Startup and Validation EHS Team Lead (Field Based)

erm; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is hiring an experienced Startup and Validation EHS Team Lead for onsite support at a greenfield pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lebanon, IN. The role oversees health, safety, and environmental programs through startup and validation activities, leading the EHS Startup and Validation Team and ensuring readiness for handover.

The position is full-time (40 hours/week), limited-term for 36 months, requiring a Bachelor's degree in safety-related field and at least 7 years of EHS

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in safety, occupational health, environmental engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of EHS experience in manufacturing startup and commissioning projects; pharmaceutical experience preferred.
• OSHA 30-hour Construction or General Industry certification required; CSP or CIH preferred.
• First Aid/CPR/AED certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-site lead for EHS during system startup and equipment validation activities.
• Develop and implement consistent safety strategies and procedures across all manufacturing areas.
• Oversee Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) strategies, training, and audits for startup operations.
• Lead and mentor area-based EHS Managers and Specialists supporting startup and validation phases.
• Review and approve EHS-related documentation, including JHAs/JSAs, PSERs, PFTSRs, and PSSRS.
• Conduct audits and inspections to ensure compliance with client and regulatory standards.
• Track and report EHS performance metrics, including incident trends and corrective actions.
• Lead incident investigations and develop root-cause analysis and preventive recommendations.
• Coordinate environmental permit preparation and reporting in collaboration with the site's environmental team.
• Interface regularly with project management, engineering, and contractor teams to maintain safe startup execution.

Skills

EHS Leadership

Pharma Startup

Regulatory Compliance

Incident Investigation

Audit & Inspection

Education

Bachelor's in Safety/OSH/Env Eng

Job description

ERM is hiring an experienced Startup and Validation EHS Team Lead for onsite support of our client's new greenfield pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lebanon, IN. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, technical EHS expertise, and a proven ability to manage health, safety, and environmental programs through system startup and validation activities. In this role, you will lead the EHS Startup and Validation Team, ensuring consistent practices across all manufacturing areas, alignment with client standards, and readiness for operational handover. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) limited-term role, with a duration of 36 months.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-site lead for EHS during system startup and equipment validation activities.


• Develop and implement consistent safety strategies and procedures across all manufacturing areas.


• Oversee Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) strategies, training, and audits for startup operations.


• Lead and mentor area-based EHS Managers and Specialists supporting startup and validation phases.


• Review and approve EHS-related documentation, including JHAs/JSAs, PSERs, PFTSRs, and PSSRS.


• Conduct audits and inspections to ensure compliance with client and regulatory standards.


• Track and report EHS performance metrics, including incident trends and corrective actions.


• Lead incident investigations and develop root-cause analysis and preventive recommendations.


• Coordinate environmental permit preparation and reporting in collaboration with the site's environmental team.


• Interface regularly with project management, engineering, and contractor teams to maintain safe startup execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Safety, Occupational Health, Environmental Engineering, or related field.


• Minimum 7 years of EHS experience in manufacturing startup and commissioning projects, pharmaceutical projects preferred.


• OSHA 30-hour Construction or General Industry certification required; CSP, CIH, or equivalent preferred.


• First Aid/CPR/AED certification preferred.


• Strong understanding of process safety management (PSM), startup readiness, and validation safety requirements.


• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary EHS teams and standardize practices across complex operations.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage all levels of stakeholders.

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.

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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.

Thank you for your interest in ERM!