Environmental Health Safety Specialist
AIJ Search · Frederick, Maryland, United States
FULL TIMEpermanent
Job Description
Environmental, Health, and Safety LeadLocation: Greater Frederick Area, MDTravel: Less than 10%
Check below to see if you have what is needed for this opportunity, and if so, make an application asap.
Own Environmental, Health, and Safety for a First-of-Its-Kind Domestic Carbon Materials PlatformAn advanced materials venture is commercializing a proprietary process that converts domestic coal into high-performance synthetic graphite and related carbon materials. It is privately funded, with awarded Department of Defense prototype funding accelerating its commercial plan. It operates an R&D wet lab in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is preparing to commission a pilot production facility near Frederick in 2027 and is selecting sites for commercial manufacturing.
The OpportunityThe EHS Lead owns environmental, health, and safety compliance across the R&D laboratory and pilot facility: permitting, SOPs, written programs, training, and regulator relationships. You will not start from scratch. The company's chemical engineers have written process SOPs, including hazardous materials handling, and an environmental engineering firm has spent six months on detailed plans and analysis. Your job is to own that foundation, make it real on the floor, and carry it through pilot start-up and scale-up.This is a hands-on individual contributor role with real ownership. The company wants a practical partner who helps the team find the safe way to get work done, while holding everyone on site, including leadership, to the same standard. The role reports to the CEO, keeps a direct line to the CEO as the engineering organization grows, and sits outside the operations chain of command by design.
What You Will DoOwn all pilot facility permitting, including zoning, site plan, building, air, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, and fire and life safety permits, from application through issuance, conditions, and renewalServe as the company's point of contact with regulators, inspectors, and planning bodies, host inspections, and manage responses to findingsDirect the architects, engineers, land use counsel, environmental consultants, and contractors supporting permitting and compliance, and track every permit condition through closureServe as designated safety representative at both sites, with stop-work authority when conditions are unsafe or out of complianceOwn and maintain SOPs and written programs for both sites, and make sure they are followed through training, field audits, and corrective actionLead hazard assessments, management-of-change reviews, and pre-startup safety reviews as the pilot facility is commissioned and processes scaleOwn the hazardous materials management plan, hazardous waste and wastewater disposal, chemical inventories, and required regulatory reporting, coordinating with local fire and emergency agenciesLead incident investigations, maintain injury and illness records, and manage EHS training, including respirator fit testing
What You BringWe are targeting EHS professionals with 6 to 12 years of progressively responsible experience in chemical, specialty materials, or manufacturing operations. Pharmaceutical, biopharma, and medical device manufacturing backgrounds transfer well.Candidates may currently hold titles such as EHS Manager, EHS Lead, Senior EHS Specialist, EHS Engineer, HSE Coordinator, Safety Engineer, Safety Manager, Environmental Compliance Manager, Environmental Engineer, or Process Safety Engineer.Hands-on preparation of permit applications, permit compliance and reporting, and hosting regulatory inspections, rather than primarily corporate program administration or auditingClear, usable SOPs and written programs, and the ability to train technical and non-technical staff on themCredibility with regulators and inspectors, and accuracy in every submissionWillingness to enforce procedures consistently, paired with the judgment to help the team find a safe path forwardA hands-on presence on the floor, and follow-through across sites and outside partiesBachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental or chemical engineering, chemistry, industrial hygiene, occupational safety and health or OSH management, public health, or a related science or safety disciplineExperience limited to academic or research laboratories, without manufacturing site responsibility, is a weaker fit.
Preferred, Not RequiredDirect ownership of facility permits from application through issuance, including industrial or laboratory zoning, site plan, and building permitsMaryland Department of the Environment permitting, MOSH and OSHA general industry, RCRA generator, DOT hazmat shipping, and EPCRA reportingCorrosive acid handling, combustible dust (NFPA 652), high-temperature furnaces, inert gases, and nanomaterial handlingStanding up EHS programs at a new facility or in an early-stage companyISO-based management systems, such as ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 14001, or ISO 45001CSP, CIH, CHMM, or ASP certificationIf you have hands-on permitting and compliance experience at a manufacturing site, and you would rather help a team find the safe way to do something than explain why it cannot be done, we want to talk to you.
Location and Operating EnvironmentFully on-site. Based primarily at the Gaithersburg R&D lab through mid-2027 while preparing the Frederick pilot facility for its spring 2027 start-up, then full-time in Frederick by summer 2027. The team is small and early-stage, and the work involves corrosive chemicals, high-temperature equipment, and fine powders.
Compensation and BenefitsBase salary: $130,000 to $150,000, commensurate with experience. Up to $160,000 for candidates with direct ownership of facility permits from application through issuanceBonus: $10,000 annual target bonusRelocation assistance availableMedical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off
Work Authorization and Equal OpportunityCandidates must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable U.S. export control regulations, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals. Visa sponsorship is not available. xzbcwsv Our client is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Confidential Search | AIJ Search
Check below to see if you have what is needed for this opportunity, and if so, make an application asap.
