Manager - HSE - Fire and Life Safety Inspector (Site Fire Marshal)

100 Eli Lilly and Company; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 66,000 - 154,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

Lilly is building a new advanced manufacturing facility in Houston and seeks a Fire Inspector/Fire Marshal for sitewide fire protection and life safety leadership. You will oversee inspections, code compliance, and coordination with regulators, insurers, and engineering teams to ensure safe startup and ongoing readiness.

The role requires delivering expertise in fire protection systems, hazardous materials handling, and emergency readiness within a regulated biotech manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of experience in fire inspection, fire prevention, protection systems, or plan review.
• Experience with code compliance and life/safety standards.
• Completion of required safety discipline certifications is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead fire and life safety compliance for the site and coordinate inspections.
• Interpret local, state, and federal codes and insurer requirements.
• Manage fire protection systems reviews, testing, and maintenance coordination.
• Support site readiness for inspections and regulatory audits.
• Act as liaison with regulatory agencies, insurers, and project teams.
• Develop and maintain fire safety programs, documentation, and training.

Skills

Fire inspection

Fire prevention

Fire protection systems

Plan review

Code compliance

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering

Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

Lilly is currently constructing an advanced manufacturing facility for production of API molecules located in Houston, Texas. This facility is intended to provide APIs for current and future products, including new modalities. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the startup team for a greenfield manufacturing site, and the successful candidate will help build the processes and facility to enable a successful startup into GMP manufacturing operations.

Job Position Overview

The Manager - HSE - Fire and Life Safety Inspector (Site Fire Marshal) is a member of the Lilly Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) organization and reports to the Associate Director, HSE Emergency Management (Fire Chief). This position serves as Lilly Houston's lead authority for fire and life safety compliance programs, fire protection systems, hazardous materials code compliance, fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and related risk reduction initiatives. The position provides technical leadership and governance for the site's fire protection and life safety program and serves as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, insurers, engineering teams, construction organizations, and emergency response stakeholders.

The position serves as the site's Fire Inspector/Fire Marshal and is responsible for administration of the site's fire prevention and code compliance program. The position works in coordination with local officials and other regulatory agencies to support compliance, permitting, inspections, testing, and occupancy activities. The position also serves on the Eli Lilly Fire Department emergency response roster and provides technical expertise related to fire protection systems, building construction, hazardous materials, and emergency operations.

Key Responsibilities

Fire and Life Safety Compliance Serve as the site's fire and life safety subject matter expert for engineering, operations, maintenance, facilities, and project teams. Interpret and apply applicable local, state, and federal codes, standards, insurer requirements, and Lilly requirements. Coordinate and support fire and life safety inspections, permitting activities, acceptance testing, compliance reviews, and regulatory interactions. Investigate fire and life safety concerns and support corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives. Develop, implement, and maintain fire and life safety inspection programs, procedures, documentation systems, and compliance processes. Serve as the primary working-level liaison with regulatory agencies and support site readiness for inspections and audits.

Fire Protection Systems Provide program ownership and technical oversight of fire suppression, fire alarm, fire water, special hazard protection, and life safety systems. Review inspection, testing, and maintenance activities performed by contractors and site personnel. Manage fire protection impairments, restoration activities, notification requirements, and associated risk mitigation measures. Participate in commissioning, integrated systems testing, and acceptance testing activities. Evaluate fire protection system performance and identify opportunities for risk reduction and continuous improvement.

Building and Fire Protection Plan Review Review construction projects, renovation activities, process modifications, and fire protection system changes for code compliance and fire protection adequacy. Evaluate occupancy classifications, construction features, life safety systems, fire protection systems, and egress arrangements. Participate in project reviews from concept development through occupancy. Coordinate permitting, plan review, and approval activities with project teams and regulatory agencies. Support management of change activities and assess fire and life safety impacts associated with new or modified operations.

Fire and Life Safety Inspections Develop, manage, and execute fire and life safety inspection programs for site buildings, temporary facilities, and construction projects. Evaluate means of egress, emergency lighting, fire department access, fire lanes, fire hydrants, and related life safety features. Identify hazards associated with operations, storage practices, hot work, housekeeping, hazardous materials, and facility modifications. Track corrective actions and ensure timely closure of identified deficiencies.

Hazardous Materials Management Monitor hazardous materials storage, handling, segregation, and compatibility requirements. Assist in evaluating fire and life safety impacts of hazardous materials used in existing and proposed operations.

Emergency Preparedness and Response Develop and maintain pre-incident plans for buildings, utilities, and major process areas. Support site emergency planning, evacuation planning, drills, emergency exercises, and business continuity initiatives. Coordinate with local emergency response agencies and regulatory organizations. Serve as a technical specialist during emergency incidents involving fire protection systems, building construction, regulatory compliance, or hazardous materials. Support recovery and restoration efforts following emergency incidents and system impairments.

Training and Collaboration Deliver fire and life safety training and awareness programs for employees, contractors, and site stakeholders. Support fire prevention, impairment management, emergency response, and hazard recognition initiatives. Collaborate closely with engineering, maintenance, operations, security, environmental, health, procurement, and contractor organizations. Support Lilly network fire protection, emergency management, and risk reduction initiatives. Maintain professional certifications and technical knowledge through continuing education and professional development.

Basic Requirements

Experience Minimum three years of experience in one or more of the following areas: Fire inspection Fire prevention Fire protection systems inspection, testing, and maintenance Fire protection system design or plan review Industrial fire protection Loss prevention Building or fire code compliance

Required Certifications IFSAC, Pro Board, Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP), National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), or equivalent certifications in: Fire Inspector II Firefighter I/II Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Hazardous Materials Technician Completion of NIMS IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800.

Additional Requirements

Valid driver's license. Ability to successfully complete required medical evaluations, respirator clearance, physical performance evaluations, and emergency response qualification requirements. Ability to wear respiratory protection and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.

Additional Skills and Preferences

Fire Plans Examiner certification. ICC Fire Inspector and/or Fire Plans Examiner certification. Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS). Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Fire Protection Engineering, Fire Science, Occupational Safety, Engineering, or related field. Hazardous Materials Technician certification. Fire Service Instructor certification. NIMS IC‑300 and IC‑400. Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical manufacturing, or other highly regulated industrial environments. Experience supporting major capital projects, construction, commissioning, startup, and operational readiness activities. Knowledge of fire protection engineering principles, industrial fire protection practices, and property loss prevention standards. Experience with hazardous materials inventory systems, Tier II reporting, pre-incident planning software, and electronic plan review tools.

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $66,000 - $154,000 Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

#WeAreLilly At Lilly we strive to ensure our employees are part of a team that cares about them and our shared purpose of making life better for those around the world. How do we do this? We continue to look for ways to include, innovate, accelerate and deliver while maintaining integrity, excellence and respect for people. We hope that you seek to join us on our journey as we create medicine and deliver improved outcomes for patients across the globe! #WeAreLilly