Ehs Director

EHS Director

We are seeking an experienced and strategic EHS Director to lead and manage the Environmental, Health, and Safety programs at our Morton Grove site. This role ensures full compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations while aligning with global EHS standards. The EHS Director will serve as the site authority, driving a strong safety culture and enabling safe, compliant business growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain the site EHS strategy, policies, and objectives in alignment with corporate standards and business needs.
• Lead and mentor the site EHS team, ensuring clear accountabilities and professional development.
• Establish long-term EHS strategy and standards to support HPAPI capabilities, including exposure control and industrial hygiene programs.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, EPA, IEPA, DOT, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Manage the site risk assessment framework, including job hazard analyses and chemical risk assessments.
• Interface with regulatory agencies, inspectors, and external auditors; lead preparation, execution, and follow-up of inspections and audits.
• Ensure compliance with occupational exposure limits and regulatory expectations for handling potent compounds.
• Oversee programs related to chemical inventory management, hazardous waste disposal, and emission control systems.
• Support hazard identification and mitigation during projects and equipment qualification activities.
• Provide technical leadership on HPAPI containment strategies and cross-contamination risk mitigation.
• Ensure effective implementation of permit systems and approve EHS procedures and SOPs.
• Define and oversee site EHS training programs, including onboarding and role-specific training.
• Drive continuous improvement of safety culture through engagement and structured initiatives.
• Track and analyze EHS KPIs, report site performance, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support internal, customer, and health authority audits related to EHS.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Safety Management, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive EHS experience in chemical, pharmaceutical, or API manufacturing environments, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA and EPA regulations applicable to hazardous chemical operations.
• Proven leadership experience managing EHS programs and influencing stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively in strategic and hands-on operational environments.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in small molecules/API chemical manufacturing environments.
• Strong background in process safety and chemical hazard management.
• Experience supporting HPAPI operations, including containment systems and industrial hygiene programs.
• Experience with capital projects, technology transfers, or site expansions from an EHS perspective.
• Familiarity with global EHS standards and matrix organizations.
• Experience leading sites through regulatory inspections and customer audits.

Work Environment

This role is based at the Morton Grove site, operating within offices, laboratories, and chemical manufacturing areas. The EHS Director must frequently engage directly with operations teams and respond to emergency situations. The site has approximately 80 employees involved in R&D and manufacturing for pharmaceuticals. While initially a 3-month contract, there is potential for a long-term opportunity. The role requires a strong presence in operational environments to ensure compliance and safety.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Morton Grove, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $85.00 - $95.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Morton Grove, IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 23, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.