Quality, Health, Safety & Environmental Lead

Syntetica; Clermont-Ferrand; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Syntetica is building a pioneering nylon recycling platform and seeks a seasoned Quality & HSE Leader to establish and own the Quality Management System for the pilot and demonstration plant. You will work across Engineering, Process and Operations to embed safety, compliance and continuous improvement into day-to-day operations.

In this role you will drive risk assessments, ensure documentation and CAPA processes, and collaborate with suppliers and contractors to meet future certifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical field (Engineering, Chemistry, HSE or Quality).
• About 5 years in an industrial environment, including pilot or scale-up projects.
• Experience implementing QMS and HSE systems in operation.
• Strong knowledge of risk assessment, process safety and quality management.
• Fluent English and French; ability to work with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Establish and own the Quality Management System for the pilot and demonstration plant.
• Develop document control, deviations, CAPA, change control, traceability, and continual improvement.
• Define quality requirements and acceptance criteria for feedstock, streams and products with Process and R&D.
• Support supplier quality, FAT/SAT, and audits.
• Establish and own HSE systems, training, reporting, and emergency preparedness.
• Lead risk assessments and coordinate HAZOP/HAZID actions and closure.
• Develop safe systems of work for chemical handling, equipment operation, contractors, and access.
• Embed quality and HSE into plant design, commissioning, and day-to-day operations.

Skills

Quality management

HSE systems

Cross-functional collaboration

Industrial safety

Documentation control

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering/ Chemistry/ HSE/ Quality

Job description

WHO WE ARE

Syntetica is decarbonising the textile industry through green chemistry recycling — starting with nylon.

Today, most synthetic textiles are made from crude oil, and less than 1% are recycled back into new fibers. We're here to change that. At Syntetica, we’ve developed a patented depolymerization process that breaks down nylon-rich textile waste into virgin-equivalent nylon monomers — while separating materials like elastane, polyester, and cotton for further recycling.

To date, we’ve raised >$35M from leading investors including EQT Ventures, Lululemon and MAS Holdings alongside the family offices of Peugeot, Etam and Indorama Ventures. We’ve already forged key partnerships with major textile players like Victoria’s Secret, Etam Group and Lululemon and have assembled a core team of 25 experts.

We're now scaling industrially with a first demo facility built in partnership with Michelin. If you want to help bring truly circular materials to global scale, and solve one of the textile industry’s biggest sustainability challenges, come build with us!

Press articles:

• Lululemon backs nylon recycling startup in $30M Series A
• Syntetica and Michelin's CMD announce an unprecedented partnership to scale nylon recycling

WHO YOU ARE

You have experience establishing quality and HSE practices in an industrial environment, and you know how to make those systems work in practice rather than simply on paper. You are comfortable working alongside engineering and operations teams as a plant is being built, commissioned, and brought into operation. You bring enough structure to ensure safety, quality, and compliance without slowing down a fast-moving organization, and you are able to adapt systems as the process and plant evolve.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Quality Management

• Establish and own the Quality Management System for the pilot and demonstration plant
• Develop practical processes for document control, deviations, CAPA, change control, traceability, and continuous improvement
• Define quality requirements and acceptance criteria for feedstock, process streams, and products, working closely with Process and R&D
• Support supplier quality, FAT/SAT, and preparation for customer and future certification audits

Health, Safety & Environment

• Establish and own HSE systems for the pilot and demonstration plant, including procedures, training, reporting, and emergency preparedness
• Lead risk assessments and coordinate HAZOP/HAZID actions, ensuring risks are identified, mitigated, and followed through to closure
• Develop safe systems of work covering chemical handling, equipment operation, maintenance, contractors, and plant access
• Support commissioning and operations by identifying and addressing HSE risks as the plant and process evolve
• Ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, and environmental requirements

Overall

• Work closely with Engineering, Process, R&D, and Operations to embed quality and HSE into plant design, commissioning, and day-to-day operations
• Establish systems and ways of working that can scale from the demonstration plant to future commercial facilities
• Act as the internal point of reference for quality and HSE and build ownership of these topics across the organization
• Work with external consultants, laboratories, suppliers, contractors, and regulatory bodies as required
• Invest in our company values and vision and champion them as we grow

BACKGROUND & SKILLS

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, HSE, Quality, or a related technical field
• ~5 years of relevant experience in an industrial environment, ideally including pilot, demonstration, scale-up, commissioning, or FOAK projects
• Experience with both quality management and HSE systems, with a practical understanding of how to implement them in an operating environment
• Strong knowledge of industrial risk assessment, process safety, and quality management principles
• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and external suppliers or contractors
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, or equivalent standards is a plus
• Familiarity with French and European HSE and environmental regulations is a plus
• Strong communication and organizational skills; comfortable working in English and French
• Practical, rigorous, and comfortable operating in an environment where processes and priorities evolve

At Syntetica, we are a dynamic group of individuals, united by a common mission, who believe our diversity is key to our success. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive work environment, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination on any basis.