Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist

Validation & Engineering Group, Inc.; Carolina (PR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Validation & Engineering Group, Inc. is seeking an onsite IPM Specialist to lead pest prevention, monitoring, and control at a pharmaceutical manufacturing site.

The role emphasizes GMP/EHS compliance, documentation, and collaboration with QA, Facilities, and Contractors. Requirements include an Associate degree in a relevant field (Bachelor's preferred), 3–5 years IPM experience in regulated environments, and strong knowledge of pest control methods and compliance protocols.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of IPM principles, prevention, monitoring, and documentation.
• GMP and cleanroom awareness; understands contamination risks and gowning procedures.
• Regulatory familiarity with FDA/EU GMP and internal quality systems.
• Technical problem solving: identify root causes and implement CAPAs and controls.
• Attention to detail with logs, trend analysis, and data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Morning site inspections of production areas, warehouses, waste areas, and loading docks.
• Check and service monitoring traps; replace consumables and document counts and locations.
• Update daily logs and weekly trend charts; report threshold exceedances to QA/Facilities.
• Perform exclusion and housekeeping to prevent pest entry; advise on risk points.
• Coordinate third-party pesticide applicators; ensure permits and statements on file.
• Maintain GMP-aligned records and assist audits; participate in cross-functional meetings.
• Deliver briefings to staff on pest prevention and safe handling.

Skills

IPM

GMP

Documentation

English

Spanish

Education

Associate degree in Entomology/Biology/Environmental Science

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

CMMS

Excel

Job description

Validation & Engineering Group, Inc. (V&EG) a Pinnaql company is a leading services supplier who provides solutions for the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Chemical, Food, and Medical Devices industries in the following areas: Laboratory, Compliance, Computer, Engineering, Project Management, Validation, and other services.

Responsibilities

We are seeking an onsite IPM Specialist responsible for day-to-day pest prevention, monitoring, control, and compliance at a pharmaceutical manufacturing site, ensuring product protection and GMP/EHS compliance.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist

Description

• Strong knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles; such as prevention, monitoring, threshold-based interventions, least-toxic controls, and documentation.
• GMP and cleanroom awareness; understands contamination risks, gowning/cleanroom behavior, segregation and controlled access. Specifically aware of protocols for materials movement and transport within the plant to prevent contamination of manufacturing areas (incoming materials, tote/box handling, and temporary staging).
• Regulatory/compliance mindset. Familiarity with FDA, EU GMP, local health codes, and internal quality systems.
• Technical problem solving; identifies root causes, implements corrective/preventive actions and engineering controls.
• Attention to detail and documentation discipline: precise logs, trend analysis, and corrective action records consistent with GDP/data integrity.
• Communication and teamwork: clear communicator in English and preferably Spanish; interacts effectively with QA, Facilities, Production and Contractors.
• Safety and EH&S focus. Follows PPE, lockout/tagout, chemical handling and confined-space rules. Understands and enforces grounding/entry procedures (material grounding, static control, and controlled changeover) required to reduce contamination and pest ingress during material transfers.
• Personnel contamination controls. Knowledgeable in measures to prevent carry-in of insects on personnel and clothing (gowning checks, footwear control, pre-entry inspections, and behavioral controls), and able to train staff on minimizing pest transfer risk during entry/egress and material handling.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree in Entomology, Biology, Environmental Science, Pest Management or equivalent technical diploma. Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Professional certification (preferable): Certified Pest Management Professional (CPM, BCE or equivalent) preferred; state/local pesticide applicator license where required.
• Experience: Minimum 3-5 years of hands-on IPM experience in regulated manufacturing or food/pharma environments; at least 1 year of onsite, full-time IPM role preferred.
• Technical skills: familiarity with rodent control, insect monitoring traps, fumigation basics, baiting strategies, sealing/exclusion methods, and safe use of approved pest control products.
• Systems knowledge: experience with computerized maintenance/logging systems, basic Excel for trend analysis, and familiarity with CMMS or compliance systems is a plus.
• Language: English required; bilingual (Spanish) strongly preferred.

Daily On-Site Activities and Responsibilities

• Morning site inspection: perform perimeter and interior inspections (production areas, warehouses, waste areas, loading docks, HVAC intakes) and log findings.
• Monitoring & trapping: check and service monitoring stations/traps, rodent bait stations, fly traps and glue boards; replace consumables and document counts/locations.
• Trending & reporting: update daily logs and weekly trend charts; highlight threshold exceedances and submit immediate notifications to QA/Facilities.
• Preventive actions: perform exclusion and housekeeping tasks (seal gaps, door sweeps, cleanup supervision), advise production/facilities on risk points.
• Corrective interventions: execute approved treatments within GMP constraints (surface treatments, spot treatments, non-chemical options) under SOP and safety controls.
• Contractor coordination: supervise/coordinate third-party pesticide applicators for scheduled treatments; ensure permits, certifications, and method statements are on file.
• Documentation & compliance: maintain GMP-aligned records (daily logs, treatment records, material safety data sheets, certificates of analysis for pesticides if required), update IPM program files, and support audits.
• Cross-functional engagement: attend daily/weekly production and facilities meetings; provide recommendations for engineering fixes and housekeeping improvements.
• Training & awareness: deliver briefings to site staff on pest prevention (storage practices, waste handling, reporting suspected activity).
• Emergency response: be available to respond to urgent pest incidents and execute rapid containment measures.

At Validation & Engineering Group, people always come first. We believe that when you're empowered to do your best work, bold ideas thrive and real progress happens. This isn't just a job - it's an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by shaping the future of healthcare and technology alongside a purpose-driven, supportive team.

Excited to build something meaningful together? We look forward to hearing from you.

Validation & Engineering Group is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.