Senior Occupational Safety & Process Safety Management Specialist

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced Occupational Safety and Process Safety professional to join our Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) team in Leiden. In this role, you will co-lead and further strengthen occupational safety and process safety management across laboratories, production areas, engineering environments, and capital projects. You will help ensure safe operations, regulatory compliance, robust risk controls, and continuous improvement of safety systems in a dynamic biotech and advanced therapies environment.

The successful candidate combines strong technical safety expertise with practical operational experience, sound judgement, and the ability to influence stakeholders across functions. A completed HVK qualification, or an equivalent senior safety qualification, is required.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain occupational safety and process safety management programs, policies, procedures, and standards across laboratory, production, and engineering areas.
• Co-lead and coordinate process hazard analyses and related PSM activities, and management of change.
• Conduct workplace and process risk assessments and translate findings into effective technical, procedural, and organizational controls.
• Strengthen key safe-work systems, including permit to work, confined space entry, hot work, lockout/tagout, contractor safety, and energy control.
• Lead or support incident investigations, root cause analyses, and the timely implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Drive compliance with applicable Dutch and international occupational safety and process safety requirements, standards, and best practices, including ISO 45001 and recognized PSM frameworks.
• Prepare for and support internal audits, external audits, regulatory inspections, and required EHS reporting.
• Design and deliver practical training on occupational safety, process safety, and safe work practices for operators, engineers, laboratory staff, and contractors.
• Act as safety advisor during design, commissioning, qualification, and change-control activities to embed safety by design and fit-for-purpose risk controls.
• Coach standard owners, subject-matter experts, and operational leaders to promote ownership, proactive risk management, and a strong safety culture.

Required qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Safety Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Biology, or a related field; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Completed HVK qualification or equivalent senior occupational safety qualification.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in occupational safety and process safety management within biotech, pharmaceutical, chemical, manufacturing, or another high-hazard technical environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading or facilitating HAZOPs, LOPA studies, risk assessments, hazard evaluations, and incident investigations.
• Strong knowledge of occupational safety legislation, process safety principles, ISO 45001, and relevant industry standards and best practices.
• Practical understanding of laboratory and production safety systems, mechanical and electrical safety, energy isolation, and process safety barriers.
• Proven ability to influence, advise, and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams in a complex organization.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Fluency in Dutch and English, both spoken and written.

Preferred skills and certifications

• NEBOSH diploma, HVK-related additional certifications, or other recognized international safety qualifications.
• Experience with environmental management systems, such as ISO 14001.
• Experience in cleanroom, aseptic, GMP, biotech or pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with safety instrumented systems, risk-based design, ATEX, machine safety, and process safety documentation for projects.
• Experience managing contractor safety, construction safety, and site safety during project execution.

Required Skills:

Environment Health and Safety

Preferred Skills:

Environmental Health And Safety, Environmental Protection, Performance Measurement, Problem Solving, Regulatory Compliance, Safety-Oriented