EHS & Continuous Improvement Specialist

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The EHS & Continuous Improvement Specialist is the on-site, hands-on resource for environmental, health and safety at the Dearborn facility. The role leads daily execution of EHS programs, hazard reduction, regulatory compliance, incident prevention, training, and corrective actions in a laboratory and testing environment. The Specialist is expected not only to identify and report concerns, but also to take ownership for implementing practical improvements and verifying that corrective actions are effective and sustained.

The role also supports continuous improvement using Vertiv Operating System (VOS) principles, including Lean problem-solving, standard work, visual management, workplace organization, and employee engagement. EHS and Safety remain the primary responsibility, with continuous improvement methods used to strengthen safe, reliable and disciplined operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

EHS leadership and culture: Maintain a visible presence in laboratories, test bays and support areas; engage employees and leaders; reinforce "We Lead with Safety" and proactive risk ownership.

Hazard identification and control

Conduct inspections, audits, workplace observations, job hazard analyses and risk assessments; select and help implement effective engineering, administrative and PPE controls.

Corrective action execution

Own or coordinate corrective actions from inspections, audits, incidents and risk assessments; remove barriers, drive timely closure and verify effectiveness.

Incident prevention and investigation

Lead or support investigations of injuries, near misses, safety violations and environmental events, including root-cause analysis, action development and lessons learned.

High-risk work programs

Support implementation and day-to-day execution of electrical safety/NFPA 70E, lockout/tagout and hazardous energy control, machine guarding, powered industrial trucks and aerial lifts, contractor safety, ergonomics, chemical safety, PPE and emergency preparedness.

Laboratory and equipment safety

Participate in equipment reviews, prototype builds, test setup changes, facility modifications and management-of-change activities to eliminate or reduce risk before work begins.

Compliance and environmental support

Help ensure conformance with applicable federal, state, local and Vertiv requirements; support inspections, recordkeeping, waste management, spill prevention, permitting and required reports.

Training and communication

Coordinate and deliver EHS orientation and task-specific training; maintain records; communicate safety metrics, trends, emerging risks and corrective-action status.

Continuous improvement execution

Facilitate focused workshops, kaizen events, structured problem-solving, 5S/workplace organization, standard work and visual management to deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost and employee experience.

Partnership

Work closely with employees, supervisors, engineering, maintenance, facilities, quality and leadership to embed safe practices into daily work and sustain improvements.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Environmental Health, Engineering, Industrial Technology or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered. Three to five years of relevant experience in EHS, engineering, manufacturing, industrial operations, laboratory/testing operations or a similar environment. Working knowledge of OSHA requirements and industrial safety principles; familiarity with NFPA 70E and electrical-safety requirements strongly preferred.

Demonstrated ability to move from hazard identification to practical execution, including corrective-action ownership and sustained closure. Experience with incident investigation, root-cause analysis, risk assessment, EHS audits and training. Strong communication, organization and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence employees and leaders across functions. Ability to manage multiple priorities independently while spending significant time in operational work areas.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred: Experience with environmental compliance and with Lean, continuous improvement, VOS, 5S or Kaizen. OSHA 30-Hour, ASP/CSP, Lean Six Sigma or similar credentials are valued. TIME TRAVEL REQUIRED 0% Located at the Dearborn facility in Columbus, Ohio; significant daily presence in laboratories, test bays and other operational areas.