EHS Lead - EMEA

Colorcon®; Dartford; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorcon® is seeking an experienced EMEA EHS Lead to set the regional strategy for process safety and regulatory compliance across sites in Dartford, FR, NL and laboratories in DE/TR/FR. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on governance to embed a strong safety culture and drive risk reduction.

Based in Dartford, UK, the position requires travel within Europe and beyond to align with global EHS standards.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership in process safety and EHS within manufacturing or high-hazard industries.
• Deep knowledge of DSEAR and ATEX requirements across sites.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cultural change.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional process safety and EHS strategy across multiple sites in EMEA.
• Govern EHS programs, audits, CAPA, and regulatory compliance.
• Support incident investigations and drive continual improvements regionally and globally.
• Oversee laboratories and handling of chemicals, APIs, and hazardous environments.
• Partner with Site Leaders to embed strong safety leadership and accountability.

Skills

Process Safety Leadership

DSEAR & ATEX

Multi-site Oversight

UK/EU EHS Law

Stakeholder Influence

Education

Engineering / Chemistry Degree

NEBOSH / IOSH / IChemE

Job description

Colorcon® is a world leader in the development, supply and technical support of formulated film coating systems, modified release technologies, specialty excipients and functional packaging for the pharmaceutical, nutritional, and animal health industries. Our best-in-class products and technologies are complemented by our extensive formulation experience, application data and value-added services to support all phases of solid oral dose design, development, and manufacture.

Our focus on market issues and technology development has earned Colorcon an international reputation as a pharmaceutical supplier of choice. That reputation is based on superior product quality, unparalleled technical support, extensive regulatory assistance and reliable supply from multiple locations, with our Global Headquarters located in Harleysville, Pennsylvania.

Colorcon has 26 technical service laboratories globally and more than 2100 employees exclusively dedicated to its customer base.

We are a successful company thanks to our diverse workforce and global reach. We believe that our operating principles define our culture, values and organizations and are key to achieving our mission and vision, strategies and goals.

Platinum Rule:

We treat others the way they want to be treated

Empowerment:

We trust our colleagues with responsibility and decision-making

Keep Getting Better:

We create an environment for constant improvement, to be the best we can

Teamwork:

We embrace the value of collaboration; work together to exceed what is possible as individuals

Customer Focus:

We put our customers’ needs at the heart of everything we do

Global Respect:

We are citizens of a diverse world and behave with respect for the communities in which we operate

At Colorcon we value diversity. Typically, that means diversity in people. But here, we also appreciate and respect a diversity of possibilities around our professional roles, creative team-oriented solutions, projects and career paths.

Along with diversity, we believe in empowerment. We encourage our employees to approach challenges in imaginative and proactive ways. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and encourage you to let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.

Job Title: EMEA EHS Lead

Reporting to: Operation Director, EMEA

Direct reports: 2 x EHS Advisor, EHS Co-Ordinator – all based in Dartford

Dotted line reports: EHS / CI Leads for Bazainville (FR), Romorantin (FR), Almere (ND)

Position Summary

The Process Safety and EHS Lead is responsible for setting the regional strategy to ensure compliance with local legal requirements and safe working practices in all EMEA locations. The EMEA strategy will integrate and support the global EHS strategy.

The post holder will support the regional leadership team (RLT) and all department managers in EMEA with the promotion of effective EHS leadership, and maintenance of a safe working environment for all Colorcon employees, contractors and visitors. This role acts as a strategic business partner to the Site Leadership Teams, operation and engineering managers, as well as the Global EHS function to ensure consistency and embed a strong safety culture and drive continuous risk reduction.

This is a full‑time position with primary responsibility for sites in Dartford (UK), Romorantin (FR), Almere (ND), and our regional laboratories located in eg Idstein (DE), Istanbul (TR), and Massy (FR).

The position will be based in Dartford, UK, but will require travel to other Colorcon sites in the EMEA region.

Role Purpose

The EMEA EHS Lead provides strategic leadership and technical authority across all process safety and EHS activities within the EMEA region.

