EHS Lead - EMEA
Colorcon® is a world leader in the development, supply and technical support of formulated film coating systems, modified release technologies, specialty excipients and functional packaging for the pharmaceutical, nutritional, and animal health industries. Our best-in-class products and technologies are complemented by our extensive formulation experience, application data and value-added services to support all phases of solid oral dose design, development, and manufacture.
Our focus on market issues and technology development has earned Colorcon an international reputation as a pharmaceutical supplier of choice. That reputation is based on superior product quality, unparalleled technical support, extensive regulatory assistance and reliable supply from multiple locations, with our Global Headquarters located in Harleysville, Pennsylvania.
Colorcon has 26 technical service laboratories globally and more than 2100 employees exclusively dedicated to its customer base.
We are a successful company thanks to our diverse workforce and global reach. We believe that our operating principles define our culture, values and organizations and are key to achieving our mission and vision, strategies and goals.
Platinum Rule: We treat others the way they want to be treated
Empowerment: We trust our colleagues with responsibility and decision-making
Keep Getting Better: We create an environment for constant improvement, to be the best we can
Teamwork: We embrace the value of collaboration; work together to exceed what is possible as individuals
Customer Focus: We put our customers’ needs at the heart of everything we do
Global Respect: We are citizens of a diverse world and behave with respect for the communities in which we operate
At
Colorcon we value diversity. Typically, that means diversity in people. But
here, we also appreciate and respect a diversity of possibilities around our
professional roles, creative team-oriented solutions, projects and career
paths.
Along
with diversity, we believe in empowerment. We encourage our employees to
approach challenges in imaginative and proactive ways. We
welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and encourage you to let
us know if you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment
process.
Job Title: EMEA EHS Lead
Reporting
to: Operation Director, EMEA
Direct
reports: 2 x EHS Advisor, EHS Co-Ordinator – all based in Dartford
Dotted line reports: EHS / CI Leads for Bazainville (FR), Romorantin
(FR), Almere (ND)
Position Summary
The Process Safety and EHS Lead is responsible for setting
the regional strategy to ensure compliance with local
legal requirements and safe working practices in all EMEA locations. The EMEA
strategy will integrate and support the global EHS strategy.
The
post holder will support the regional leadership team (RLT) and all department
managers in EMEA with the promotion of effective EHS
leadership, and maintenance of a safe working environment for all Colorcon
employees, contractors and visitors. This role acts as a
strategic business partner to the Site Leadership Teams, operation and engineering
managers, as well as the Global EHS function to ensure consistency and embed a
strong safety culture and drive continuous risk reduction.
This is a
full-time position with primary responsibility for sites in Dartford (UK), Romorantin (FR), Almere
(ND), and our regional laboratories located in eg Idstein (DE), Istanbul (TR),
and Massy (FR).
The position will be based in
Dartford, UK, but will require travel to other Colorcon sites in the EMEA
region.
Role Purpose
The EMEA EHS Lead provides strategic leadership and technical authority
across all process safety and EHS activities within the EMEA region.
The role ensures:
Consistency in compliance with local legal requirements and Colorcon requirements.
Design and implementation of high‑performing EHS and process safety standards across manufacturing sites and regional laboratories, with particular focus on DSEAR (UK), and ATEX (FR and other EU Countries, as implemented) compliance.
Prompt communication and implementation of Corrective and Preventative Actions (CAPA).
Key
Responsibilities
Process
Safety, DSEAR & ATEX Leadership
Provide
regional leadership and governance for process safety management, ensuring
alignment with company standards and regulatory requirements.
Act
as the EMEA technical authority for DSEAR and ATEX, ensuring compliance
with DSEAR regulations, EU ATEX Directives (workplace and equipment) and
other local legislations on the topic.
Ensure
hazardous area classifications, explosion risk assessments, and ignition
risk controls are robust, current, and consistently applied across sites.
Assist
in the selection, installation, inspection, and recommended maintenance of
ATEX‑rated equipment, working closely with Engineering and Maintenance
teams.
Lead
and support HAZOPs, risk assessments, and layers of protection analyses for
new and existing processes.
Ensure
effective Change Management processes are in place and rigorously applied.
EHS
Governance and Regulatory Compliance
Lead
the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of EHS
management systems across Dartford, France, the Netherlands, and regional
laboratories.
Lead
sites during complex incident investigations, ensuring learnings are
shared regionally and / or globally, as required.
Ensure
compliance with local, national, and EU EHS legislation, ISO 14001 and
45001 standards and occupational health through internal and external
audit plans, where appropriate.
Support
sites during regulatory inspections, audits, and licensing activities,
acting as a key technical interface with regulators when required.
Develop,
monitor, and analyse EHS and process safety performance metrics to drive
continual improvement. Prepare regular reports for the RLT and the Global
Leadership Team.
Regional
Leadership & Site Partnership
Actively
partner with Site Leaders and local EHS teams to strengthen accountability
for EHS and process safety performance.
Provide
expert coaching, challenge, and support to all site leaders and department
managers so that an open and robust safety culture is established and
maintained.
Define
and promote strong safety leadership behaviours and set expectations for
their implementation.
Create
and support a proactive reporting and learning culture.
Drive
harmonisation of EHS and process safety standards across EMEA while
ensuring local legal compliance is respected.
Laboratories
Oversight
Provide
EHS and process safety oversight for regional laboratories, including
chemical and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) handling, flammable
atmospheres, storage, waste management, and emergency preparedness.
Ensure
laboratory risk assessments, DSEAR evaluations, and control measures are
suitable and sufficient for laboratory activities.
Ensure
procedures for local handling of APIs are respected.
Continuous
Improvement & Strategy
Lead
EMEA‑wide initiatives to improve process safety maturity and EHS
performance.
Identify
trends from incidents, near misses, audits, and inspections, turning
insights into sustainable improvements.
Contribute
to Global EHS and Process Safety strategy and represent EMEA in global
forums and working groups.
Key
Relationships
Site
Leadership Teams (Dartford, France, Netherlands).
Regional
and Global EHS Teams.
Operations,
Engineering, Maintenance, and Project Teams.
Laboratory
Management.
External
regulators, auditors, and specialist consultants.
Minimum Qualifications
Essential:
Extensive experience in Process Safety and EHS leadership within manufacturing, chemical, pharmaceutical, or similarly high‑hazard industries.
Strong, demonstrable knowledge of DSEAR and ATEX requirements, including hazardous area classification and explosion risk control.
Proven experience supporting multi‑site, multi‑country EMEA operations.
In‑depth understanding of UK and EU EHS legislation.
Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cultural change.
Desirable
Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Chemistry, Safety, or a related discipline.
Professional qualifications such as NEBOSH, IOSH, IChemE, or equivalent.
Experience working with laboratories in an operational or R&D environment.
Personal Attributes
Credible and confident technical leader, with strong influencing and communication skills.
Pragmatic and risk‑based, able to balance operational needs with compliance and safety.
Resilient, organised, and comfortable working across cultures and geographies.
Passionate about safety, people development, and continuous improvement.
Location:
Flagship House, Victory Way,
Crossways, Dartford, DA@ 6QD
United Kingdom
Annually - 0.00 - 0.00
