Director, Process Safety and SIF (Serious Injury & Fatality) Prevention

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

23d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Process Safety & SIF Prevention is a high‑impact global leadership position accountable for designing, governing, and delivering the enterprise-wide strategy to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities across Operations, R&D, and Commercial environments.
You will lead a global transformation agenda that sets new standards for risk reduction, competency, technology integration, and safety‑critical decision making. This role partners broadly—across senior business leaders, engineering, manufacturing, R&D, and SHE teams—to embed a unified, risk‑intelligent operating framework.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or related field, or equivalent senior-level Process Safety experience.
• 8+ years of senior SHE leadership experience with proven global scope and achievement in high‑hazard environments.
• Deep expertise in Process Safety and major hazards legislation, with advanced understanding of PHA, LOPA, Bowtie, and hazardous area classification to lead global technical governance.
• 10+ years leading or overseeing high‑risk or high‑hazard work programs across multi‑site or global operations.
• Demonstrated capability to influence senior executives and drive enterprise‑level transformation.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire, motivate, and unify global teams.
• Proven experience leading global programs, budgets, and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced professional certifications (e.g., CSP, CCPS, PE, or equivalent global credentials).
• Executive‑level communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders on complex risk topics.
• Experience engaging with regulatory authorities across multiple international jurisdictions.
• Familiarity with emerging process safety technologies (AI/ML analytics, sensing technologies, digital twins) and Human & Organizational Performance research.
• Demonstrated experience leading global transformation or safety‑culture change programs.
• Experience integrating Process Safety into Engineering and major capital project design.
• Proven ability to build global capability frameworks, training programs, and technical competency development.
• Success navigating and influencing in highly matrixed, multicultural global environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global Process Safety & SIF strategy and deliver a multiyear transformation that proactively eliminates catastrophic risk across the enterprise.
• Influence senior executives and functional leaders to prioritize high‑risk reduction, embed hierarchy‑of‑controls thinking, and advance human‑centric design.
• Own and enhance the global Process Safety Management framework, ensuring consistent implementation of high‑hazard activity controls and world‑class standards, competencies, and assurance systems.
• Deploy digital, analytical, and sensor‑based technologies while building internal/external technical networks, developing predictive indicators, and strengthening organizational capability through training and leadership engagement.
• Serve as the senior technical authority for major incident investigations, Safety‑in‑Design integration, and global SHE audit support to drive systemic learning and sustained improvement.

Benefits

• qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]
• paid vacation and holidays
• paid leaves
• health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director