Own Environmental, Health, and Safety for a First-of-Its-Kind Domestic Carbon Materials PlatformAn advanced materials venture is commercializing a proprietary process that converts domestic coal into high-performance synthetic graphite and related carbon materials. It is privately funded, with awarded Department of Defense prototype funding accelerating its commercial plan. It operates an R&D wet lab in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is preparing to commission a pilot production facility near Frederick in 2027 and is selecting sites for commercial manufacturing.
The OpportunityThe EHS Lead owns environmental, health, and safety compliance across the R&D laboratory and pilot facility: permitting, SOPs, written programs, training, and regulator relationships. You will not start from scratch. The company's chemical engineers have written process SOPs, including hazardous materials handling, and an environmental engineering firm has spent six months on detailed plans and analysis. Your job is to own that foundation, make it real on the floor, and carry it through pilot start-up and scale-up.This is a hands-on individual contributor role with real ownership. The company wants a practical partner who helps the team find the safe way to get work done, while holding everyone on site, including leadership, to the same standard. The role reports to the CEO, keeps a direct line to the CEO as the engineering organization grows, and sits outside the operations chain of command by design.
What You Will DoOwn all pilot facility permitting, including zoning, site plan, building, air, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, and fire and life safety permits, from application through issuance, conditions, and renewalServe as the company's point of contact with regulators, inspectors, and planning bodies, host inspections, and manage responses to findingsDirect the architects, engineers, land use counsel, environmental consultants, and contractors supporting permitting and compliance, and track every permit condition through closureServe as designated safety representative at both sites, with stop-work authority when conditions are unsafe or out of complianceOwn and maintain SOPs and written programs for both sites, and make sure they are followed through training, field audits, and corrective actionLead hazard assessments, management-of-change reviews, and pre-startup safety reviews as the pilot facility is commissioned and processes scaleOwn the hazardous materials management plan, hazardous waste and wastewater disposal, chemical inventories, and required regulatory reporting, coordinating with local fire and emergency agenciesLead incident investigations, maintain injury and illness records, and manage EHS training, including respirator fit testing
What You BringWe are targeting EHS professionals with 6 to 12 years of progressively responsible experience in chemical, specialty materials, or manufacturing operations. Pharmaceutical, biopharma, and medical device manufacturing backgrounds transfer well.Candidates may currently hold titles such as EHS Manager, EHS Lead, Senior EHS Specialist, EHS Engineer, HSE Coordinator, Safety Engineer, Safety Manager, Environmental Compliance Manager, Environmental Engineer, or Process Safety Engineer.Hands-on preparation of permit applications, permit compliance and reporting, and hosting regulatory inspections, rather than primarily corporate program administration or auditingClear, usable SOPs and written programs, and the ability to train technical and non-technical staff on themCredibility with regulators and inspectors, and accuracy in every submissionWillingness to enforce procedures consistently, paired with the judgment to help the team find a safe path forwardA hands-on presence on the floor, and follow-through across sites and outside partiesBachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental or chemical engineering, chemistry, industrial hygiene, occupational safety and health or OSH management, public health, or a related science or safety disciplineExperience limited to academic or research laboratories, without manufacturing site responsibility, is a weaker fit.
Preferred, Not RequiredDirect ownership of facility permits from application through issuance, including industrial or laboratory zoning, site plan, and building permitsMaryland Department of the Environment permitting, MOSH and OSHA general industry, RCRA generator, DOT hazmat shipping, and EPCRA reportingCorrosive acid handling, combustible dust (NFPA 652), high-temperature furnaces, inert gases, and nanomaterial handlingStanding up EHS programs at a new facility or in an early-stage companyISO-based management systems, such as ISO 9001, AS9100, ISO 14001, or ISO 45001CSP, CIH, CHMM, or ASP certificationIf you have hands-on permitting and compliance experience at a manufacturing site, and you would rather help a team find the safe way to do something than explain why it cannot be done, we want to talk to you.
Location and Operating EnvironmentFully on-site. Based primarily at the Gaithersburg R&D lab through mid-2027 while preparing the Frederick pilot facility for its spring 2027 start-up, then full-time in Frederick by summer 2027. The team is small and early-stage, and the work involves corrosive chemicals, high-temperature equipment, and fine powders.
Compensation and BenefitsBase salary: $130,000 to $150,000, commensurate with experience. Up to $160,000 for candidates with direct ownership of facility permits from application through issuanceBonus: $10,000 annual target bonusRelocation assistance availableMedical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off
Work Authorization and Equal OpportunityCandidates must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable U.S. export control regulations, including U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals. Visa sponsorship is not available. xzbcwsv Our client is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Confidential Search | AIJ Search