SHE Research Lead

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

23h • Onsite

About The Position

AstraZeneca is seeking a seasoned Safety, Health & Environment Professional to serve as the primary SHE business partner for aligned functional areas while leading comprehensive safety, health, and environmental programs. The Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) Research Lead role is responsible for creating and implementing comprehensive SHE policies and procedures across the Gaithersburg research and animal facility operations, while ensuring regulatory compliance and fostering a culture of safety excellence. This role manages sitewide SHE programs specific to the research laboratories and animal facility in a biopharmaceutical environment, serves as the Associate Biosafety Officer, leads event investigations, oversees training initiatives, and drives continuous improvement and sustainability initiatives across the site. The role would also mentor SHE Advisors/Managers and promote a culture of safety excellence based on Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) principles while ensuring regulatory compliance and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in scientific discipline (biology)
• Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) or Certified Biosafety Professional (CBSP)
• Experience: 4+ years progressive experience in laboratory safety, biological/chemical safety, bench research, and biopharmaceutical R&D/manufacturing environments and managed or served on an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience with conducting risk assessments and implementing action plans, accident investigation techniques, and safety management systems
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication abilities with proven experience presenting to diverse technical audiences
• Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of NIH Guidelines, CDC BMBL, the Guide for Animal Care & Use, OSHA, Import permitting, and other relevant laboratory and pharmaceutical industry safety standards

Nice To Haves

• Specialized Knowledge: Advanced expertise in ionizing and non-ionizing radiation (ex. Radioimmunoconjugates, laser safety) and review of animal research safety protocols
• Technology Proficiency: Advanced knowledge of SharePoint, Enablon safety management system, and Tik@Lab (aTune)
• Leadership & Communication Experience: Leading cross-functional safety initiatives
• Previous experience mentoring junior staff
• Comfort with providing presentations to varying levels of the organization (ex. Scientist to VP level)

Responsibilities

• SHE Policy Development and Implementation: Create, implement, and maintain comprehensive SHE policies and procedures aligned with regulatory requirements and company standards while ensuring site compliance with local, state, federal, and international regulations through thorough understanding and execution of compliance calendars and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Event Investigation and Trend Analysis: Lead all potential Serious Injury and Fatality (pSIF) or SIF event investigations while ensuring robust event descriptions, thorough root cause analysis, and implementation of effective corrective actions. Evaluate trends in event and observation reporting to implement appropriate preventive measures and drive continuous improvement across laboratory operations.
• Regulatory Compliance and Agency Relations: Serve as a secondary point of contact for SHE-related regulatory agencies including CDC, USDA , OSHA, and other relevant authorities while managing audits and inspections, tracking compliance trends, and ensuring timely preparation and submission of all regulatory documentation and reports.
• Training Program Development and Management: Design and implement comprehensive training programs for employees at all levels to ensure compliance with laboratory and animal safety protocols and sustainability practices while ensuring training effectiveness through regular assessment and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Site SHE Program Management: Manage and oversee comprehensive site SHE programs including, but not limited to, biosafety & biosecurity, laboratory and animal safety, medical surveillance, cryogens, and non-ionizing and ionizing radiation, while ensuring effective License to Operate maintenance and compliance calendar execution.
• Team Leadership and Development: Champion and implement HOP-based safety culture initiatives through partnership meetings, one-point safety lessons, targeted training programs, and proactive engagement strategies that promote safety awareness and behavioral change across R&D organizations. Provide expert consultation to project teams regarding biological safety and biosecurity, communicate complex technical information to diverse audiences through reports, presentations, and meetings, and mentor and assist junior team members in professional development.
• On-call coverage is required for this role. Employees may be scheduled to participate in an on‑call rotation and must be available outside standard working hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed to support business-critical activities.

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.
• In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles).

What This Job Offers

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