to support Readerlink’s compliance with US Regulations (including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and continuous improvement of Readerlink’s EHS Management System in alignment with federal and state regulations.

As a visible leader and influencer, the EHS Manager will provide proactive guidance and direction to site leadership and cross-functional teams, driving a safety culture, compliance, and continuous improvement. This role requires a hands-on leader with the ability to engage, educate, and inspire personnel at all levels of the organization—from senior management to frontline employees.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Assist EHS Director in the administration of the Readerlink EHS Management System.
• Lead, develop, and manage the implementation of Readerlink’s EHS Management System and EHS Programs across multiple sites, ensuring consistency, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Lead the development, implementation, and facilitation of EHS Programs, including policies, procedures, and training aimed at reducing incident rates, enhancing communication, and ensuring Regulatory compliance.
• Monitor changes in Regulatory compliance to ensure changes are communicated to EHS leadership, the Management System is updated, and new requirements are implemented.
• Partner with site and operational leadership to integrate EHS objectives into business planning and performance goals.
• Conduct assurance audits virtually and physically to ensure site-level compliance.
• Work collaboratively with site representatives to develop and manage hazard risk assessments, job hazard analysis, PPE assessments, safety permit maintenance and compliance, hazard reporting, and data collection.
• Partner with site representatives to support incident management and investigations, including root-cause determination and corrective actions to ensure issues are identified and addressed.
• Partner with site representatives and HR managers to administer the return-to-work program and manage claims.
• Manage the EHS Training Program, including content development, training delivery and coordination with trainers, and review of documentation in the electronic tracking system received from site locations for record retention.
• Coordinate the monthly EHS Office Committee meeting and EHS Operations Committee meeting, and provide directions and support to local committee meetings at the facility level.
• Manage Readerlink’s EHS electronic data system for incident reporting, recordkeeping, inspections, and training.
• Manage the EHS Department web pages and weekly shift starter communications.
• Manage weekly and monthly metrics tracking, trending, analysis, and reporting to address undesirable trends proactively.
• Work with the facilities to manage federal/state/municipal environmental and H&S reporting.
• Lead and/or participate in cross-functional teams to represent EHS objectives related to the subject matter and meet the team’s overall objectives and deliverables.
• Compile, analyze, and present EHS performance metrics to senior leadership, identifying trends and recommending improvement initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and empowerment in all EHS-related initiatives.
• Up to 15% travel to US locations to conduct various activities, including assurance audits, site walkthroughs, and major incident management.
• Regular, reliable attendance is required as work cannot be performed remotely.
• Other duties may be assigned, directed, or requested.

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor’s degree (BS or BA) in a related field is required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of EHS experience, preferably in warehouse, logistics, and distribution operations environments.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or ASP (Associate Safety Professional) Certificate working toward CSP preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing EHS programs across multiple sites.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and change management skills.
• Working knowledge of EHS-related US Regulations including OSHA and EPA is required.
• Experience in incident reporting and investigation.
• Experience in the development and execution of EHS Program documentation and training.
• Excellent communication and advisory skills.
• Ability to manage and organize multiple priorities.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with a client service orientation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint) and other Internet-based reporting tools.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to influence and lead in a matrixed organization.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals in English.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Must be able to sit for five hours per day.
• Will frequently have repetitive hand/arm movements for simple reaching and/or typing.
• Specific vision ability required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Regularly required to stand; use hands and fingers, and handle or feel objects.
• Must be able to repetitively reach up and out.
• Must be able to push, pull, or lift up to 25 pounds repeatedly.
• The work performed is in an office and warehouse distribution environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced team environment.

Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000

ReaderLink is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. EOE/Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veteran.

ReaderLink is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please email your request to [e-mail], or call: [phone].