ERM

Global sustainability consultancy for environmental risk

Startup and Validation EHS Program Manager

Environmental Health & SafetyConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeLebanon, IN, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Safety, Engineering, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, or a related discipline is preferred.
At least 10 years of EHS experience is required.
At least 5 years of experience supporting commissioning, qualification, startup, operational readiness, manufacturing operations, or capital projects is required.
OSHA 30-Hour certification is required.
Experience leading EHS professionals, contractors, or project teams is required.
Experience with Lockout/Tagout programs, incident investigations, permit-to-work systems, risk assessments, and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs/JSAs) is required.
Ability to work full-time onsite in Lebanon, Indiana is required.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership for the onsite commissioning and qualification HSE team, comprised of 6–8 project leads and specialists.
Establish consistent HSE expectations, processes, and field practices across all startup areas.
Mentor and support Node Leads and HSE professionals.
Interface directly with client startup leadership and project stakeholders.
Lead coordination meetings and drive accountability for HSE deliverables.
Support safe commissioning, qualification, and startup of manufacturing systems.
Participate in startup planning, readiness reviews, and operational transition activities.
Support execution of pre-startup reviews for safety and environmental considerations.
Identify startup risks and develop practical mitigation strategies.
Provide field presence during critical startup evolutions.
Maintain and continuously improve Lockout/Tagout and Safe Work Permit strategies, standards, and guidance.
Support development and review of complex isolation plans.
Audit Lockout/Tagout and Safe Work Permit implementation and compliance.
Provide oversight of high-risk work activities conducted during startup and commissioning.
Develop and report startup safety performance metrics.
Conduct program audits and field assessments.
Identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Drive closure of corrective actions and develop lessons learned.
Lead investigations of incidents, near misses, and significant safety observations.
Facilitate root cause analysis efforts.
Develop corrective and preventive actions.
Communicate lessons learned across project teams.
Coordinate with commissioning and qualification personnel, environmental specialists, and site personnel regarding startup-related environmental requirements.

Desired Qualifications

Experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, semiconductor, battery manufacturing, or active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing.
Startup or commissioning experience in regulated manufacturing environments.
Certified Safety Professional, Professional Engineer, Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, Certified Industrial Hygienist, or equivalent certification.
Experience with Pre-Startup Safety Reviews, Management of Change, Process Safety Management, Process Hazard Analysis (such as HAZOP) participation, and contractor safety programs.
Previous owner-side, embedded advisor, or secondment experience.
Experience supporting greenfield manufacturing projects.

ERM is seeking an experienced Startup and Validation EHS Program Manager to support a major pharmaceutical manufacturing startup in Lebanon, Indiana. This individual will provide onsite leadership for health, safety, and environmental activities associated with commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness of manufacturing systems and supporting infrastructure. The role serves as the primary HSE leader for startup activities and oversees a team of Node Leads and HSE professionals supporting multiple facility areas.

The successful candidate will partner closely with client leadership, startup teams, engineering organizations, and operations personnel to ensure safe startup execution, effective lockout/tagout (LOTO) programs, safe work permits (SWP), startup readiness reviews, incident prevention, and continuous improvement initiatives. Access to ERM's national EHS experts provide knowledge sharing of best practices across the industry and ongoing learning opportunities for our team. This is a full-time (40hrs/week), limited-term role for a duration of 2.5 years (30 months), extendable.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Program Oversight

Provide day-to-day leadership for the onsite C&Q HSE team, comprised of 6-8 project leads and specialists.
Establish consistent HSE expectations, processes, and field practices across all startup areas.
Mentor and support Node Leads and HSE professionals.
Interface directly with client startup leadership and project stakeholders.
Lead coordination meetings and drive accountability for HSE deliverables.

Startup Safety & Operational Readiness

Support safe commissioning, qualification, and startup of manufacturing systems.
Participate in startup planning, readiness reviews, and operational transition activities.
Support execution of pre-startup reviews for safety and environmental considerations.
Identify startup risks and develop practical mitigation strategies.
Provide field presence during critical startup evolutions.

LOTO & High-Risk Work Management

Maintain and continuously improve LOTO and SWP strategies, standards, and guidance.
Support development and review of complex isolation plans.
Audit LOTO and SWP implementation and compliance.
Provide oversight of high-risk work activities conducted during startup and commissioning.

Metrics, Auditing & Continuous Improvement

Develop and report startup safety performance metrics.
Conduct program audits and field assessments.
Identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Drive closure of corrective actions and develop lessons learned.

Incident Investigation

Lead investigations of incidents, near misses, and significant safety observations.
Facilitate root cause analysis efforts.
Develop corrective and preventive actions.
Communicate lessons learned across project teams.

Environmental Support

Coordinate with commissioning and qualification personnel, environmental specialists, and site personnel regarding startup-related environmental requirements.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Safety, Engineering, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, or related discipline preferred
10+ years of EHS experience.
Minimum 5 years supporting one or more of the following:
- Commissioning
- Qualification
- Startup
- Operational readiness
- Manufacturing operations
- Capital projects
OSHA 30-Hour certification.
Experience leading EHS professionals, contractors, or project teams.
Experience with:
- Lockout/Tagout programs
- Incident investigations
- Permit-to-work systems
- Risk assessments
- Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs/JSAs)
Ability to work full-time onsite in Lebanon, Indiana.

Preferred Qualifications

Pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, semiconductor, battery manufacturing, or API manufacturing experience.
Startup or commissioning experience in regulated manufacturing environments.
CSP, PE, CHMM, CIH, or equivalent certification.
Experience with:
- Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR)
- Management of Change (MOC)
- Process Safety Management (PSM)
- Process Hazard Analysis (e.g., HAZOP) participation
- Contractor safety programs
Previous owner-side, embedded advisor, or secondment experience.
Experience supporting greenfield manufacturing projects.

Who We Are:
As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainabilitychallengesand unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse,equitableand inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our companya great placeto build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class expertssupportsclients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technicalexpertisein addressing their environmental, health, safety,riskand social issues. We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advanceobjectiveson the ground or at the executive level.

Please submit your resume and brief cover letter.

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do notforwardresumes to ourjobsalias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Thank you for your interest in ERM!

About the Company

ERM

Global sustainability consultancy for environmental risk

ERM, Environmental Resources Management, provides sustainability consulting to help businesses manage environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risks and expand responsible practices. Its services span strategy development, risk assessment, compliance, data analytics, and program implementation for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. The company works by partnering with clients to identify EHS risks, design practical programs, set metrics, and deploy changes across operations, supply chains, and facilities, often leveraging technology and industry benchmarks. ERM differentiates itself through its global, pure-play focus on sustainability with deep, regionally diverse expertise and a track record of growth via acquisitions, supported since 2021 by majority ownership from KKR. Its goal is to help organizations improve their sustainability performance, meet regulatory and stakeholder expectations, and create long-term value for both the business and the wider environment.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Founded: 1971

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