HSE Manager – University Park, IL

Verdant Specialty Solutions•University Park, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

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

Requirements

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
Proven ability to lead safety initiatives in a plant environment
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

Nice To Haves

Experience with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 preferred

Responsibilities

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