The Role Ensures

• Consistency in compliance with local legal requirements and Colorcon requirements.
• Design and implementation of high‑performing EHS and process safety standards across manufacturing sites and regional laboratories, with particular focus on DSEAR (UK), and ATEX (FR and other EU Countries, as implemented) compliance.
• Prompt communication and implementation of Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPA).

Key Responsibilities

Process Safety, DSEAR & ATEX Leadership

• Provide regional leadership and governance for process safety management, ensuring alignment with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Act as the EMEA technical authority for DSEAR and ATEX, ensuring compliance with DSEAR regulations, EU ATEX Directives (workplace and equipment) and other local legislations on the topic.
• Ensure hazardous area classifications, explosion risk assessments, and ignition risk controls are robust, current, and consistently applied across sites.
• Assist in the selection, installation, inspection, and recommended maintenance of ATEX‑rated equipment, working closely with Engineering and Maintenance teams.
• Lead and support HAZOPs, risk assessments, and layers of protection analyses for new and existing processes.
• Ensure effective Change Management processes are in place and rigorously applied.

EHS Governance and Regulatory Compliance

• Lead the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of EHS management systems across Dartford, France, the Netherlands, and regional laboratories.
• Lead sites during complex incident investigations, ensuring learnings are shared regionally and / or globally, as required.
• Ensure compliance with local, national, and EU EHS legislation, ISO 14001 and 45001 standards and occupational health through internal and external audit plans, where appropriate.
• Support sites during regulatory inspections, audits, and licensing activities, acting as a key technical interface with regulators when required.
• Develop, monitor, and analyse EHS and process safety performance metrics to drive continual improvement. Prepare regular reports for the RLT and the Global Leadership Team.

Regional Leadership & Site Partnership

• Actively partner with Site Leaders and local EHS teams to strengthen accountability for EHS and process safety performance.
• Provide expert coaching, challenge, and support to all site leaders and department managers so that an open and robust safety culture is established and maintained.
• Define and promote strong safety leadership behaviours and set expectations for their implementation.
• Create and support a proactive reporting and learning culture.
• Drive harmonisation of EHS and process safety standards across EMEA while ensuring local legal compliance is respected.

Laboratories Oversight

• Provide EHS and process safety oversight for regional laboratories, including chemical and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) handling, flammable atmospheres, storage, waste management, and emergency preparedness.
• Ensure laboratory risk assessments, DSEAR evaluations, and control measures are suitable and sufficient for laboratory activities.
• Ensure procedures for local handling of APIs are respected.

Continuous Improvement & Strategy

• Lead EMEA‑wide initiatives to improve process safety maturity and EHS performance.
• Identify trends from incidents, near misses, audits, and inspections, turning insights into sustainable improvements.
• Contribute to Global EHS and Process Safety strategy and represent EMEA in global forums and working groups.

Key Relationships

• Site Leadership Teams (Dartford, France, Netherlands).
• Regional and Global EHS Teams.
• Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and Project Teams.
• Laboratory Management.
• External regulators, auditors, and specialist consultants.

Essential

Minimum Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Process Safety and EHS leadership within manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceutical, or similarly high‑hazard industries.
• Strong, demonstrable knowledge of DSEAR and ATEX requirements, including hazardous area classification and explosion risk control.
• Proven experience supporting multi‑site, multi‑country EMEA operations.
• In‑depth understanding of UK and EU EHS legislation.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cultural change.

Desirable

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Chemistry, Safety, or a related discipline.

Professional Qualifications Such As NEBOSH, IOSH, IChemE, Or Equivalent.

• Experience working with laboratories in an operational or R&D environment.

Personal Attributes

• Credible and confident technical leader, with strong influencing and communication skills.
• Pragmatic and risk‑based, able to balance operational needs with compliance and safety.
• Resilient, organised, and comfortable working across cultures and geographies.
• Passionate about safety, people development, and continuous improvement.

Location

Flagship House, Victory Way,

Crossways, Dartford, DA@ 6QD

United Kingdom

Annually - 0.00 - 0.00