Senior Specialist Safety & Environment

Merck; Rahway (NJ); On-site; USD 96,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in Rahway, NJ, is seeking a Senior Specialist of Safety & Environment to provide technical leadership in biosafety and industrial hygiene.

The role focuses on identifying, assessing, and mitigating biosafety hazards across research, development, and pilot-scale operations at the Rahway site. You will partner with laboratory and clinical manufacturing teams to design and maintain compliant containment solutions, lead biosafety training, and support emergency response

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biosafety, Industrial Hygiene, or related field; master’s preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead biosafety program implementation, SOPs, and policies.
• Conduct biosafety risk assessments for new projects and pilot processes.
• Oversee biosafety cabinet and containment systems; lead IH monitoring and reporting.
• Support IBC activities and site-wide biosafety initiatives.
• Assist in capital projects ensuring HVAC and waste systems integrate biosafety.

Skills

Biosafety

Data Analysis

Emergency Response

Industrial Hygiene

Safety Training

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology/related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Biosafety Cabinets (BSCs)

Laminar flow hoods

Job description

Role Overview

As a core member of the Site Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) team, the Senior Specialist of Safety & Environment will provide vital technical leadership, risk management, and project ownership for operating departments at our Rahway site. This role focuses heavily on identifying, assessing, and mitigating biosafety and industrial hygiene hazards across research, development, and pilot‑scale operations. You will partner closely with laboratory and clinical manufacturing departments to design, implement, and maintain compliant biological containment and technical safety solutions.

Job Description

Location: Rahway, NJ

Impact And Responsibilities

You will serve as the site’s primary technical resource for biological safety compliance, ensuring daily operations meet site and regulatory standards. By collaborating with scientists, facilities engineering, and site leadership, you will cultivate a robust safety culture, streamline biological material handling, and align biosafety protocols with fast‑paced site business priorities.

Primary Activities

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of site Biosafety programs, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Develop and deliver specialized biosafety training curricula (e.g., bloodborne pathogens and biological waste management).
• Conduct comprehensive biological risk assessments for new research projects, material use, and pilot‑scale processes.
• Participate in industrial hygiene monitoring (airborne agents, chemical exposures, noise, etc.) and prepare reports pairing IH and biological risk mitigation strategies.
• Provide hands‑on oversight for biological containment systems, including Biosafety Cabinets (BSCs), laminar flow hoods, and custom containment engineering controls.
• Perform routine laboratory safety audits, containment reviews, and technical coaching for laboratory personnel and contractors.
• Actively support and participate in the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), implementing site policies, reviewing biological risk assessments, and implementing committee directives.
• Partner with the site on capital projects and facility modifications to ensure proper HVAC, pressure cascades, and waste systems are integrated into biological spaces.
• Support management of change (MOC) reviews, incident investigations, and Process Hazard Analyses (PHA) involving biological and chemical hazards.
• Provide technical guidance on the handling, inactivation, and disposal of biological and hazardous waste.
• Support site emergency response planning for potential biological spills or exposure incidents.

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BS) in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biosafety, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health & Safety, or a closely related scientific/engineering discipline. A relevant master’s degree is highly preferred.
• Minimum 8+ years of applied professional experience in EHS, with at least 4+ years dedicated directly to biosafety, biological containment, or laboratory safety within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic research, or clinical environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in implementing biosafety containment strategies, conducting biological risk assessments, and managing laboratory safety protocols.
• Hands‑on experience with industrial hygiene monitoring practices (airborne particulate sampling, chemical exposure assessment, and ventilation measurements).
• Outstanding technical writing and verbal skills; proven ability to translate complex microbiological and chemical risk data into clear, actionable advice for non‑EHS stakeholders.
• Critical thinking and analytical skills to resolve complex containment and process safety challenges.
• Self‑motivated and able to lead site‑wide biosafety initiatives independently while escalating program‑level decisions appropriately.

Preferred Experience And Skills

• Hands‑on experience with biosafety technical work in laboratory and pilot‑scale settings (biosafety risk assessments, containment recommendations, biosafety cabinet oversight, biological waste handling).
• Practical experience providing general EHS support in pilot‑scale and laboratory environments, including safety inspections, contractor oversight, emergency response support, and corrective action tracking.
• Relevant professional certifications preferred: CBSP/RBP, CIH, ASP/CSP, or equivalent. Note: certification requirements can be adjusted based on hiring needs.
• Experience preparing for and hosting regulatory inspections (e.g., OSHA) and drafting technical responses to regulatory inquiries.
• Experience utilizing specialized EHS data systems, incident tracking software, and occupational health databases.

Required Skills

Biosafety, Data Analysis, Emergency Response, Employee Training, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Management, Hazardous Materials Training, Incident Investigations, Industrial Hygiene, Industrial Hygiene Sampling, Occupational Safety and Health Programs, Optimism, Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Process Safety, Professional Integrity, Safety Training Programs

San Francisco Residents Only

We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Los Angeles Residents Only

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre‑existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status

Regular

Relocation

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship

No

Travel Requirements

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements

Not Applicable

Shift

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License

No

Hazardous Material(s)

Potential exposure

Salary

The salary range for this role is $96,200.00 - $151,400.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long‑term incentive, if applicable.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

Requirements

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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