Location: Philadelphia, PA
Company: Orchestra Life Sciences | Full-Time | On-Site
Reports to: Vice President of Construction
About Orchestra Life Sciences
Orchestra Life Sciences is a portfolio-based biopharmaceutical and medical innovation company advancing transformative therapies for patients with high unmet medical needs, including rare diseases and pediatric cancer. Our teams work across disciplines to translate breakthrough science into real-world impact.
Position Summary
The Director of Safety (EHS) is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing, building, and overseeing OLS’s Environmental, Health & Safety function across all active construction programs. Reporting to the Vice President of Construction, this individual will serve as the company’s subject matter authority on construction site safety and EHS program compliance, with a particular emphasis on life sciences, regulated industrial, and high-hazard facility environments.
This is a player-coach role: the Director will manage a small team of safety professionals (1–3 direct reports) while maintaining direct, hands-on involvement across project sites. The successful candidate brings deep construction safety expertise, credibility with field teams and subcontractors, and the organizational skills to build scalable EHS systems that meet the demands of OLS’s growing project portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
EHS Program Development & Leadership
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve OLS’s comprehensive EHS program, including policies, standards, procedures, and training frameworks aligned with OSHA, EPA, NRC, and applicable state/local regulations.
- Establish and maintain a project-specific safety plan template library applicable to life sciences, cGMP, and regulated industrial construction environments.
- Drive a strong safety culture across OLS and subcontractor teams, with visible leadership presence at project sites.
- Define and track EHS KPIs (TRIR, LTIR, near-miss reporting, safety observation rates); present performance data to OLS leadership and clients.
- Construction Site Safety — Field Oversight
- Conduct regular field visits to active project sites to audit safety performance, identify hazards, and verify corrective action close-out.
- Lead incident investigation processes, including root cause analysis (RCA) and development of corrective/preventive action plans.
- Ensure pre-task safety planning (JSA/JHA) processes are consistently implemented across trade contractor scopes.
- Serve as OLS’s primary interface with GC/CM safety teams, subcontractor safety officers, and client EHS representatives.
- Regulatory Compliance & Specialized Environments
- Ensure OLS safety programs address the unique hazards present in life sciences and regulated facility construction, including hot cell installation, controlled environments (cleanrooms), chemical handling, radiological adjacencies, and high-containment areas.
- Coordinate with client EHS, quality, and regulatory affairs teams to align construction safety requirements with facility commissioning and operational readiness timelines.
Team Management & Development
- Recruit, mentor, and manage 1–3 EHS professionals embedded across OLS project sites.
- Assign safety personnel to projects based on risk profile, complexity, and program phase.
- Develop safety staff through training, certifications, and on-the-job coaching.
- Subcontractor & Vendor Oversight
- Review and approve subcontractor safety plans, qualification documentation, and project-specific safety submittals.
- Conduct pre-mobilization safety reviews with trade contractors; enforce corrective action protocols for non-conformances.
- Participate in subcontractor pre-qualification processes, advising OLS procurement on safety performance history.
Qualifications
Required
- 15+ years of progressive EHS experience, with a minimum of 8 years in a construction environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing safety programs on complex, regulated, or high-hazard construction projects (life sciences, pharmaceutical, chemical, industrial, or similar).
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification (minimum); OSHA 500 preferred.
- Proven ability to develop and institutionalize EHS programs from the ground up.
- Experience managing or mentoring EHS professionals in a field-based environment.
- Excellent communication skills – able to present safety performance clearly to executive leadership and engage credibly with field crews.
- Willingness to travel regularly to project sites across OLS’s project portfolio.
Preferred
- CSP (Certified Safety Professional), CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician), or equivalent professional designation.
- Experience on life sciences or pharmaceutical manufacturing facility construction, including GMP/cGMP environments.
- Familiarity with NRC regulations, radiological safety requirements, or other specialized regulatory frameworks applicable to regulated industrial projects.
- Prior experience in an owner’s representative, program management, or multi-project EHS oversight capacity.
- Exposure to commissioning and qualification (CQV) interface requirements within regulated facility environments.
Key Competencies
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to ownership, clients, and executive stakeholders
- High attention to detail with a bias toward proactive problem solving
- Collaborative team leader who holds themselves and others accountable
- Operates with integrity and professionalism in all client and subcontractor relationships
Why Join Orchestra Life Sciences
- Opportunity to contribute to innovative therapies with meaningful patient impact
- Collaborative, mission-driven culture across multiple innovation hubs
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
- Professional growth and leadership development opportunities
EEO Statement
Orchestra Life Sciences, LLC herein Orchestra, provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Orchestra complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Orchestra Life Sciences expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Orchestra’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.
Equal Opportunity Employer