EHS Specialist

Role Summary:

• Our client, a leading pharmaceutical organisation is seeking to hire an EHS Specialist on a 12-month contract, on site in Co. Wicklow.
• The EHS Support Specialist, reporting to the Capital Project Lead, takes responsibility and ownership for all EHS activities associated with the Automation & Electrical Upgrade project.
• The role is responsible for managing the contractor EHS management program across all construction trades, the project-specific training and induction program, and industrial hygiene monitoring for works within the Plant ATEX classified and GMP production areas.
• Ensure that incident management, risk assessments, RAMS review, permit-to-work coordination, and corrective action tracking are implemented efficiently across the upgrade project lifecycle.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review and provide input into all Upgrade Project Risk Assessments, participate in design safety reviews and confirm the formal handover of residual risks from the PSDP to the PSCS/CM is completed and documented before construction begins.
• Function as the point of contact for day-to-day EHS liaison with the PSCS/CM, monitoring that construction-phase safety obligations are being discharged and escalating any gaps to Project Management.
• Establish and maintain a structured working relationship with the CM EHS counterpart to co-leading safety walks, co-approving RAMS, jointly investigating incidents, and maintaining a shared compliance tracker across all construction activities.
• Verify ATEX compliance across all areas including auditing personnel qualifications, spot-checking LEL monitoring, confirming non-sparking tools are in use, and co-approving Hot Works permits with the CM EHS counterpart.
• Define site-specific PPE requirements for all work areas, conduct regular PPE compliance audits, and intervene to stop work where non-compliance presents an immediate risk.
• Confirm that all Risk assessment migration actions are reflected in construction-phase RAMS, and ensure any new hazards identified during construction are formally documented and communicated.
• Co-develop the Contamination Control Strategy with the PSCS/CM and Operations/Quality for GMP areas, defining construction phasing, segregation barriers, cleanroom protocols, and auditing compliance during construction.
• Review and validate the PSCS/CM permit-to-work system before mobilization, co-approve permits affecting live GMP or utility systems, audit permit compliance throughout construction, and escalate any breaches immediately.
• Review all working at height RAMS, verify scaffold certifications and inspection tags, confirm rescue plans are in place, and conduct spot-checks on harness inspections, fall arrest systems, and exclusion zones.
• Maintain the scope of work deliverables across all project phases completing daily Gemba walks, analyzing trends, sharing findings with the CM EHS counterpart for corrective action, and reporting metrics through the EHS Dashboard.
• Co-lead weekly EHS walking tours with the CM EHS counterpart across all active construction zones, documenting findings with photographs, assigning corrective actions, and escalating non-conformances.
• Verify that the PSCS/CM implements daily Start Working Meetings for all personnel, attend or review SWM records to confirm hazard communication is adequate, and provide input on site-specific hazards.
• Support recruitment and onboarding of the EHS resource, ensure baseline coverage is maintained by the site EHS team, and escalate if the CM EHS counterpart or PSCS EHS function is not in place before construction organization.
• Review existing hazard identification findings (e.g. legacy cable containment assessments) for the building, ensure findings are captured in construction RAMS, and integrate lessons learned from previous capital projects.
• Review and approve the PSCS/CM traffic management plan for the construction zone, coordinate with Operations to prevent conflicts with active production movements, and audit traffic management compliance during construction.
• Monitor housekeeping standards across all construction zones through daily Gemba walks and joint inspections with the CM EHS counterpart, ensuring safe walkways are maintained and GMP contamination from construction debris is prevented.
• Verify emergency preparedness throughout construction to ensure awareness of escape routes, muster points, first aid stations, and eye wash units maintained; Emergency Response Team notified before major lifting or hot work; emergency drills coordinated with the CM EHS counterpart.
• Attend daily team coordination meetings between CSA, E&I, and Automation contractors, review cross-trade RAMS for safety adequacy, and escalate cross-trade safety conflicts to the PSCS/CM and Project Management.
• Verify that the PSCS/CM enforces environmental controls for dust suppression, slurry containment, waste segregation and audit environmental permit compliance and waste documentation against site standards.
• Deliver site-specific induction elements for all construction personnel, verify competence records and ATEX certification before site access, and ensure lessons learned from previous projects are integrated into induction and toolbox talk content.
• Ensure all incidents and near misses on are reported promptly, co-lead investigations with the CM EHS counterpart including root cause analysis, track corrective/preventive actions to closure, and maintain tracking for all project hours through the EHS Dashboard.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Essential: Recognized Diploma or Degree in Occupational Health and Safety (e.g., NEBOSH National Diploma, Level 8 Degree in Safety, Health & Welfare, or equivalent).
• Desirable: Graduate membership of IOSH (GradIOSH) or working towards Chartered status (CMIOSH).
• Desirable: ATEX awareness certification or formal training in hazardous area classification.
• Desirable: Manual Handling Instructor (QQI Level 6) or Train the Trainer qualification.
• Minimum 3–5 years operating in a similar EHS role within the Pharmaceutical, Biopharma, or Life Sciences industry, or other technically complex, highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience working on capital projects or construction phases within a live GMP production facility understanding of construction/operations interface safety.
• Experience in carrying out risk assessments, RAMS review and approval, and permit-to-work administration (LOTO, hot works, confined space).
• Proven experience in incident and near-miss investigation, including root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action tracking.
• Experience in contractor management, induction delivery, method statement review, safety auditing of contractor performance, and non-conformance management.
• Working knowledge of ATEX zone requirements and construction works within classified hazardous areas.
• Good knowledge of Irish H&S legislation, in particular the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005, Construction Regulations 2013, Chemical Agents Regulations, REACH, and GHS/CLP.

Please note, we do not require agency assistance with this role.