Senior Specialist Safety & Environment PSM

Merck • Upper Gwynedd Township, PA

6d • $106,200 - $167,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

Provides technical direction and program leadership for Process Safety Management (PSM), EHS Management of Change (MOC), and Loss Prevention across West Point, North Wales, and Springhouse Innovation Park. The role supports Vaccines Manufacturing, Research & Development, and site support functions, partnering with operations, engineering, maintenance, project teams, and global experts to integrate process safety into design, startup, and operations. It applies company standards, regulatory and engineering requirements, field verification, event learning, and program data to close safeguard gaps, prevent incidents and asset losses, and sustain risk reduction.

The position serves as a site PSM subject matter expert and GSE advisor, maintains PSM procedures and training, oversees hazardous-process inventories and PHA schedules, and provides technical leadership for hazard analyses and ALARP reviews. It supports capital projects and EHS MOC, verifies safety-critical safeguards and their inspection and maintenance requirements, and assists with event investigations, Loss Prevention, audits, field verifications, and program reporting.

The role is based primarily in West Point, Pennsylvania, with a hybrid work arrangement. The stated salary range for the primary location is $106,200 to $167,200 per year. The successful candidate is eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable. Merck offers benefits including medical, dental, vision and other insurance, retirement benefits including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. No relocation, visa sponsorship, or travel is offered or required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Occupational Safety, or a related technical field.
• At least 5 years of process safety, engineering, or technical EHS experience in manufacturing, pilot plant, research, or similarly complex settings, including direct process safety program implementation.
• Experience conducting or supporting PHAs using HAZOP and What-If, applying LOPA, and developing actionable risk-reduction recommendations.
• Working knowledge of EHS MOC, pre-startup reviews, process safety information, mechanical integrity interfaces, and hazardous-process lifecycle management.
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, process descriptions, operating limits, and technical records; assess safeguards and recognize when specialized engineering or global expertise is needed.
• Ability to apply company standards, regulations, engineering codes, and recognized good engineering practices to design, equipment changes, field conditions, and capital projects.
• Strong risk assessment, investigation, problem-solving, project coordination, and action-verification skills; ability to prioritize and escalate significant risks.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams, deliver training, and explain technical risks to operations and leaders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and digital risk, MOC, and action-management systems.
• Required skills include Adaptability, Biosafety, EHS Auditing, EHS Compliance, EHS Program Management, Environmental Regulatory Compliance, Health and Safety Legislation, Incident Investigations, Industrial Hygiene, Interpersonal Relationships, Occupational Safety and Health Programs, Process Safety Management, Safety Programs, Self Motivation, and Training and Development.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, or other highly regulated manufacturing or research environments.
• Formal training or qualification in PHA facilitation, HAZOP, LOPA, or related process safety risk-assessment methods.
• Capital-project process safety experience from design through startup and turnover, including inherently safer design and independent protection layers.
• Experience with loss prevention, insurer surveys, fire protection interfaces, flammable and combustible material risks, or asset-protection improvement plans.
• Experience implementing PHA software, Enablon workflows, digital record migrations, or standardized process safety reporting.
• Professional certification or relevant credential such as CSP, Professional Engineer, or a recognized process safety qualification.

Responsibilities

• Serve as site PSM subject matter expert and GSE advisor for the PSM standard; align priorities, accountabilities, and implementation with system owners, divisional PSM leads, and process owners.
• Maintain PSM procedures, tools, templates, and role-specific training; translate standard changes and audit and event lessons into practical requirements and guidance.
• Oversee potentially hazardous process inventories, process-owner assignments, and PHA revalidation schedules; guide applicability decisions and risk reviews for hazards outside formal PSM coverage.
• Provide technical leadership for PHAs, including HAZOP, What-If, and LOPA; support qualified facilitator selection, assess analysis quality, and approve reports and revalidations within assigned authority.
• Coordinate ALARP reviews with process owners, engineering, management, and global experts; document technical rationale, approvals, risk-reduction commitments, and timelines.
• Partner with process owners and engineering to maintain process descriptions, safe operating limits, and P&IDs; verify documented safeguards against installed conditions through field walkdowns.
• Support capital projects from design through turnover, including PHA planning, design and change reviews, and startup-critical action closure; promote inherently safer design and transfer process safety information and open actions to site owners.
• Lead EHS MOC procedures, assessment checklists, action guidance, training, and digital workflows; review changes and participate in PSSERs and approvals within assigned authority.
• Partner with mechanical integrity, pressure relief, automation, and maintenance specialists to document and field-verify safety-critical safeguards and link them to inspection, testing, maintenance, and change-control requirements.
• Support process safety investigations and potential high-severity event reviews; coordinate evidence-based classification and escalation, identify systemic causes and safeguard gaps, and verify corrective and preventive action effectiveness.
• Coordinate Loss Prevention with facilities, engineering, operations, insurers, and global specialists; organize risk surveys, communicate findings, and track maintenance and capital improvements for fire protection, storage, and asset protection.
• Conduct self-assessments, field verifications, and audit support; assign action owners and deadlines, verify documented closure, and report program health, emerging risks, overdue actions, and resource needs to site leadership and EHS councils.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision healthcare, and other insurance benefits for employees and family
• Retirement benefits, including 401(k)
• Paid holidays
• Vacation
• Compassionate and sick days
• Annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable

What This Job Offers

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