Description

JOB TITLE:  EHS Coordinator

REPORTS TO:  Managing Director
FLSA STATUS:  Exempt

FULL TIME and on site in Elgin, Illinois

***Please note: SMS does not offer relocation packages or visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. and able to commute to our Illinois location. ***

About Us

At Schleifring Medical Systems, quality and precision are at the core of everything we do. As an ISO 9001 and AS 9100 certified manufacturer, we are committed to safety, quality, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction. Our team members play an important role in producing high-quality products for the medical and specialty manufacturing industries.

Summary

This position is primarily responsible for driving Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs. The EHS Coordinator leads and champions a proactive EHS culture, ensuring compliance, mitigating risks, and promoting a safe, healthy work environment for all associates.

The EHS Coordinator drives site EHS programs day-to-day independently and is supported by a corporate team of EHS specialists who act as consultants on complex technical and regulatory matters. This structure suits a self-sufficient problem-solver who is comfortable owning site-level decisions and knowing when to escalate for expert input.

In addition, this position supports operational excellence by participating in Continuous Improvement initiatives using Lean methodologies, contributing to measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost. Continuous improvement is a secondary responsibility of this role; primary accountability is EHS program ownership.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS): 

• Ensure the occupational health and safety and overall well-being of all employees.
• Champion and foster a proactive EHS program and culture through visible leadership, training, communication, and associate engagement.
• Maintain compliance with local, state, and federal safety and environmental legislation (OSHA 29 CFR 1910, EPA, and state/local requirements).
• Own and administer site safety programs, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Hazard Communication (HAZCOM), PPE, fall protection, confined space, machine guarding, and emergency action planning.
• Manage OSHA recordkeeping, including the OSHA 300 log and 300A annual summary, and coordinate workers’ compensation   administration and return-to-work processes.
• Environmental management: monitor and handle waste disposal, emissions, and spill prevention in line with environmental   regulations; promote sustainable practices in the facility.
• Provide safety training to employees; maintain training records and verify completion of required courses.
• Manage the safety opportunity/near-miss reporting system and track monthly safety and environmental reporting data.
• Develop, implement, and monitor Risk Assessments (RAs) and Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) to ensure they are available for all key tasks and equipment, existing and new.
• Lead incident investigations, determine root causes, implement corrective/preventive actions (CAPAs), and ensure timely reporting.
• Conduct periodic EHS assessments and audits, including internal audits against ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 frameworks.
• Represent the site on corporate and plant safety meetings and events; engage corporate EHS specialists as consultants on complex technical matters.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence: 

• Participate in cross-functional process improvement events using Lean tools (e.g., Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, TPM), with emphasis on safety-related improvements.
• Support the development, documentation, and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for optimized processes, ensuring proper training and adherence.
• Support and sustain 5S methodology throughout the facility.
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, productivity, efficiency, and project status.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational health & safety, environmental engineering, environmental sciences, industrial hygiene, engineering, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years of EHS experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting (required).
• 3–5 years in a continuous improvement role (preferred, not required).
• Lean certification in 5S, Standard Work, or Kanban (preferred, not required).
• Experience facilitating cross-functional process improvement events using Lean principles and tools such as 5S, VSM, and Kaizen (preferred).
• Experience with environmental compliance programs (required).

Certifications

• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry card (required; may be obtained within the first 6 months of employment).
• ASP or CSP certification from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (preferred).
• Familiarity with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 management system frameworks (preferred).

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to analyze data, identify discrepancies, and support problem resolution.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and know when to engage corporate specialists for support.
• Ability to maintain accurate system data and generate actionable insights.

Computer Skills

• Knowledge in ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, or similar).
• Advanced Excel skills for data analysis and planning.
• MS Office expertise.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Primarily office-based within a manufacturing facility.

Exposure to production areas with moving mechanical parts and moderate noise levels.

May be exposed to varying temperatures when entering warehouse or production areas.

Exposure to dust, humidity, and outdoor weather conditions in manufacturing facility.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) required: Safety Toe Shoes and Safety Glass 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation:

Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while working on a computer.

Ability to move throughout the office and occasionally the production floor as needed.

Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, data entry, and operating office equipment.

Ability to communicate and exchange information effectively in both office and manufacturing environments.

Ability to occasionally reach, bend, or carry light materials or documents.

Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds occasionally.

Visual requirements include close vision for computer work and the ability to adjust focus.

ADA Language (Americans with Disabilities Act)

“Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.”

EEO Statement (Equal Employment Opportunity)

Schleifring Medical Systems, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.”

Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO) 
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Company Bonus Plan
• 401 (K) Plan
• Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits: Accident/Critical Illness/Hospital Indemnity Benefits, Identity & Fraud Protection and Legal Plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability