Assoc. Dir., Safety & Environment

About the role

This Associate Director, Safety & Environment Manager role provides EHS leadership for a new small molecule manufacturing capability at the Elkton, Virginia site, supporting a major project to establish Drug Substance (API) and Drug Product manufacturing. The position reports to the EHS Project Core Team Lead with an indirect relationship to the Elkton EHS Director / Site Lead. After startup, the role will transition to leading the site’s EHS team for day-to-day support of the new facilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide EHS leadership across safety, environmental, industrial hygiene, process safety, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance for the project.
• Integrate EHS requirements into project scope, design, construction planning, commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness.
• Partner with project leadership, site EHS, engineering, construction, operations, quality, technical operations, and external partners to identify, track, escalate, and close EHS risks and deliverables.
• Provide technical EHS input to process safety information, process hazard analyses, management of change, pre-startup safety reviews, mechanical integrity, operating procedures, training, and related operational readiness deliverables.
• Shape the Industrial Hygiene strategy, including exposure risk assessment, containment expectations, OEB/OEL considerations, monitoring strategy, respiratory protection interfaces, and integration of controls into facility and equipment design.
• Work with engineering and design teams to evaluate EHS requirements for new processes, equipment, utilities, buildings, material flows, waste systems, emergency response features, containment systems, ventilation, fire protection, and hazardous area classification.
• Support construction execution by providing EHS input on contractor safety, work planning, high-risk work, temporary systems, tie-ins, enabling works, and interfaces with existing Elkton operations.
• Translate corporate, divisional, project, and site EHS standards into practical project requirements and ensure consistent implementation across API/Drug Substance and Drug Product workstreams.
• Build strong working relationships with site EHS, operations, engineering, quality, technical operations, Global Engineering Solutions, Global Safety & Environment, contractors, consultants, and other key stakeholders.
• Prepare for future operations by ensuring EHS procedures, training needs, inspection programs, maintenance expectations, emergency response plans, staffing needs, and management system requirements are identified and transitioned to the Elkton site.
• Develop the future EHS team responsible for day-to-day support of the new facilities, including priorities, capabilities, roles, routines, and interfaces with the broader Elkton EHS organization.
• Drive a strong safety and environmental culture by coaching leaders, challenging assumptions, promoting learning, and reinforcing accountability for EHS performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Physical Science, or a related technical discipline.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive EHS, safety, industrial hygiene, or process safety experience within a manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical, or highly regulated environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience driving people, teams, programs, or major project workstreams.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM), Industrial Hygiene (IH), and U.S. EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) requirements.
• Experience supporting EHS requirements throughout the full engineering project lifecycle (design through operational readiness).
• Proven track record providing practical EHS input into engineering deliverables such as layouts, P&IDs, equipment specifications, ventilation concepts, containment systems, and waste handling strategies.
• Proven ability to identify, evaluate, and mitigate EHS risks using structured risk assessments, incident investigations, root cause analysis, and audit management processes.
• Strategic EHS leadership with strong cross-functional collaboration, influencing skills, and ability to coach leaders and integrate safety into decisions while balancing compliance, technical risk, cost, and schedule.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in pharmaceutical, API, chemical manufacturing, or highly hazardous chemical operations.
• Expertise in potent compound containment, OEB/OEL strategies, containment performance targets, and integrating complex Industrial Hygiene controls into equipment and facility design.
• Experience executing large capital projects using Front-End Loading (FEL) phases, formal design reviews, construction safety management, and Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) methodologies.
• Hands-on experience leading or supporting PSM/RMP-covered processes involving flammable, toxic, reactive, or highly hazardous materials.
• Relevant professional certifications (e.g., CSP, CIH, CHMM, or PE).
• Proven experience partnering effectively with regulatory agencies, external consultants, engineering firms, construction management organizations, or insurance/risk engineering partners.

Skills

• Budget Management
• EHS Compliance
• EHS Management Systems
• EHS Program Management
• Emergency Response Preparedness
• Fire Safety
• Incident Investigations
• Industrial Hygiene
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Regulatory Compliance
• Safety Audits
• Strategic Thinking
• Technical Mentoring
• Training and Development
• Waste Management

Pay

The salary range for this role is $129,000.00 – $203,100.00. Position within the range will be based on education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• Paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days

Schedule

Travel requirements: up to 10%. Flexible work arrangements not applicable. Shift not indicated.