Health & Safety Officer - Tralee

Astellas Pharma; Tralee; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A global pharmaceutical company in Tralee is seeking a Health & Safety Officer to lead and improve safety programs while ensuring compliance with Irish and EU standards. The successful candidate will need a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and extensive experience in high-hazard environments. The role involves fostering a culture of safety and conducting H&S training. This is a permanent, full-time position, requiring 100% on-site presence.

Benefits

Continuous development opportunities

Inspiring work climate

Challenging diversity in job responsibilities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required.
• Extensive relevant H&S experience in high-hazard manufacturing settings.
• Demonstrated experience with risk assessment and incident investigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve the H&S program, ensuring compliance with all relevant standards.
• Promote a proactive safety culture across all site functions.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on H&S matters.

Skills

Risk assessment

Incident investigation

H&S auditing

Training delivery

Knowledge of H&S legislation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering

Tools

Safety data management systems

Project management tools

Job description

Description

Health & Safety Officer – Tralee

About Astellas

We have developed ground-breaking, innovative medicines in immunology, oncology and urology. Our medicines are extending and saving the lives of cancer patients, making transplantation possible and improving the quality of life for those living with conditions where needs are often overlooked.

We take a patient-focused approach that allows us to convert brilliant early science into treatments and solutions that directly improve and save patients’ lives. From lab to clinic to patient, we focus on the most promising science, empower the best talent to pursue it, and develop life-changing solutions alongside the best partners.

The Opportunity

You are responsible for establishing, implementing, and continuously improving the Health & Safety management systems for the Tralee Plant throughout both its commissioning and operational phases. This includes ensuring full compliance with all relevant Irish and EU regulations, as well as Astellas corporate safety standards. A key focus of your role is to foster a proactive culture of safety and well-being across the site, working collaboratively with site leadership and frontline personnel to effectively identify and mitigate Health & Safety risks.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously evolve the Health & Safety (H&S) program at the Tralee Plant, ensuring compliance with Irish, EU, and Astellas corporate safety standards, while managing large-scale, complex H&S initiatives from commissioning through full operations.
• Drive a proactive safety culture by promoting health, safety, and employee well-being across all site functions, visibly leading campaigns, and facilitating the Health & Safety Awareness Group, including the development of elected safety representatives.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on all H&S matters, providing strategic guidance on risk assessment processes, safe systems of work, hazard controls, and integrating H&S into change controls, equipment modifications, and organizational developments.
• Guide and mentor staff across all levels, including frontline personnel and cross-functional teams, on their H&S responsibilities; ensure effective communication of legal changes and procedural updates impacting daily operations.
• Lead and coordinate H&S training and emergency preparedness programs, including for the Crisis Management Team, Emergency Response Team, and First Aid, ensuring content is inclusive, accessible, and meets regulatory and site-specific needs.
• Collaborate with senior management and external stakeholders to influence site-wide H&S strategy, conduct audits, ensure ISO and statutory compliance, investigate incidents thoroughly, and continuously improve the Safety Management System (SMS).

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, or equivalent field.
• Extensive relevant H&S experience in pharmaceutical, chemical, or other high-hazard manufacturing settings.
• Demonstrated experience with risk assessment, incident investigation, H&S auditing, and implementing safety management systems.
• Knowledge of Irish and EU H&S legislation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience in plant start-up or greenfield projects, with a strong track record in establishing Health & Safety systems and managing large-scale manufacturing or capital projects.
• Skilled in delivering H&S training to diverse groups and proficient in using safety data management systems and project management tools.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks, adapt to changing needs, and work independently or collaboratively as needed.

Additional Information

• This position is based in Tralee, Ireland.
• This is a permanent, full-time position
• This position requires you to be 100% on-site/in the office.

What We Offer

• A challenging and diversified job in an international setting.
• Opportunity and support for continuous development.
• Inspiring work climate.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.