Safety Health & Environmental Specialist - Nestle (Job)

Location: Chicago, IL

Full-time Position

Closing Date: April 25, 2026

Degree Level(s): BS

Salary Range: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00

Posted: March 25, 2026

Description:

As the Site Safety, Health & Environmental (SH&E) Specialist, you play a critical role in coordinating and executing site-level safety, health, and environmental programs. You work closely with employees at all levels to foster a culture of care, where every individual is accountable for safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible conditions and behaviors.

 

You ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements and Company policies through regular interaction on the site floor, routine audits, and inspections. In this role, you handle complex and sometimes challenging assignments while supporting continuous improvement in SH&E performance. You also assist the site in maintaining ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications and support the daily implementation and ongoing effectiveness of these management systems.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Site SH&E Culture – under the direction of the Site SH&E manager, fosters/develops a culture where safety, health and environment are ingrained as a core value with all employees, everyone believes zero is achieveable, everyone is actively engaged in performing their work in a safe manner, everyone actively interacts with co-workers to prevent at-risk behaviors.  Actively participates on the Factory SH&E Team/Pillar and other assigned teams.  Effectively coaches and develops operations line supervsion to be effective SH&E leaders/coaches in their respective postions.

SH&E Performance – Analyze SH&E conditions and behaviors and recommends changes to continuously improve Site SH&E performance to world class levels.

Compliance – Primarily responsible for implementing systems, procedures, and work practices to ensure “audit ready” state of compliance. Develop and implement processes and procedures (SOP’s) to ensure Site compliance with company and regulatory agency policies, including federal, state and local legislation and regulations pertaining to SH&E. Reviews, analyzes, critiques and/or approves engineering design development reports, plans and specifications for compliance with environmental laws and regulations.  Partners with factory PSM/RMP coordinator to ensure compliance with PSM and RMP requirement where applicable.

SH&E Strategies, Programs and Plans – Drives implementation of SH&E best in class programs, systems and processes, including training and coaching to establish clear procedures on SH&E measures and precautions. Drives key effective, sustainable implementation Corporate, Division and Site SH&E initiatives, strategies, programs and procedures, responsibilities via hands on leadership, coaching and teamwork.  Manages Worker’s Compensation in partnership with Risk Management.

Risk Assessment and Elimination - Understand the safety risks associated with jobs, Site wide.  Understand the aspects of the Site that impact the environment and optimizes them. Ensures thorough investigation of all incidents, in coordination with Safety and Health Site leadership. Provide expertise and participate in all SH&E incident investigations as conducted by Site Leadership.

SH&E Capability Building – Coordinate/facilitate all environmental training for Site (Hazmat, Waste Treatment, SPCC/SWPP, etc.).  Administer training programs for safety accident prevention and protection and may support environmental management systems.

SH&E pillar/NCE/NIMS – Drive excellence through active participation on the production floor to adopt a - ZERO TOLERANCE MENTALITY- toward SH&E losses and drive elimination of losses through the framework of ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and NCE. 

Functional & technical expertise  Provides SH&E functional and technical expertise/coaching as needed in all areas and initiatives of the function. Partners with other key functions on initiatives including engineering, HR, Quality, Operations, NCE, etc to deliver on goals and plans.

Skills/Eligibility:

REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM EDUCATION LEVEL:

  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental and/or safety discipline or related disciplines or international equivalents. – Preferred

 

EXPERIENCE:

  • 3-5 years experience in manufacturing facility involved with Safety, Health, and Environmental sustainability activities.
  • Experience with OSHA, DOT and EPA regulations and local equivalents and their application to Site operations.- Preferred
  • Entry level professional certifications in SH&E related fields are considered beneficial and may include CIH, NEBOSH Certificate, ASP, AEM, etc.
  • Buyer experience- vendor & PO creation- preferred

 

 

SKILLS:

  • Strong analytical, organizational, communication and computer skills required.
  • Bi- Lingual English/Spanish is a plus
  • Excellent interpersonal interactions.
  • Ability to build teams throughout all levels and functions of the Site with respect, tact and win-win outcomes. 
  • Decision-making; must be capable of making well-informed decisions in both routine and emergency situations.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills are required along with the ability able to communicate with audiences that have a broad range of background and understanding. 
  • Training & presentation skills. 
  • Must demonstrate good insight and ability to develop mutual solutions to challenges.
  • Able to work and lead in a team environment; live the Nestlé Leadership Principles and bring it to life for others.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize.
  • Ability to quickly learn Site relevant federal and state OSHA, EPA, DOT requirements.
  • Technical writing skills (policies, procedures, reference manuals, and training materials)
  • Computer skills (Microsoft Office/Windows based)
  • Reading and comprehension skills/legal & regulatory interpretation
  • Initiative to lead continuous improvement efforts.

 

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