EHS and Lean Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The EHS & Lean Manager will lead the development of a safer, cleaner, more organized, and more efficient working environment across both the Peoria and Roanoke locations. The initial focus of this role will be hands-on: establishing workplace standards, improving housekeeping and organization, creating clear ownership of work areas, and building sustainable Lean and EHS routines into daily operations.

This position is expected to spend significant time on the production floor working directly with managers, supervisors, and employees. The goal is not only to identify issues, but to drive practical improvements, establish standards, follow up on actions, and create a culture where safety, organization, and continuous improvement are part of how we work every day.

This role is also expected to drive the safety culture in both plants, helping out with all major safety-related topics. Key Responsibilities1. Workplace Organization & 5S

• Lead a structured 5S program across production, warehouse, assembly, fabrication, and support areas at both locations.
• Establish clear standards for cleaning, organization, material storage, tools, workstations, aisles, racks, and common areas.
• Identify and remove unnecessary equipment, materials, obsolete items, and workplace clutter.
• Create visual standards and clearly defined locations for tools, materials, WIP, finished goods, waste, and equipment.
• Establish ownership for each production and warehouse area and implement routine 5S audits.
• Work with production leadership to improve layouts, material flow, ergonomics, and overall workplace efficiency.

2. Environment, Health & Safety (EHS)

• Drive a proactive safety culture across both Peoria and Roanoke.
• Perform regular floor walks, safety observations, inspections, and risk assessments.
• Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors and ensure corrective actions are assigned, tracked, and completed.
• Develop and maintain practical EHS standards, procedures, checklists, and visual controls.
• Support incident and near-miss investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Coordinate required safety training and help ensure employees and supervisors understand expectations.
• Support compliance with applicable OSHA and environmental requirements.
• Use improvements in housekeeping, organization, traffic flow, storage, ergonomics, and standard work to reduce workplace risk.

3. Lean & Continuous Improvement

• Establish a practical Lean operating system focused on improving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Lead improvement activities using 5S, standard work, visual management, waste elimination, root-cause analysis, and other Lean methods.
• Work directly with production teams to identify wasted movement, excess handling, poor material flow, waiting time, and inefficient work methods.
• Facilitate Kaizen and improvement events and ensure improvements are sustained after implementation.
• Help departments establish measurable standards and simple daily management routines.
• Coach supervisors and employees in Lean thinking and problem solving.

4. Standards, Audits & Follow-Up

• Develop consistent Lean and EHS standards that can be used across both facilities.
• Create audit routines and scorecards for safety, housekeeping, 5S, and workplace standards.
• Maintain action lists with clear owners and due dates and follow up until actions are completed.
• Report progress, risks, trends, and priorities to management.
• Recognize good performance and help departments maintain improvements over time.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience in manufacturing, operations, EHS, Lean, continuous improvement, or a related field.
• Practical knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, including 5S, standard work, visual management, and root-cause problem solving.
• Working knowledge of OSHA requirements and general manufacturing safety practices.
• Strong hands-on approach with the ability to spend significant time on the production floor.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, drive accountability, and follow actions through to completion.
• Strong communication and coaching skills with the ability to work effectively with production employees, supervisors, and management.
• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing locations is preferred.

Key Characteristics

Hands-on • Structured • Visible on the floor • Safety-minded • Improvement-driven • Persistent with follow-up • Practical problem solver • Able to influence and coach others