Head of Safety, Health & Environment

United States, Walkersville (Maryland)

Head of Safety, Health & Environment

Location: This position is currently remote. A future transition to an on-site location on the U.S. East-Coast/Mid-West is anticipated as the project progresses, with an expected timeline in 2027. This is a full-time role with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What You Will Get

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $155,700 to $181,650. In addition, below you will find a comprehensive summary of the benefits package we offer:

• Performance-related bonus.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) matching plan.
• Life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Paid time off (PTO).
  
  

Compensation for this role will be determined by the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge.

What Will You Do

We are seeking a Head of Safety, Health & Environment to lead the EHSS strategy and readiness activities for Lonza's U.S. small molecule growth investment projects. This role will serve as the subject matter expert for Environmental, Health, Safety, Sustainability, and Security programs, ensuring compliance, process safety, operational readiness, and risk management throughout site selection, design, construction, start-up, and ongoing operations. Initially remote, this role will transition to the selected U.S. site location as the project advances.

• Lead the EHSS workstream for U.S. small molecule expansion projects, partnering with project leadership, Global Engineering, and EHSS stakeholders to support successful project execution
• Develop and implement EHSS, Sustainability, and Security programs that support regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and environmental stewardship
• Support site selection activities, growth initiatives, and potential M&A opportunities by providing EHSS risk assessments and strategic guidance
• Establish EHSS requirements and standards for facility design, construction, commissioning, qualification, and operational readiness activities
• Lead Process Safety Management (PSM) and EHS risk management activities for new operations, equipment, process changes, and capital projects, including PHA, HAZOP, MOC, and implementation of appropriate mitigation strategies to support safe operational readiness.
• Oversee sustainability programs and initiatives, driving performance improvements aligned with company objectives and regulatory expectations
• Coordinate and support internal inspections, corporate audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections while ensuring timely resolution of findings
• Build and lead a culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement while providing strategic updates and recommendations to senior leadership
  
  

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental health & safety, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred
• 10 years of progressive EHSS leadership experience within pharmaceutical, API, biotechnology, chemical, life sciences, or other highly regulated manufacturing/Process Safety Management (PSM) environments
• Experience supporting major capital projects, facility start-ups, site expansions, greenfield developments, or large-scale transformation initiatives
• Strong knowledge of OSHA, EPA, environmental compliance, PSM, industrial hygiene, sustainability, and security programs
• Demonstrated experience implementing EHSS programs within API, HPAPI, or GMP-regulated chemical process manufacturing environments, preferably supporting small molecule drug substance manufacturing
• Experience supporting containment-intensive manufacturing environments (e.g., HPAPI containment, industrial hygiene, occupational exposure control) preferred.
• Experience conducting Process Hazard Analyses (PHA), HAZOPs, Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA), and Management of Change (MOC) within process manufacturing environments is preferred.
• Experience supporting multi-product API manufacturing or CDMO environments is preferred.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and Project Management organizations
• Strong analytical, risk assessment, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to drive strategic and operational improvements
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with experience engaging senior leadership, regulatory agencies, contractors, and external stakeholders
• Ability and willingness to transition to an East Coast or Midwest U.S. site location as project needs evolve
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel to EMEA and NA at approximately 25-30% of the time to meet business objectives
  
  

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30 sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.

Reference: R77586

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