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

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

26d • Hybrid

About The Position

As one of the architects of AstraZeneca’s global Process Safety and SIF strategy, you will reshape our global safety culture, influence senior executives, and accelerate our transition to pioneering digital, human‑centric, and design‑for‑safety practices. Your work will not only protect people, it will directly enable AstraZeneca’s ability to deliver medicines safely, sustainably, and at scale. If you want to leave a lasting legacy across a global enterprise, this is your opportunity. 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

• Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

What This Job Offers

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