Environmental Health & Safety Specialist

About This Role

Varda Space Industries is looking for an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist to support our facilities and labs on Earth. Varda is a fast paced and challenging environment. The EHS team should be comfortable working on complex chemical and physical systems ranging from chemical propulsion, to pharmaceuticals, to spacecraft development.

This position requires strong overall technical skills, excellent customer service, and great organizational management. The candidate should be a self-starter, self-motivator, and possess ingenuity to work in this novel environment.

Candidates should have knowledge of regulatory and environmental policies at the local, state and federal level, and experience in building and implementing EHS policies in a startup environment. The selected candidate should have strong overall technical skills, excellent customer service skills, and superior organizational and prioritization management skills. The candidate should also be a self-starter, self-motivator and possess ingenuity to excel at this position.

Candidates should have experience in building high-quality systems in support of business operations, spacecraft development, and administering complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulatory standards (e.g., Cal/OSHA, Cal/EPA, RCRA, SCAQMD, DOT, CA Fire Code), including recordkeeping and reporting requirements
• Ensure compliance with industry standards (e.g., NIOSH, ANSI, NFPA), where applicable
• Conduct root cause corrective action (RCCA) investigations as needed, working closely with leadership to implement any corrective actions to mitigate EHS risks
• Oversee accumulation and disposal of hazardous waste, including routine inspections
• Ensure safe handling and processing of pharmaceuticals through laboratory and equipment design, and development and implementation of safety procedures/systems
• Ensure safe handling of chemicals and hazardous materials through Hazard Communication (HazCom) program elements (e.g., SDS management, container labeling) and control measures (e.g., PPE)
• Keep up to date with new regulations and industry standards, updating internal EHS policies and procedures to maintain compliance
• Develop, administer, and manage EHS training materials and requirements/assignments
• Coordinate emergency response procedures, develop/maintain site emergency action plan, and organize emergency drills and related training (e.g., first aid/CPR/AED)
• Support regular maintenance and inspection of safety systems and equipment (e.g., emergency eyewashes/showers, fire extinguishers, fire alarm and suppression systems)
• Develop and implement periodic inspection program to proactively identify EHS risks
• Support contractor safety program to ensure planned work procedures include adequate safety controls
• Implement and support other EHS programs, including (but not limited to) electrical safety, lockout/tagout (LOTO), fall protection, powered industrial trucks (PITs), machine guarding, cranes/hoists, confined spaces, ergonomics, hearing conservation, respiratory protection, air quality, and heat illness prevention

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant EHS experience in a laboratory or manufacturing environment
• Bachelor's degree in occupational safety & health, environmental engineering/safety, physical sciences, or related field
• Expertise in managing chemical hazards and HazCom (e.g., safety data sheets [SDS], primary/secondary labeling, hazardous properties and compatibility)
• Experience with managing hazardous waste accumulation and disposal
• Extensive knowledge of California environmental (e.g., Cal/EPA, DTSC, SCAQMD) and health/safety (e.g., Cal/OSHA) standards and regulations
• Ability to make decisions and recommendations about complex EHS situations and topics when the solution is not clear
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Atlassian suites
• Proficiency in technology and equipment used in environmental inspections and industrial hygiene sampling
• Physically capable of performing tasks with prolonged standing/walking (e.g., inspections) and lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds at a time
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced work environment

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and/or equivalent professional certification
• Master’s degree in occupational safety & health, environmental engineering/safety, physical sciences, or related field
• Knowledge of laboratory design and handling procedures for potent pharmaceutical compounds
• Experience in developing EHS policies and systems from the ground-up in a startup environment
• Experience in developing and implementing safety procedures for high-hazard operations (e.g., propulsion testing, potent chemical handling/storage)
• Knowledge of and/or experience with industrial hygiene sampling (e.g., airborne chemicals, dusts, noise, radiation)

Additional Requirements

• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs. for duties such as delivering computers, unpacking and rack-mounting equipment, etc.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $90,000 - $110,000
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
• Offer compensation also includes the ability to purchase company stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan