Startup and Validation EHS Program Manager (Field Based)

erm; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking an experienced Startup and Validation EHS Program Manager to support a major pharmaceutical manufacturing startup in Lebanon, Indiana. This role provides onsite leadership for health, safety, and environmental activities during commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness of manufacturing systems and supporting infrastructure.

The role leads a team of Node Leads and HSE professionals supporting multiple facility areas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Safety, Engineering, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, or related discipline preferred.
• 10+ years of EHS experience.
• Minimum 5 years supporting one or more of the following: Commissioning, Qualification, Startup, Operational readiness, Manufacturing operations, Capital projects.
• OSHA 30-Hour certification.
• Experience leading EHS professionals, contractors, or project teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day onsite leadership for the EHS team during startup and commissioning phases.
• Ensure safe startup, commissioning, and operational readiness of manufacturing systems and infrastructure.
• Lead LOTO and SWP strategies, and audits of implementation and compliance.
• Develop startup safety metrics, conduct audits, and drive corrective actions.
• Lead incident investigations and facilitate root cause analysis with lessons learned.
• Coordinate with environmental and startup personnel on startup-related requirements.

Skills

EHS leadership

Startup experience

Lockout/Tagout

Incident investigations

Regulated manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Permits-to-work systems

LOTO processes

PSSR practices

Job description

ERM is seeking an experienced Startup and Validation EHS Program Manager to support a major pharmaceutical manufacturing startup in Lebanon, Indiana. This individual will provide onsite leadership for health, safety, and environmental activities associated with commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness of manufacturing systems and supporting infrastructure. The role serves as the primary HSE leader for startup activities and oversees a team of Node Leads and HSE professionals supporting multiple facility areas.

The successful candidate will partner closely with client leadership, startup teams, engineering organizations, and operations personnel to ensure safe startup execution, effective lockout/tagout (LOTO) programs, safe work permits (SWP), startup readiness reviews, incident prevention, and continuous improvement initiatives. Access to ERM's national EHS experts provide knowledge sharing of best practices across the industry and ongoing learning opportunities for our team. This is a full-time (40hrs/week), limited-term role for a duration of 2.5 years (30 months), extendable.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide day-to-day leadership for the onsite C&Q HSE team, comprised of 6-8 project leads and specialists.
• Establish consistent HSE expectations, processes, and field practices across all startup areas.
• Mentor and support Node Leads and HSE professionals.
• Interface directly with client startup leadership and project stakeholders.
• Lead coordination meetings and drive accountability for HSE deliverables.

Startup Safety & Operational Readiness

• Support safe commissioning, qualification, and startup of manufacturing systems.
• Participate in startup planning, readiness reviews, and operational transition activities.
• Support execution of pre-startup reviews for safety and environmental considerations.
• Identify startup risks and develop practical mitigation strategies.
• Provide field presence during critical startup evolutions.

LOTO & High-Risk Work Management

• Maintain and continuously improve LOTO and SWP strategies, standards, and guidance.
• Support development and review of complex isolation plans.
• Audit LOTO and SWP implementation and compliance.
• Provide oversight of high-risk work activities conducted during startup and commissioning.

Metrics, Auditing & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and report startup safety performance metrics.
• Conduct program audits and field assessments.
• Identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Drive closure of corrective actions and develop lessons learned.

Incident Investigation

• Lead investigations of incidents, near misses, and significant safety observations.
• Facilitate root cause analysis efforts.
• Develop corrective and preventive actions.
• Communicate lessons learned across project teams.

Environmental Support

• Coordinate with commissioning and qualification personnel, environmental specialists, and site personnel regarding startup-related environmental requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Safety, Engineering, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, or related discipline preferred
• 10+ years of EHS experience.
• Minimum 5 years supporting one or more of the following: Commissioning
• Qualification
• Startup
• Operational readiness
• Manufacturing operations
• Capital projects
• OSHA 30-Hour certification.
• Experience leading EHS professionals, contractors, or project teams.
• Experience with: Lockout/Tagout programs
• Incident investigations
• Permit-to-work systems
• Risk assessments
• Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs/JSAs)
• Ability to work full-time onsite in Lebanon, Indiana.

Preferred Qualifications

• Pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, semiconductor, battery manufacturing, or API manufacturing experience.
• Startup or commissioning experience in regulated manufacturing environments.
• CSP, PE, CHMM, CIH, or equivalent certification.
• Experience with: Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR)
• Management of Change (MOC)
• Process Safety Management (PSM)
• Process Hazard Analysis (e.g., HAZOP) participation
• Contractor safety programs
• Previous owner-side, embedded advisor, or secondment experience.
• Experience supporting greenfield manufacturing projects.

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world's leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safet