Kyowa Kirin is a fast-growing global specialty pharmaceutical company that applies state-of-the-art biotechnologies to discover and deliver novel medicines in four disease areas: bone and mineral; intractable hematologic; hematology oncology; and rare disease. A Japan-based company, our goal is to translate science into smiles by delivering therapies where no adequate treatments currently exist, working from drug discovery to product development and commercialization. In North America, we are headquartered in Princeton, NJ, with offices in California, North Carolina, and Mississauga, Ontario.

The EHS Specialist is responsible for supporting the implementation of the EHS program. This includes developing and maintaining EHS compliance programs and continuous improvement projects for the KKNA Manufacturing Facility.

As an individual contributor, you will take a compassionate and people-focused approach to your work. You will proactively collaborate with others to create a supportive and inclusive environment, always acting in line with the organization’s values. By using strong interpersonal skills, you will work effectively with diverse viewpoints, manage relationships thoughtfully, and make decisions that meet both individual and team needs. You will be accountable for delivering results, adapting to challenges, and helping achieve business goals. Additionally, you will take ownership of your tasks, act with initiative, and continuously seek opportunities to learn and grow. You will handle change with resilience and clarity, staying flexible in a fast-paced environment while keeping the needs of patients at the center of your efforts.

This role reports to the Sr. Manager, Environmental, Health and Safety

Technical Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
• Responsibilities include: incident response, reporting, and investigations; environmental permit management; and risk management. Supports implementation of all applicable EHS programs for the site such as: Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO), Confined Space Entry, Industrial Hygiene, Hazard Communication, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Workers Compensation, Emergency Management, etc. Coordinates with operations to identify and mitigate risks by implementing effective engineering controls, procedures, training, and PPE.
• Interface with staff: High visibility in all workspaces to support a positive, practical, safe, and compliant work environment. Interface with Management: Communicate regularly with system owners or area managers to provide status reports, plan program activities, and review EHS program effectiveness. Co-chair the EHS committee.
• Assessments and Inspections: Supports regular internal self-audits and inspections of EHS systems.
• EHS Incidents: Respond to reported observations, near misses, injuries and spills, support all reporting, assist employees and supervisors with investigations and corrective and preventative actions (CAPAs). Help maintain regulatory reporting systems.
• Regulatory Compliance: Participate during Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Department of Transportation (DOT), Fire Marshal, or other regulatory inspections. Ensure that staff members understand requirements and operate the site in a compliant manner.
• EHS Procedures: Draft, review, and revise EHS policies, procedures, and manuals to ensure that EHS practices are consistent with the applicable regulations and promote safe and compliant behavior.
• Employee Training/ Records Retention: Coordinate and provide training as needed for EHS programs. Support the management of EHS records including, but not limited to, waste management, chemical inventory, training, permits, inspections, OSHA Logs, and testing.
• PPE: Assess appropriate PPE for each applicable task. Provide training and monitor use.
• Waste Management: Support all waste activities including storage, treatment, disposal, reporting, and record keeping.
• Emergency Preparedness: Maintain EHS supplies, equipment, materials, and training as specified by EHS procedures or programs.
• Industrial Hygiene (IH): Assist with the development, execution, and evaluation of IH monitoring, data reporting, employee notification, and implementation of any necessary improvements to reduce/eliminate employee exposure to chemical and/or physical hazards.
• Other assigned duties.

Individual contributor, with responsibility to lead or work with cross-functional project teams.

Education/Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in an occupational health and safety or related field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience as an EHS professional in manufacturing.
• Experience with start-up and operation of biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes is a plus.

Technical Skills
• Relevant training and/or certification in regulated EHS activities.
• Hazardous/biohazardous waste management
• DOT hazardous materials shipping
• Emergency response

Non-Technical Skills
• Results-oriented and able to navigate ambiguity.
• Set clear outcomes, track progress, follow through on commitments, and ensure actions lead to measurable results that advance organizational objectives.
• Respond promptly, take accountability, and manage tasks efficiently.
• Adapt to change with clarity, patience, and understanding, guiding teams through evolving challenges.
• Exhibit strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a solid work ethic while demonstrating cultural sensitivity and the ability to foster alignment in a global environment.
• Communicate with care by actively listening and considering others' perspectives, fostering productive, engaging interactions, and managing relationships with kindness.
• Embrace personal growth through continuous learning and knowledge sharing, maintaining a growth mindset.
• Promote inclusive collaboration by respecting diverse perspectives and creating a welcoming work environment.
• Contribute positively by recognizing achievements and encouraging a healthy work-life balance.
• Collaborate with respect, integrity, and humility, prioritizing collective success over individual gain.
• Resourceful and proactive, challenge the status quo, drive innovation, and develop creative solutions.
• Apply an enterprise-wide, holistic mindset, working beyond siloed thinking to deliver cohesive, integrated solutions.

Must be able to work in a regulated manufacturing environment, including construction/start-up phases, with appropriate PPE. Reasonable accommodation will be provided as required by law.

This position is based on-site in Sanford, NC. Other standard company policies for flexible work arrangements do not apply to this role. This is not a hybrid or remote role.

• Requires up to 5% of domestic travel, based on business needs.
• This position follows a Monday–Friday day shift (8AM to 4:30 PM).
• Regularly works in environments with exposure to machinery, noise, and physical hazards. Appropriate PPE is required.

The anticipated salary for this position will be $79,000 to $118,500. The actual salary offered for this role at commencement of employment may vary based on several factors including but not limited to relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, education (including applicable licenses and certifications, job-based knowledge, location, and other business and organizational needs.

The listed salary is just one component of the overall compensation package. At Kyowa Kirin North America we provide a comprehensive range of benefits including:

401K with company matching
Annual Bonus Program (Sales Bonus for Sales Jobs)
Generous PTO and Holiday Schedule which includes Summer and Winter Shut-Downs, Sick Days and, Volunteer Days
Healthcare Benefits (Medical, Dental, Prescription Drugs and Vision)
HSA & FSA Programs
Well-Being and Work/Life Programs
Long-Term Incentive Program (subject to job level and performance)
Life & Disability Insurance
Concierge Service
Pet Insurance
Tuition Assistance
Employee Referral Awards

The compensation and benefits information set forth in this posting applies to candidates hired in the United States. Candidates hired outside the United States will be eligible for compensation and benefits in accordance with their local market.

KKNA and all of its employees have an obligation to act in accordance with the law and with integrity in all our operations and interactions

It is the policy of Kyowa Kirin North America, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, religion, creed, color, pregnancy, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or affection preference or citizenship status or any other category protected by law.

When you apply to a job on this site, the personal data contained in your application will be collected and stored by Kyowa Kirin, Inc. (“Controller”), which is located at 510 Carnegie Center Dr. Princeton, NJ 08540 USA and can be contacted by emailing kkus.talentacquisition.8h@kyowakirin.com. Controller’s data protection officer can be contacted at usprivacyoffice@kyowakirin.com. Your personal data will be processed for the purposes of managing Controller’s recruitment related activities, which include setting up and conducting interviews and tests for applicants, evaluating and assessing the results thereto, and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment and hiring processes. Such processing is legally permissible under Art. 6(1)(f) of General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”) as necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the Controller, which are the solicitation, evaluation, and selection of applicants for employment.

Your personal data will be shared with Greenhouse Software, Inc., a cloud services provider located in the United States of America and engaged by Controller to help manage its recruitment and hiring process on Controller’s behalf. Accordingly, if you are located outside of the United States, your personal data will be transferred to the United States once you submit it through this site. The transfer will be made using appropriate additional safeguards under the standard contractual clauses approved by regulators for transfers of personal data outside the European Union.

Your personal data will be retained by Controller as long as Controller determines it is necessary to evaluate your application for employment. Under the GDPR, if you are located in the European Union, you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted. You also have the right to data portability, and to lodge a complaint with an EU supervisory authority. If you have any questions about our use of your data, you may contact us by email at usprivacyoffice@kyowakirin.com.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies

Kyowa Kirin does not accept agency resumes unless contacted directly by internal Kyowa Kirin Talent Acquisition. Please do not forward resumes to Kyowa Kirin employees or any other company location; Kyowa Kirin is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist II