Field Process Safety Advisor: Construction & Startup

ERM; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Environmental Resources Management (ERM) seeks an Owner Advisor, Process Safety & Operational Readiness in Lebanon, Indiana to support capital projects. This field-based role focuses on identifying process safety risks during construction, commissioning, startup, and early operational readiness activities.

The position emphasizes field presence, verification of critical controls, and safe project execution through the construction‑to‑startup transition. 5+ years of related experience is expected.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience supporting construction safety, industrial safety, commissioning, operational readiness, startup, or related activities.
• Experience working on large industrial, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing, chemical, industrial gas, refining, petrochemical, or similar high‑hazard projects.
• Experience supporting facilities involving flammable liquids, solvents, toxic chemicals, refrigeration systems, utility generation and distribution systems, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, or other similar high‑hazard industrial operations preferred.
• Knowledge of process safety principles and the ability to identify conditions that could result in high‑consequence events.
• Experience supporting Mechanical completion, Pre‑commissioning activities, Commissioning, Startup and turnover activities, and operational readiness programs.
• Familiarity with Hazardous energy control (LOTO), Line breaking, Hot work, Confined space entry, Temporary systems, SIMOPS management.
• Loss of containment prevention, High‑consequence hazard recognition preferred.
• Demonstrated experience engaging contractors and performing field‑based safety oversight.
• Working knowledge of construction safety principles, hazard recognition, and control of high‑risk activities.
• Strong communication, observation, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to effectively influence safe work practices across multiple organizations and contractors.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a visible field presence and routinely engage with project teams, contractors, and craft personnel.
• Conduct field observations focused on process safety-related risks associated with construction, mechanical completion, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Monitor work activities involving hazardous materials, hazardous energy sources, temporary systems, utility systems, and complex process equipment.
• Support verification of critical controls associated with high-risk work activities.
• Promote proactive identification and resolution of process safety concerns before work execution.
• Provide owner-side oversight and governance related to process safety risks during project execution.
• Participate in reviews of work plans, commissioning activities, turnover activities, and startup readiness efforts.
• Identify conditions that could increase the risk of loss of containment, fire, explosion, toxic exposure, hazardous energy release, or other high-consequence events.
• Support evaluation of simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) risks during construction, commissioning, and startup.
• Monitor implementation of controls associated with process systems, utility systems, and hazardous operations.
• Escalate significant process safety concerns, emerging trends, and repeat observations to client project leadership.
• Build effective working relationships with client personnel, construction management teams, contractors, commissioning groups, and operational stakeholders.
• Provide timely and professional communication regarding observed risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Support consistency and alignment across the broader Owner Advisor team.
• Contribute to project meetings, readiness discussions, risk reviews, and lessons‑learnt activities.
• Serve as a trusted resource while maintaining independent owner‑representative perspective and objectivity.
• Document observations, concerns, and recommendations in accordance with project requirements.
• Track and communicate recurring process safety‑related themes and trends.
• Support project leadership in evaluating effectiveness of risk controls and mitigation strategies.
• Assist with development of recommendations that strengthen safe execution during construction‑to‑operations transition activities.

Skills

Field presence

Process safety

Risk assessment

Communication

Contractor engagement

SIMOPS management

Tools

LOTO procedures

Job description

Environmental Resources Management (ERM) seeks an Owner Advisor, Process Safety & Operational Readiness in Lebanon, Indiana to support capital projects. This field-based role focuses on identifying process safety risks during construction, commissioning, startup, and early operational readiness activities.

The position emphasizes field presence, verification of critical controls, and safe project execution through the construction‑to‑startup transition. 5+ years of related experience is expected.