Construction Safety Specialist, Process Safety (Field Based)

ERM is hiring an Owner Advisor, Process Safety & Operational Readiness in Lebanon, Indiana to support our client’s capital project. This role serves as a field-based Owner Advisor focused on identifying and communicating process safety risks that may emerge during construction, mechanical completion, commissioning, startup, and early operational readiness activities. The role will emphasize field presence, verification of critical controls, and support of safe project execution through the transition from construction to startup. This is a full-time (40-50hrs/week,) fixed-term position with a duration of 1 year with possibility of renewal.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Construction and Field Oversight

• Maintain a visible field presence and routinely engage with project teams, contractors, and craft personnel.

• Conduct field observations focused on process safety-related risks associated with construction, mechanical completion, commissioning, and startup activities.

• Monitor work activities involving hazardous materials, hazardous energy sources, temporary systems, utility systems, and complex process equipment.

• Support verification of critical controls associated with high-risk work activities.

• Promote proactive identification and resolution of process safety concerns before work execution.

Process Safety & Operational Readiness Support

• Provide owner-side oversight and governance related to process safety risks during project execution.

• Participate in reviews of work plans, commissioning activities, turnover activities, and startup readiness efforts.

• Identify conditions that could increase the risk of loss of containment, fire, explosion, toxic exposure, hazardous energy release, or other high-consequence events.

• Support evaluation of simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) risks during construction, commissioning, and startup.

• Monitor implementation of controls associated with process systems, utility systems, and hazardous operations.

• Escalate significant process safety concerns, emerging trends, and repeat observations to client project leadership.

Collaboration & Communication

• Build effective working relationships with client personnel, construction management teams, contractors, commissioning groups, and operational stakeholders.

• Provide timely and professional communication regarding observed risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.

• Support consistency and alignment across the broader Owner Advisor team.

• Contribute to project meetings, readiness discussions, risk reviews, and lessons-learned activities.

• Serve as a trusted resource while maintaining independent owner-representative perspective and objectivity.

Reporting & Governance

• Document observations, concerns, and recommendations in accordance with project requirements.

• Track and communicate recurring process safety-related themes and trends.

• Support project leadership in evaluating effectiveness of risk controls and mitigation strategies.

• