HSE Project Manager

Bachem AG•Vista, CA

34d•$113,691 - $156,325

About The Position

The HSE Project Manager ensures Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) requirements are integrated into capital investment (CAPEX) projects from concept and design through construction, commissioning, and start-up. Serving as the site HSE Subject Matter Expert (SME) for projects, the role provides guidance to identify, assess, and mitigate project-related risks and ensure compliance with applicable regulations, corporate standards, and industry best practices. Within the project governance framework, the role may challenge unsafe or non-compliant decisions, require corrective actions, and recommend stopping or not starting work when critical HSE risks are not adequately controlled. As a senior project team member, the position provides visible HSE leadership and practical recommendations to project and site leadership. The position supports HSE across process safety, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, environmental protection, fire protection, ATEX, ergonomics, and emergency preparedness. It integrates Safety by Design and inherently safer design principles into projects, supports risk assessments and Pre-Startup Safety Reviews, defines contractor HSE requirements, monitors HSE performance, and helps ensure actions and change-management requirements are completed. It also supports corporate process safety management (PSM) and risk management program (RMP) requirements. Bachem offers competitive pay, an annual performance bonus, medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan with employer contribution, and paid vacation, personal, and sick days. The company describes its commitment to careful resource use, avoiding environmental risks, improving ecological performance, and strengthening employees’ environmental awareness. Bachem Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering or a related field; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree in science or a related field with 5 or more years of experience in a chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, or comparable regulated industry; alternatively, an associate’s degree in science or a related field with 8 or more years of relevant industry experience.
7–9 years of proven experience supporting CAPEX projects, engineering projects, or facility expansions.
Experience participating in or facilitating risk assessment methodologies.
Experience working with contractors and construction safety management.
Familiarity with common risk assessment and process hazards analysis methodologies, such as FMEA, HAZOP, LOPA, Fault Tree, and Cause & Effect.
Good understanding of occupational safety, industrial hygiene, environmental management, fire protection, emergency response, ergonomics, and ATEX requirements.
Knowledge of applicable HSE regulations, GMP environments, and engineering standards.
Sound judgment and confidence making decisions within the agreed project framework, balancing HSE, quality, schedule, cost, and operational considerations without compromising legal or critical safety requirements.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting complex HSE risks and recommendations clearly to project teams, contractors, and senior management.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, layouts, process flow diagrams (PFDs), and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs).
Demonstrated experience influencing senior stakeholders and making timely HSE decisions in complex, multidisciplinary project environments.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Strong stakeholder management and project coordination skills.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, resolve conflict constructively, and remain effective under project pressure.

Nice To Haves

Experience in commissioning, start-up activities, and pre-start-up safety is desirable.

Responsibilities

Act as the HSE Subject Matter Expert for CAPEX projects, providing guidance on process safety, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, environmental protection, fire protection, ATEX, ergonomics, and emergency preparedness.
Integrate HSE requirements into project concepts, layouts, equipment specifications, and engineering designs from early project phases through start-up.
Apply Safety by Design and inherently safer design principles to minimize project and operational risks.
Lead or support Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR) and ensure HSE project deliverables are completed according to project milestones.
Lead or support project risk assessments, including WHA, PHA, HAZOP, What-If Reviews, ATEX assessments, ergonomic assessments, fire risk assessments, and environmental impact assessments.
Define contractor HSE requirements, review contractor safety documentation, and support permit-to-work processes during project execution.
Ensure effective communications among engineering disciplines.
Monitor and report project HSE performance; communicate significant risks; escalate critical concerns; and coordinate reporting of HSE data, KPIs, lessons learned, and continuous improvement actions.
Ensure HSE risks and requirements are addressed through project change-management processes and that agreed actions are assigned, tracked, and formally closed.
Support the HSE department with other HSE-related activities and priorities as required.
Assist in developing and implementing corporate process safety management (PSM) and risk management program (RMP) requirements.