HSE Specialist (Occupational Health)
Novartis
Summary
Imagine serving as the Lead for the Occupational Health Program for a dynamic manufacturing and laboratory campus while helping protect associates and strengthen a proactive safety culture. As the HSE Specialist, you will develop and continuously improve critical programs such as chemical hygiene, hazard communication, respiratory protection, ergonomics, hearing conservation, confined space, and occupational medical. You will collaborate across site departments, provide technical HSE expertise for changing operations and equipment, support regulatory compliance and inspection readiness, and help ensure the successful implementation of Novartis Health, Safety, and Environment standards across the site.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, manage, and continuously improve Occupational Health programs, including Chemical Hygiene, Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, Ergonomics, Hearing Conservation, Confined Space, and Occupational Medical programs.
- Serve as the Chemical Hygiene Officer, overseeing chemical inventory management, risk assessments, control implementation, and employee training.
- Partner with manufacturing, laboratory, warehouse, facilities, and support functions to develop and continuously improve HSE programs and services.
- Provide HSE technical expertise for new equipment, changing operations, product transfers, and site change management activities.
- Support the development and delivery of HSE training programs while promoting a strong, proactive, and enabling safety culture across the site.
- Lead inspections, investigations, audits, and regulatory activities, ensuring effective corrective actions, audit readiness, and compliance with HSE requirements.
- Analyze HSE performance trends and drive continuous improvement initiatives that advance site HSE excellence and business performance.
- Assist with implementation of emergency preparedness and response activities.
Essential Requirements
- BS degree or higher in Occupational Health & Safety, Chemical Engineering, or related field, with 5+ years of HSE program development and management experience in a manufacturing or laboratory environment, preferably within the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Strong technical knowledge across Health, Safety, and Environment disciplines, including occupational health programs and regulatory compliance.
- Demonstrated proficiency in chemical and biological risk assessments, including development and management of effective risk control programs.
- Experience supporting regulatory inspections, audits, and compliance activities within a regulated manufacturing or laboratory environment.
- Strong influencing, collaboration, and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively across a matrixed organization.
- Excellent communication and technical writing skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable Requirements
- Professional HSE certifications such as Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or a desire to attain them.
- Experience supporting biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations and laboratory environments.
Requirements
- BS degree or higher in Occupational Health & Safety, Chemical Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of HSE program development and management experience in a manufacturing or laboratory environment
- Strong technical knowledge across Health, Safety, and Environment disciplines
- Demonstrated proficiency in chemical and biological risk assessments
- Experience supporting regulatory inspections, audits, and compliance activities
- Strong influencing, collaboration, and relationship-building skills
- Excellent communication and technical writing skills
Benefits
- Health benefits
- Life insurance
- Disability benefits
- 401(k) with company contribution and match
- Performance-based cash incentive
- Annual equity awards
- Vacation
- Personal days
- Holidays
Company overview
Novartis is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, dedicated to reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As an innovative medicines company, Novartis focuses on developing high-value treatments that address society's greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in research and development. The company operates across five core therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases; immunology; neuroscience; oncology; and hematology. With a workforce of approximately 75,883 employees worldwide, Novartis reaches nearly 300 million patients across 118 countries. The company leverages advanced technology platforms including targeted protein degradation, cell therapy, gene therapy, radioligand therapy, and xRNA to develop breakthrough treatments. Novartis maintains a strong portfolio of oncology drugs and generics while continuously expanding its pipeline through strategic acquisitions and internal research. The company's commitment extends beyond drug development to ensuring global access to medical innovations through novel access approaches and patient assistance programs.