Head of EH&S for Autonomous Lab Safety & Compliance

Mykelly; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 325,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelly Science & Clinical is recruiting a Head of Environmental Health and Safety for a San Francisco Bay Area start-up client. This hands-on leadership role focuses on building EHS and process-safety systems that enable advanced, automated scientific research.

The role requires moving between regulatory strategy, hazard analysis, and collaboration with scientists and engineers to integrate safety into experimental planning and execution.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in EHS, process safety, or chemical operations in a lab/manufacturing setting.
• Experience in materials science, solid-state chemistry, advanced manufacturing, or lab automation.
• Strong knowledge of applicable EHS regulations, standards, and safety practices.
• Hands-on experience conducting HAZOPs, FMEAs, or comparable risk assessments.
• Experience designing or reviewing functional-safety systems.
• On-site work in a fast-moving, technically complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site EHS function, providing practical operational support while building a strong safety and environmental culture.
• Develop and continuously improve EHS programs that meet applicable regulatory requirements and support evolving research and operational goals.
• Build a unified digital EHS platform for inspections, training records, incident reporting, compliance tracking, KPIs, corrective actions, and audit workflows.
• Own environmental, hazardous-materials, and fire-safety permitting with local, state, and federal agencies; coordinate with fire departments and CUPAs, manage submissions, air permitting, and hazardous-waste vendors.
• Maintain chemical inventories, SDS records, and hazard-labeling systems with controls for new processes and materials.
• Lead HazCom and SDS training for laboratory staff, including night shifts and autonomous overnight operations.
• Coordinate EHS inspections and maintain documentation and postings across laboratory spaces.
• Design and review life-safety and process-safety systems including fire suppression, emergency-stop networks, toxins detection, interlocks, and waste-abatement systems.
• Lead and document HAZOPs, PHAs, and risk assessments for new processes and equipment including high-pressure furnaces and gloveboxes.
• Establish operational-readiness and laboratory-reliability practices for automated operations and commissioning.
• Partner with automation teams on machine safeguarding and safety-critical controls.
• Collaborate with AI/ML engineers to incorporate hazards and safety constraints into planning tools.

Skills

EHS experience

Process safety

Chemical operations

Laboratory experience

On-site work

Education

Bachelor degree or equivalent practical experience

Tools

HAZOP

FMEA

Job description

Kelly Science & Clinical is recruiting a Head of Environmental Health and Safety for a San Francisco Bay Area start-up client. This hands-on leadership role focuses on building EHS and process-safety systems that enable advanced, automated scientific research.

The role requires moving between regulatory strategy, hazard analysis, and collaboration with scientists and engineers to integrate safety into experimental planning and execution.