HSE Project Manager

Bachem Americas, Inc.; Vista (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) with employer contribution

Paid vacation & sick days

Job summary

Bachem Americas, Inc. is seeking an experienced HSE Project Manager to ensure health, safety and environment requirements are fully integrated into CAPEX projects from concept to start-up.

You will act as the onsite HSE SME, guiding teams, challenging unsafe decisions and driving risk reduction across multiple disciplines. In this leadership role you will coordinate PSSR, risk assessments, and contractor safety management while ensuring compliance with regulations and GMP standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical/mechanical engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in chemical/pharma/life sciences with CAPEX project experience.
• 5+ years supporting CAPEX projects and risk assessment methodologies.
• Familiar with risk assessment methods (FMEA, HAZOP, LOPA, Fault Tree).
• Knowledge of HSE regulations, GMP environments, and standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication and stakeholder skills.
• Ability to read PFDs and P&IDs and interpret engineering drawings.

Responsibilities

• Act as HSE SME for CAPEX projects, guiding process safety and environmental protection.
• Integrate HSE requirements into project concepts, layouts, and designs.
• Apply Safety by Design to minimize risks and support PSSR activities.
• Lead or support risk assessments (WHA, PHA, HAZOP) and ATEX evaluations.
• Define contractor HSE requirements and support permit-to-work processes.
• Coordinate reporting of HSE KPIs and lessons learned.
• Ensure action tracking and closure through change-management processes.
• Support development of PSM and RMP corporate requirements.

Skills

CAPEX projects

Risk assessment

Contractor safety

Pre-startup Safety

Process safety

Communication

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical/mechanical eng

AS degree with 8+ years experience

Job description

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status

Bachem Americas, Inc.

Bachem is a leading, innovation-driven company specializing in the development and manufacture of peptides and oligonucleotides. With over 50 years of experience and expertise Bachem provides products for research, clinical development and commercial application to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide and offers a comprehensive range of services. Bachem operates internationally with headquarters in Switzerland and locations in Europe, the US and Asia. The company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. For further information, see www.bachem.com.

A brief overview

The HSE Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) requirements are fully integrated into capital investment (CAPEX) projects from concept and design through construction, commissioning, and start-up. As the site HSE Subject Matter Expert (SME) for projects, the role provides expert guidance to identify, assess, and mitigate project-related risks while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, corporate standards, and industry best practices. The role has the authority within the project governance framework to challenge unsafe or non-compliant decisions, require corrective actions, and recommend that work be stopped or not started where critical HSE risks are not adequately controlled. As a senior project team member, the role provides visible HSE leadership and communicates clear, practical recommendations to project and site leadership.

What you will do

• Act as the HSE Subject Matter Expert (SME) for CAPEX projects and provide guidance on process safety, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, environmental protection, fire protection, ATEX, ergonomics, and emergency preparedness.
• Ensure HSE requirements are integrated into project concepts, layouts, equipment specifications, and engineering designs from early project phases through start-up
• Apply Safety by Design and inherently safer design principles to minimize project and operational risks
• Lead or support Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR) and ensure all HSE project deliverables are completed according to project milestones
• Lead or support project risk assessments, including WHA, PHA, HAZOP, What-If Reviews, ATEX assessments, ergonomic assessments, fire risk assessments, and environmental impact assessments
• Define contractor HSE requirements, review contractor safety documentation, and support implementation of permit-to-work processes during project execution
• Ensures effective communications among other engineering disciplines.
• Monitor and report project HSE performance, communicate significant risks, elevate critical concerns, and coordinate the collection and reporting of project HSE data, KPIs, lessons learned, and continuous improvement actions
• Ensure HSE risks and requirements are addressed through project change-management processes and that agreed actions are assigned, tracked, and formally closed
• Support the HSE department with other HSE-related activities and priorities as required
• Assist in the development and implementation of the process safety management (PSM) and risk management program (RMP) Corporate requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical / mechanical engineering, life sciences or related field
• Associate's in science or related field with 8+ years chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, or comparable regulated industry
• 5+years proven experience supporting CAPEX projects, engineering projects, or facility expansions. Experience participating in or facilitating risk assessment methodologies. Experience working with contractors and construction safety management. Experience in commissioning, start up activities, and pre-start up safety is desirable
• Familiar with common risk assessment and process hazards analysis methodologies e.g. FMEA, HAZOP, LOPA, Fault Tree, Cause & Effect, etc.
• Good understanding of occupational safety, industrial hygiene, environmental management, fire protection, emergency response, ergonomics, and ATEX requirements
• Knowledge of applicable HSE regulations, GMP environments, and engineering standards
• Sound judgement and confidence to make decisions within the agreed project framework, balancing HSE, quality, schedule, cost, and operational considerations without compromising legal or critical safety requirements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex HSE risks and recommendations clearly to project teams, contractors, and senior management
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, layouts, process flow diagrams (PFDs), and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
• Demonstrated experience influencing senior stakeholders and making timely HSE decisions within complex, multidisciplinary project environments
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and decision-making capabilities
• Strong stakeholder management and project coordination skills
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, resolve conflict constructively, and remain effective under project pressure

Base salary range: $98,408 - $135,311

Placement of new hires in this wage range is based on several factors including education, skill sets, experience, and training.

Total Rewards

We offer all Team Members a total rewards package including competitive pay, annual performance bonus, a generous benefit package with comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision coverage, 401(k) plan with employer contribution, and paid vacation, personal and sick days.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Bachem takes responsibility for future generations by a careful handling of resources and avoiding environmental risks. We continually improve our ecological performance and develop and implement new approaches for enhancing employees' environmental awareness.EcoVadis has awarded Bachem Gold Medal status in their assessment of Bachem.

Bachem Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer

As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate the diversity of our team and are committed to building an inclusive workplace where individuals are hired and advanced based on merit, skills, and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

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