Managing Consultant, Health & Safety (Biosafety Focus)

Shape the future of laboratory biosafety and enterprise health & safety performance in complex, high-risk environments. At ERM, this highly visible, strategic role sits at the intersection of science, operations, and risk management, influencing how leading biotechnology, pharmaceutical, research, and high-tech organizations design and run their biosafety and health & safety programs—moving beyond compliance toward resilient, high-performing systems that enable innovation while protecting people and operations.

About the Role

As scientific innovation accelerates, organizations face increasing complexity in managing biological risk. Strong, well-governed biosafety programs are critical—not just for compliance, but for enabling safe, scalable innovation. In this role, you will lead biosafety strategy and execution across BSL-1 and BSL-2 environments, with a strong preference for experience supporting or overseeing BSL-3 laboratories. Your work will directly shape how organizations manage risk, engage leadership, and embed safety into everyday laboratory operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mature biosafety programs for BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratories, with strong preference for experience in BSL-3 program oversight, commissioning, or operational readiness
• Develop, deploy, and manage biosafety management systems, including policies, standards, procedures, risk assessments, agent-specific risk reviews, exposure control plans, and biological spill response protocols
• Support and participate in Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) (e.g., member, administrator/secretary, or chair support), including protocol review, NIH Guidelines compliance, and governance cadence
• Build and deliver role-based training for laboratory staff, principal investigators, facilities and maintenance teams, waste handlers, and first responders; coach leaders to embed biosafety into daily operations
• Conduct biosafety and laboratory safety audits, gap analyses, and maturity assessments; develop corrective actions and verify effectiveness
• Oversee program interfaces such as equipment certification coordination, laboratory design and operational readiness reviews, waste management, occupational health linkages (vaccines and medical surveillance), and contractor controls
• Design and implement broader Health & Safety and Technical Risk programs, including compliance auditing, ISO 45001-aligned management systems, risk management, contractor management, and Serious Injury & Fatality (SIF) prevention
• Lead incident investigations, root cause analyses, corrective action development, and control verification while driving organizational learning
• Support safety culture and leadership initiatives, including coaching, field engagement, and capability building
• Manage complex consulting projects and programs, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations are met while exceeding client expectations
• Serve as a visible subject matter leader in biosafety and general Health & Safety; contribute to ERM best practices and knowledge sharing
• Partner with account teams and senior leaders to develop opportunities, support proposal development, and expand long-term client relationships
• Mentor and lead consultants, supporting recruiting, onboarding, performance coaching, and team development

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biosafety, Microbiology, Biology, Public Health, Industrial Hygiene, Safety Engineering, or a related discipline or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of relevant EHS experience, including substantive biosafety leadership in BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratory environments
• Strong preference for experience with BSL-3 laboratory programs, including operations oversight, commissioning/operational readiness, or governance
• Proven experience developing, deploying, and managing biosafety and Health & Safety programs (not just participating), including standards, procedures, training, metrics, and assurance
• Experience supporting or serving on Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs) with familiarity in protocol review processes and committee governance
• 2+ years of consulting experience preferred, or an internal client-facing role with equivalent scope, including proposal support and relationship management
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex technical risk into clear, actionable plans for stakeholders at all levels
• Willingness to travel up to 70% based on client needs

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional credentials such as RBP/CBSP (ABSA), CIH, CSP, or PE
• Experience working in biotech, pharmaceutical, high-tech, chemical, academic research, or government environments
• Demonstrated success building multi-year roadmaps, KPIs and metrics, governance dashboards, and management review mechanisms
• Experience interfacing with allied programs, including waste management, industrial hygiene monitoring, facilities/engineering, select agent awareness, and contractor controls in laboratory environments

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic biosafety leadership across complex laboratory environments
• Design and operationalize integrated biosafety and Health & Safety systems aligned to business goals
• Partner with senior stakeholders to strengthen governance, compliance, and risk management
• Lead program implementation, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Build organizational capability through training, coaching, and culture development
• Drive project delivery excellence while expanding client relationships and contributing to ERM’s growth

Pay

Anticipated annual base pay is $103,872–$130,886 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. This role may be eligible for bonus pay.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off and parental leave
• Medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and AD&D insurance
• 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP