Startup and Validation EHS Program Manager (Field Based)

Environmental Resources Management (ERM); Lebanon, Northern (IN, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Environmental Resources Management (ERM) is seeking an experienced on-site EHS leader for Lebanon, Indiana, to supervise the HSE team and drive startup safety, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across the project lifecycle.

You will mentor leaders, oversee LOTO and high-risk work, and coordinate environmental requirements while ensuring rigorous incident investigations and lessons learned are shared across the team.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of EHS experience.
• Experience leading EHS professionals, contractors, or project teams.
• Experience with Lockout/Tagout programs, incident investigations, and permit-to-work systems.
• Familiarity with PSSR, MOC, PSM, and HAZOP processes.
• Onsite work in Lebanon, Indiana for project requirements.
• Preferred: pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, or manufacturing experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership for the onsite EHS team (6-8 leads/specialists) and set consistent HSE expectations.
• Support safe commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness of manufacturing systems.
• Maintain and improve LOTO and SWP strategies; oversee high-risk work during startup.
• Develop and report startup safety metrics; conduct program audits and implement improvements.
• Lead investigations of incidents/near misses and communicate lessons learned.
• Coordinate startup-related environmental requirements with environmental specialists and site personnel.

Skills

EHS leadership

Startup readiness

LOTO

SWP

PSSR

MOC

PSM

HAZOP

Incident investigations

Risk assessments

JHAs/JSAs

Contractor safety

Greenfield projects

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Safety/Engineering/Environmental Science/Industrial Hygiene/OH or related

Job description

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: 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, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our "boots to boardroom" approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world's largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance.

ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities.

Our diverse global team of experts works with the world's leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation.

With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor.

Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it).

Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM’s purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action.

Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a "boots to boardroom" leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world.

We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists.

We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth.

At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.