Sr. Spclst, Safety & Environment

Merck•Wilmington, DE

5d•$106,200 - $167,200

About The Position

Our Company is a trusted global leader in human and veterinary medicine, dedicated to preserving and improving health, well-being and performance. Our Wilmington Biotech facility is a new state-of-the-art high potent biologics manufacturing facility for potent drug substance and drug product, including Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), partnered closely with our Research & Development Division to commercialize, launch and supply products with speed, agility and innovation. We are seeking an experienced Safety & Environment (S&E) Senior Specialist with facilities, utilities and environmental focus to help build the EHS function at our new site. The successful candidate will provide environmental compliance expertise and EHS general support through project construction, operational readiness, and future operation of the facility. As a key member of the site’s Global Safety & Environment (GSE) team, you will help shape the site’s EHS culture, drive compliance, and embed EHS excellence across all operations. The role involves supporting EHS planning and execution and requires effective influencing skills to help drive EHS performance within a complex, matrixed organization. Reporting to the site S&E Director at the new Wilmington Biotech Facility, the S&E Senior Specialist will provide technical and regulatory guidance to implement all environmental and safety programs required by federal, state, and local laws, as well as by Company policies. As a member of the site’s Global Safety & Environment (GSE) team, you will provide program subject matter expertise for facility EHS technical needs and for regulatory permitting across air, water, wastewater, and waste media. This role supports safe operation of plant utilities and infrastructure (boilers, cooling towers, plant electrical and steam utilities, emergency power, stormwater and wastewater conveyance, etc.), and partners closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering to integrate EHS into design, commissioning, operation, and capital projects. The role includes, compliance assurance, facility‑level risk assessment and control implementation, and hands‑on support during operations, start‑up, and regulatory engagements.

Requirements

5+ years of professional EHS experience in chemical, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.
Experience implementing EHS programs, including change management for operational or site initiatives.
Ability to support multiple projects and effectively partner with internal business units.
Experience implementing management systems and ensuring compliance.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and their relation to environmental and safety regulations.
Understanding of applicable EHS regulatory requirements (OSHA, EPA, DOT, ISO, NFPA).
Experience in risk assessment, mitigation and implementation of appropriate controls.
Experience implementing sustainable EHS operational procedures and training programs.
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
Training and Development

Nice To Haves

2–3+ years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Proven track record supporting utilities and facility systems (boilers, cooling towers, HVAC, steam, emergency power, compressed air) during design, commissioning, and operations.
Experience leading regulatory agency interactions, inspections, permit applications/renewals, emissions inventories, and corrective action implementation.
Technical expertise in environmental monitoring, stack testing, wastewater pretreatment, spill response, and interpretation of monitoring data to drive corrective actions.
Program/management system implementation skills (MOC, EHS management systems, risk assessment) and demonstrated ability to train and influence cross‑functional teams.
Understands effective industrial hygiene, biological safety, emergency response and preparedness, chemical management and high-risk work (hazardous energy control, line break, hot work, electrical safety, elevated work, confined space entry, mobile crane, excavation/ trenching) programs.
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only
Master’s degree
relevant professional certifications (e.g., CSP,)

Responsibilities

Support all aspects of environmental permitting, compliance, and reporting for the site.
Federal and state air permitting support (Synthetic minor or Title V/major air permits, NSR, emissions inventories, air toxics/MACT evaluation, refrigerant management compliance).
Water and wastewater permits (e.g. NPDES/stormwater, wastewater pretreatment), and related reporting.
Waste management registrations and reporting (hazardous and non-hazardous waste, regulated medical/infectious waste, universal waste, off‑site disposal).
Develop and maintain permit applications, permit renewals, permit modifications, permit condition tracking, compliance monitoring and timely regulatory submittals.
Lead site environmental regulatory program implementation and participate in agency interactions, including preparing responses to inspection findings, technical reports, and corrective action plans; participate in agency meetings and site visits as needed.
Provide comprehensive EHS support to facilities, operations, maintenance, and engineering for utility and site infrastructure systems (e.g. boilers, cooling towers, HVAC systems, steam and condensate systems, wastewater and stormwater conveyance systems, waste storage facilities, etc.) and related monitoring/control systems.
Support design reviews, commissioning, and start‑up activities for capital projects and process changes to ensure environmental and safety requirements are incorporated (including permitting implications) using Management of Change (MOC) processes.
Advise hazard assessments, process safety support, and technical reviews associated with facility, utilities and equipment that affect safety and environmental compliance and worker safety.
Advise and support environmental monitoring programs (stack testing coordination, air emissions data management, effluent monitoring, wastewater sampling, waste storage, management and proper disposal, etc.), and interpret monitoring data to identify trends, nonconformance, and corrective actions.
Advise contractor compliance and environmental controls during construction and maintenance activities; participate in contractor prequalification and work package reviews.
Provide day‑to‑day EHS support to site business units: safety inspections, audits, incident investigations, corrective action tracking, and implementation of engineering or administrative controls.
Develop and deliver training on environmental permit requirements, waste handling, spill response, stormwater best management practices, and related safety topics.
Maintain environmental data and compliance documentation in site EHS management systems; prepare internal and external reports and metrics.
Support emergency response planning and execution for environmental incidents, spills, or releases and coordinate with local emergency responders and regulatory agencies as necessary.