Lead EHS, Facility and Maintenance specialist

NORTHSTAR AEROSPACE•Bedford Park, IL

1d•$111,100 - $185,900•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead EHS & Facilities Specialist is responsible for leading site Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) programs and facilities operations to ensure a safe, compliant, reliable, and productive working environment. This role partners closely with site leadership, union leadership, employees, maintenance, security, contractors, and external agencies to drive compliance, risk reduction, facility performance, and continuous improvement. In a unionized manufacturing/service environment, this role must build strong working relationships, support consistent application of site rules and collective bargaining requirements, and promote proactive employee engagement in safety, environmental stewardship, and workplace conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Environmental Health & Safety, Engineering, Facilities Management, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Safety, or related field OR equivalent experience
Significant experience in EHS, facilities, manufacturing operations, or site services
Experience in a unionized environment
Knowledge of applicable EHS regulations and facilities management practices
Experience leading incident investigations, audits, corrective actions, and contractor management
Strong communication, influencing, and problem-solving skills
Ability to work across all levels of the organization, including represented employees, leaders, and external agencies

Nice To Haves

Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, CHMM, or facilities-related credentials
Experience in manufacturing, industrial, aerospace, or regulated environments
Experience with environmental compliance programs and permitting
Experience managing budgets, service contracts, and capital/facility projects
Lean / continuous improvement experience
Strong working knowledge of CMMS, EHS management systems, and Microsoft Office tools

Responsibilities

Lead site EHS programs in compliance with applicable federal, state/provincial, local, and company requirements
Drive a strong safety culture through visible leadership, employee engagement, training, and accountability
Conduct risk assessments, job hazard analyses, ergonomic reviews, and incident investigations
Lead corrective and preventive actions resulting from incidents, audits, inspections, and employee concerns
Manage regulatory programs such as: Lockout/tagout, Hazard communication, PPE, Machine guarding, Confined space, Powered industrial vehicles, Fall protection, Emergency response, Industrial hygiene, Environmental permitting and waste management
Maintain EHS records, metrics, training documentation, and compliance reports
Coordinate regulatory inspections and support responses to agency findings
Lead emergency preparedness efforts including drills, response plans, and coordination with site teams and local responders
Partner with union representatives and site leadership to support a safe, respectful, and compliant work environment
Participate in joint safety committees, labor-management discussions, and site issue resolution as appropriate
Ensure policies, practices, and site expectations are administered consistently and in alignment with the collective bargaining agreement
Build trust and credibility with represented employees through responsiveness, fairness, and follow-through
Support effective communication of EHS and facilities-related changes that impact the workforce
Analyze trends in injuries, near misses, environmental events, work orders, downtime, and facility performance
Identify and implement actions to improve safety, compliance, responsiveness, cost, and employee experience
Develop standard work, visual management, audit routines, and action plans for sustained execution
Support site operating rhythm with regular reporting, prioritization, and escalation of risks