HSE Manager – University Park, IL

Verdant Specialty Solutions • Full-time • University Park, IL, US • 3m ago

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!