Technical Consulting Director, Safety

Environmental Resources Management (ERM); Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Environmental Resources Management (ERM) seeks a Technical Consulting Director, Safety (Program Lead) to provide strategic HSE leadership during commissioning, startup, and operational readiness of a major manufacturing operation in Lebanon, Indiana.

You will lead a team of HSE professionals, drive LOTO/SWP programs, and partner with client leadership, engineering, startup groups, and operations to ensure safe startup and long-term safety excellence across multiple facility areas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Safety, Engineering, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, or related discipline.
• 8+ years EHS experience with 5+ years in commissioning/startup/operational readiness.
• Experience leading or mentoring EHS professionals, contractors, or project teams.
• Experience with LOTO programs, incident investigations, permit-to-work systems, risk assessments, JHAs/JSAs.
• Willingness to work full-time onsite in Lebanon, Indiana; valid driver's license.
• Certifications CSP, PE, CHMM, CIH, or equivalent.
• Experience with PSSR, MOC, PSM, and HAZOP participation.
• Greenfield manufacturing startup experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership for the onsite C&Q HSE team and establish consistent HSE practices.
• Support startup commissioning, qualification, and operational readiness activities.
• Maintain and improve LOTO and SWP strategies and oversee high-risk work.
• Develop startup safety performance metrics and conduct program audits.
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate environmental requirements with commissioning and startup personnel.

Skills

Leadership

HSE leadership

Risk management

Auditing

Incident investigations

LOTO

Startup experience

Mentoring

Project management

Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Safety/Engineering

Tools

PSSR

MOC

PSM

HAZOP participation

Job description

Lead Safe Startups. Build Operational Excellence. Shape the Future of Manufacturing. If you are an experienced EHS leader who thrives in complex startup environments and enjoys influencing large-scale manufacturing projects from the ground up, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact. ERM is seeking a Technical Consulting Director, Safety (Program Lead) to provide strategic leadership for health, safety, and environmental performance during the commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness phases of a major manufacturing operation in Lebanon, Indiana. In this highly visible role, you will partner with client leadership, engineering teams, startup groups, and operations personnel to drive safe startup execution, strengthen risk management programs, and establish a culture of safety excellence across multiple facility areas.

Why This Role Matters?

Launching a new manufacturing operation safely and successfully requires more than compliance. It demands strong leadership, operational expertise, and the ability to bring teams together around a shared commitment to safety. As the Startup EHS Lead, you will serve as the primary HSE leader for startup activities, overseeing a team of HSE professionals while guiding critical commissioning and operational readiness efforts. Your leadership will directly influence startup success, workforce safety, environmental performance, and long-term operational sustainability. This is an opportunity to shape programs, mentor professionals, and help bring a major manufacturing facility online safely and efficiently.

What Your Impact Is:

• Lead health, safety, and environmental activities supporting commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness.
• Serve as the primary HSE leader for startup execution across multiple facility areas.
• Build strong partnerships with client leadership, startup teams, engineering organizations, and operations personnel.
• Drive safe startup practices through effective Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) programs, Safe Work Permit (SWP) programs, startup readiness reviews, and risk management processes.
• Oversee and develop a team of HSE professionals supporting complex startup operations.
• Establish consistent HSE expectations, processes, and field practices that support long-term operational success.
• Promote continuous improvement through auditing, performance measurement, incident prevention, and lessons learned programs.

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Safety, Engineering, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years (10-15 years preferred) 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 or mentoring 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.
• Driver's License Required: This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.
• Preferred: Pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, or other 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.

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.

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 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! #LI-Onsite

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.