Sr. EHS Manager (Small Molecules)

A leading biopharmaceutical company is seeking a Senior EHS Manager to lead the Environmental, Health, and Safety program at its state-of-the-art facility in South San Francisco, CA.

In a highly client-facing role, this individual will work directly with PhD chemists and researchers to ensure operational safety, compliance, and risk management while fostering a proactive safety culture.

This is a strategic position for an experienced EHS professional with strong technical fluency in chemistry and small-molecule processes. The ideal candidate will be someone who can speak the technical language, build trust with scientists, and operate independently to make safety decisions in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

The Role:

• Serve as the EHS lead for chemistry-focused R&D operations, partnering directly with researchers to assess risks, lead safety reviews, and implement hazard controls.
• Drive EHS strategy for small molecule research and reintroduction efforts, aligning with global safety standards and best practices.
• Site subject matter expert for complex or particularly high hazard Risk Assessment using process hazard evaluation techniques..
• Oversee change control processes, onboarding, and core training for incoming staff.
• Support incident investigations and root cause analyses for complex lab-based incidents.
• Collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders.

The Candidate:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, EHS, or a related technical field required. Master's or PhDs preferred.
• Depending on education, 5 - 10+ years of EHS experience, with a strong emphasis on chemical and laboratory safety, ideally within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry.
• Deep understanding of small molecule R&D environments, including relevant risks, equipment, and process safety considerations.
• Proven ability to build strong partnerships with scientific staff and lead through influence.
• Experience in managing and implementing risk assessment techniques and change control processes.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Effective communicator who thrives in a collaborative, cross-functional setting.
• Process Safety/PSM experience preferred.