Principal Environmental Health & Safety Specialist

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• Training & Compliance Readiness
• Lead the safety culture, build engagement with leadership and employees, creating a safety-first mindset for the organization.
• Build, deliver, and manage an annual EHS training program, including onboarding and annual refreshers.
• Maintain training records, compliance documentation, and audit readiness.
• Cook up and communicate contractor/vendor safety training where applicable.
• EHS Program Development & Ownership
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve a comprehensive Environmental, Health & Safety management system, including:
• Workplace Safety & Risk Management
• Hazard Communication / Employee Right-to-Know
• Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), equipment risk assessments, and machine safety
• Lockout / Tagout (LOTO), confined space, ladder safety, fall protection, ergonomics, slips/trips/falls prevention, and PPE programs
• Operational & Facility Safety
• Laser safety
• Compressed gas safety
• Eye wash and emergency shower programs
• Emergency Preparedness & Incident Response
• Emergency Response Team (ERT), First Aid, and AED oversight
• Fire prevention and extinguisher inspection readiness
• Chemical spill response and spill team readiness
• Mock drills and emergency preparedness exercises
• Environmental & Regulated Materials
• Biohazard, bloodborne pathogen, and sharps waste management
• Electronic waste (e-waste) management
• Air and wastewater monitoring in accordance with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requirements, as applicable
• Compliance, Governance & Continuous Improvement
• Safety Committee and AWAIR program leadership
• Regulatory compliance, audits, and inspections
• Incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
• EHS training, annual compliance reviews, and documentation
• Continuous improvement initiatives and safety culture development
• Site EHS Support (Office + Manufacturing / R&D)
• Provide direct EHS support and risk management for office and technical operations
• Engage with the safety committee to conduct routine site inspections, walkthroughs, and risk reviews
• Manage the company’s hazardous waste program, including collection, storage, transportation and disposal
• Partner with and provide day-to-day EHS guidance to Engineering, Operations, R&D, and Facilities
• Respond to EHS incidents and urgent operational safety needs as required
• Audits, Inspections, and Continuous Improvement
• Perform scheduled audits and inspections to verify program effectiveness and compliance
• Maintain inspection logs, program documentation, and corrective action tracking
• Own annual compliance reviews and program refresh cadence
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the organization, with measurable goals and results
• Incident Investigation & Corrective Actions
• Own the incident management process including reporting, investigation, root cause analysis, and CAPA
• Ensure timely closure of corrective actions and communication of lessons learned
• Expansion Support (Minnesota Growth)
• Serve as EHS lead for Minnesota site expansion efforts including due diligence and readiness planning
• Support new site EHS readiness checklists and commissioning activities
• Deploy standardized scalable programs for new sites
• Australia Collaboration, Safety Program Oversight & Governance
• Provide EHS program oversight for Australia office and manufacturing sites
• Partner with local site leadership and external consultants to meet local compliance requirements
• Establish consistent reporting, audit cadence, and corrective action closure across global sites

Required Skills, Knowledge, Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• 8+ years of progressive EHS experience, preferably including manufacturing and/or R&D environments
• Proven experience building and deploying EHS programs and systems from the ground up
• Strong working knowledge of MN OSHA & Federal OSHA requirements and EHS best practices
• Experience leading audits, inspections, incident investigations, and corrective action programs
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and leaders without direct authority
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; capable trainer and program developer
• Highly organized, self-directed, and capable of managing competing priorities with minimal supervision
• Experience working with external consultants and managing deliverables

Preferred

• CSP, CHMM, or similar professional certification
• Experience supporting multi-site operations and/or global locations
• Experience in regulated industries (medical devices, life sciences, pharmaceuticals)

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move throughout office, warehouse, laboratory, and manufacturing environments.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and reach throughout the workday.
• May occasionally enter cleanroom or controlled manufacturing areas while following applicable gowning and safety procedures.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to make a significant impact on the healthcare industry by advancing groundbreaking therapies.
• A collaborative and dynamic work environment with a culture of innovation and excellence.
• A competitive compensation package, including salary, performance-based bonuses, and stock options.
• Career development opportunities and a chance to be part of a growing company that values its employees.
• Health and wellness offerings such as medical, dental, and vision benefits, a flexible spending account (FSA), a 401(k) plan with company match, life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance, a bonus plan, employee equity program, paid holidays and vacation, an employee assistance program, and an inclusive team environment.