EH&S Specialist

A Day in Your Life at MKS:

As an EH&S Specialist at MKS Japan, you will partner with cross-functional teams—including Operations, Services, Facilities and business divisions—to support four key sites: Tokyo Kudan (base), Saitama Omiya, Tokyo Akishima, and Osaka. This role requires regular business travel to ensure the effective development, implementation, and management of EHS programs in full compliance with the Japanese Industrial Safety and Hygiene Act and other local regulations. Furthermore, you will drive a sustainable safety culture by localizing corporate EHS and ESG/CSR initiatives, reporting directly to the Far East Regional EHS Lead.

You Will Make an Impact By:

• Maintain and monitor the EHS management systems (including ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001) for each site; keep relevant documents, identify gaps against all applicable standards, develop & implement corrective/preventive actions, and collect & report relevant KPIs.

• Provide leadership and guidance to the site management teams to integrate EHS responsibilities into daily operations and lead the continuous improvement of the safety culture across all four locations.
• Conduct regular safety risk assessments to identify potential hazards in general manufacturing processes—with a strong focus on electrical and laser equipment—and develop control measures to mitigate risks.
• Lead and investigate reported near-misses and incidents. Develop and implement incident emergency response plans, training, and drills for each site.
• Develop and implement EHS training programs for all new hires and site workers, monitoring compliance with statutory requirements.
• Oversee the maintenance of EHS-related facilities and equipment. Assist in reviews of major plans and specifications for new operations and equipment use to ensure appropriate EHS requirements are met.
• Ensure compliance with local Japanese EHS regulations across all managed sites, including managing permits, licenses, and approvals (Right to Operate, RTO). Perform site-level internal audits and safety walks, and coordinate external audits (Corporate, FM Global, local authorities, Customers).
• Lead and coordinate customer EHS requests and assessments. Act as the system administrator for the global EHS software system (MASTER), managing data and supporting user adoption.
• Coordinate the Safety and Health Committee meetings, sharing roles with the local Safety and Health Promoters at each site. Coordinate the EHS budget and investment plans. Also, monitor water/electricity usage and provide support on managing industrial waste manifests.

Skills You Bring:

• BS Degree preferably in a STEM field (Electrical, Mechanical, Engineering) or Health & Safety/Environmental Management, with 3 - 5 years of related experience in EHS within a manufacturing environment.
• Hold or be eligible to obtain relevant Japanese certifications (e.g., First Class Health Officer [第一種衛生管理者] or Safety Manager [安全管理者], etc.).
• Good written and verbal understanding of English (ability to handle emails and global team communications).
• In-depth Knowledge of Japanese EHS Regulations which also include:
• RTO (Permits)
• Local Regulations (Industrial Safety and Health Act, Fire Service Act, etc.)
• Environmental Regulations (permits consent to discharge to atmosphere and sewer)
• The management of hazardous and universal wastes
• Control of stormwater as required
• Occupational health
• Experience maintaining compliance programs such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, including worker training.
• A working knowledge of vacuum power generator components, electrical safety, and laser safety as best practice is highly preferred.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize based on risk assessment.
• Willingness and adaptability to travel frequently to the four designated sites and manage multiple locations effectively.
• Strong presentation, organizational, analytical & problem-solving skills.
• Practical understanding of EHS regulations and legislation.
• Experience with system and project management using lean approaches like PDCA and 6S.
• Transparency in communication and the experience to engage and inform varying groups across different sites effectively.

Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to various export control regulations. Applicants for these positions may be limited (by, for example, their countries of citizenship, country of origin, or immigration status) where required by law or governmental contact, and/or employment made contingent upon the issuance of appropriate governmental licensing.

MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies. MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.

MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: accommodationsatMKS@mksinst.com .

If applying for a specific job, please include the requisition number (ex: RXXXX), the title and location of the role