EHS Director

Veranova L P; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A global pharmaceutical company is looking for an EHS Director in Edinburgh to lead Environmental Health and Safety programs. The role involves ensuring compliance with regulations, fostering a safety culture, and managing a team. The candidate should have a relevant degree, leadership skills, and a strong understanding of EHS standards. The position offers opportunities for professional growth and a comprehensive benefits package including competitive pay and performance bonuses.

Benefits

Industry-leading compensation package

Annual performance bonus

Health and wellbeing benefits

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience managing direct reports effectively.
• Strong leadership in safety initiatives and promoting a safety culture.
• Ability to manage the EHS budget and resources efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Lead site-specific EHS programs and ensure compliance.
• Manage the EHS team and drive safety culture.
• Ensure readiness for emergency response scenarios.

Skills

Leadership skills

EHS regulations understanding

Communication skills

Conflict management

Proactive mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety or related field

Professional certification(s)

Job description

Discover Veranova :

At Veranova we believe people are our most important asset and we are dedicated to building the most talented and diverse workforce in our industry. Our commitment to uncompromising focus on quality compliance safety and excellence in delivery shapes everything we do. We are not just looking for skills; we are seeking innovative individuals who have a mindset open to learning and growth and a desire to make a difference.

Veranova is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of complex active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for pharma and biotech customers. With deep technical expertise and impressive flexibility we develop solutions and processes that support and accelerate innovation.

Join us on our mission to enable current and next-generation therapeutics to improve and save the lives of patients.

Role Overview :

At Veranova we are committed to EHS excellence and ensuring a safe healthy and regulatory-compliant work environment. The EHS Director is responsible for overseeing and leading the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) programs and activities at the site. This role requires a proactive hands‑on leader who will manage day‑to‑day EHS operations, drive continuous improvement, ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, and promote a culture of safety across all site activities. The EHS Director will work closely with other members of site leadership and cross‑functional teams to implement best practices and ensure the well‑being of all employees, contractors, and visitors.

Core Responsibilities :

• EHS Program Management : Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of site‑specific EHS programs including environmental compliance, process safety management, personnel safety, occupational hygiene, and emergency response ensuring alignment with organizational goals, regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• EHS Department Management : Manage members of the site EHS team and other direct reports as assigned. Develop and manage the site EHS budget ensuring that sufficient resources are allocated to support EHS initiatives, training, compliance and audits.
• Regulatory Compliance : Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and industry best practices. Prepare for and support regulatory inspections, audits and permit reviews. Maintain necessary documentation and records to demonstrate compliance.
• Safety Leadership and Culture : Promote and drive a culture of safety throughout the site. Lead by example and foster employee engagement in safety programs. Provide guidance, support and training to staff at all levels to ensure safety best practices are understood and followed.
• Regulatory and Customer Interactions : Lead any regulatory or customer audits / inspections and ensure responses are prepared in a timely manner and outstanding issues are resolved.
• Incident Investigation and Reporting : Oversee the investigation of workplace incidents including accidents, injuries, near‑misses and environmental releases. Ensure thorough root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Track and report incident trends and share lessons learned with management and employees.
• Training and Development : Ensure a program is in place for the development and delivery of site‑specific EHS training programs to ensure all employees are knowledgeable about safety procedures, emergency response plans and hazard awareness. Ensure training records are maintained and training needs are assessed regularly.
• Emergency Response and Preparedness : Ensure there are robust emergency preparedness efforts including the development, implementation and testing of emergency response plans. Ensure employees are trained on emergency procedures and conduct regular drills and exercises to maintain readiness at the site.
• Site EHS Reporting and Metrics : Monitor report and present EHS performance metrics for the site and Veranova management. Provide regular updates to site leadership on EHS performance trends and areas for improvement.
• Continuous Improvement : Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in EHS programs, systems and procedures. Implement new technologies, methodologies or initiatives that enhance the site’s EHS performance.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration : Collaborate with other departments such as Operations, Maintenance, HR and Quality to integrate EHS principles into daily operations and ensure alignment across teams.
• Global Initiatives : Lead global initiatives such as standards development and site audits. Work with the Global EHS Director to develop global goals and objectives.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering or a related field.
• Professional certification(s)
• Prior experience managing direct reports
• Strong understanding of EHS regulations and standards and experience with environmental compliance, safety management systems and hazard assessments.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage and influence a diverse team. Experience leading safety initiatives and fostering a positive safety culture across an organization.
• Strategic business‑savvy and able to prioritize effectively.
• Approachable, collaborative and skilled in conflict management.
• Excellent communication with experience presenting to senior leadership.
• Flexible and adaptable to take on additional responsibilities.

Our Commitment :

• Inclusive Culture : At Veranova an inclusive culture is integral to our values. We are committed to ensuring that everyone can bring their full self to work and thrive in their career.
• Financial Wellness : The company provides an industry‑leading compensation package and this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable bonus plan. You will also receive excellent pension contributions with the option of making contributions via salary sacrifice and access to discounts from major online and high street stores.
• Health & Wellbeing : As well as being entitled to 25 days annual leave plus recognised Scottish public holidays our colleagues are also eligible to participate in benefits such as our Health Shield Cash Plan Cycle2Work Scheme life insurance income protection and GP Anytime.
• Professional Development : Opportunities for continuous growth and development through resources such as LinkedIn Learning, functional career pathways and individual Personal Development Plans to map out your future with us.

How to Apply :

At Veranova we are eager to meet people that believe in our values and can contribute to the team in a variety of ways. Please visit to view all open roles and join our Talent Community to stay connected and learn about opportunities as they arise.

We value a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. If you want to be part of improving and saving the lives of patients we encourage you to apply regardless of whether you meet every qualification listed.

If you are a member of the Armed Forces, first responder or are in the process of transitioning from the Armed Forces to civilian life we encourage you to apply. Your experience brings invaluable skills and insights that can contribute to our team.

For applicants who may require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability you may submit your request by sending an email to in order to confirm your request for an accommodation. Please include the job number title and location of role. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability.

Additional Information :

Under UK legislation we are required to ensure that all employees have the legal right to work in the UK both at the time of offer and throughout their employment. Please note that we are not able to provide sponsorship for this role so applicants must have the necessary right to work in place independently.

Agency and Search Firm Representatives : Veranova will not accept unsolicited applications / CVs from agencies and / or search firms for this job posting.

Veranova is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.

All applications are carefully considered and your details will be stored on our secure Application Management System. This is used throughout Veranova for the selection of suitable candidates for our vacancies as they arise. Veranova respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. For more information about how your personal data is used please view our privacy notice.

Required Experience : Director

Key Skills

Anti Money Laundering, Collection And Recovery, Domestic, Fusion, Air Conditioning, Brokerage

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1