HSE Manager - University Park, IL

Lead Where Safety Meets Execution

Verdant Specialty Solutions is seeking an HSE Manager to lead site health, safety, and environmental performance, driving a proactive safety culture through frontline engagement, behavior-based safety, and real-time risk management.

This is not a desk-based compliance role - success is measured by presence and influence in the field. This is a highly visible, plant-facing position where you will work side-by-side with operators, supervisors, and plant leadership to translate safety systems into daily behaviors that protect people, operations, and the environment.

If you are a hands-on safety leader who thrives in the field, influences without authority, and is passionate about building a culture where safe work is how work gets done, we want to talk to you.

Why This Role Is Different

• Frontline Impact: your presence on the plant floor directly shapes behaviors and reduces risk in real time
• Behavior Over Checklists: move beyond compliance to drive true safety ownership and accountability
• Operational Integration: safety is embedded in production-not separate from it
• Culture Builder: influence how employees think about and act on safety every day
• Real-Time Decision Making: identify, assess, and mitigate risks as operations happen
• System Ownership: ensure safety systems are effective, practical, and sustainable-not just documented

What You'll Do

Drive Behavioral Safety & Field Leadership

• Maintain a strong daily presence on the production floor engaging operators and supervisors
• Observe, coach, and reinforce safe behaviors in real time
• Intervene using a coaching-based approach to correct unsafe actions
• Build trust with frontline teams and promote a strong "stop work" culture
• Identify behavioral trends and address systemic risks

Lead Training & Workforce Development

• Design and deliver impactful safety training programs (monthly and as needed)
• Ensure training drives understanding and behavior change-not just compliance
• Coach supervisors to reinforce safety expectations across shifts
• Continuously improve training based on incidents and observations

Own Safety Systems & Risk Management

• Lead incident investigations with focus on root cause and human factors

• Drive near-miss reporting and learning culture

• Oversee job safety analysis and hazard identification processes

• Ensure effectiveness of critical systems:

• Permit to Work

• LOTO / Energy Isolation

• Confined Space

• Line Break / Process Safety

• Drive closure and sustainability of corrective actions

Ensure Environmental & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain compliance with OSHA, EPA, and applicable state regulations
• Prepare and submit required reports (SARA, TRI, EPA, etc.)
• Serve as site contact for regulatory agencies
• Maintain permits and compliance systems
• Lead audits and support inspections

Integrate with Operations

• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, and Quality teams to align safety with execution
• Address risks created by production demands
• Support Management of Change (MOC) and capital project safety
• Participate in daily plant and leadership meetings

Drive Continuous Improvement

• Identify gaps in safety performance and systems
• Implement practical, sustainable improvements
• Eliminate low-value "check-the-box" activities
• Adapt corporate HSE initiatives to site-specific needs

What Sets You Apart

• Strong field presence and ability to influence at all levels
• Coaching mindset with ability to change behaviors-not just enforce rules
• Deep understanding of industrial safety and risk management
• Ability to balance regulatory compliance with operational realities
• Strong investigative and root cause analysis skills
• Effective communicator across frontline teams and leadership
• Independent, action-oriented problem solver

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, or related field
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a chemical or industrial environment (7+ preferred)
• Strong knowledge of OSHA and EPA regulations
• Experience with environmental permitting and reporting
• Familiarity with process safety and industrial hygiene principles
• Experience with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 preferred
• Proven ability to lead safety initiatives in a plant environment

Work Environment

This role is based at our University Park, IL manufacturing facility and requires daily presence in the plant.

• Exposure to chemicals, noise, and industrial operations
• Required use of PPE
• Frequent walking, climbing stairs, and conducting field observations
• Participation in incident response and emergency situations
• Occasional travel (5-10%)

What You'll Get

• Competitive compensation and benefits
• High-impact leadership role with direct influence on plant safety culture
• Opportunity to shape and improve safety systems and behaviors
• Exposure to regulatory, operational, and corporate HSE initiatives
• A collaborative, plant-focused environment where your work matters every day

About Verdant

Verdant Specialty Solutions is a global specialty chemicals manufacturer combining innovation, agility, and operational excellence. With operations across the United States and Europe, we bring functional chemistry to life-safely, reliably, and responsibly.

If you're ready to step into a role where safety leadership is visible, practical, and critical to operational success, apply today!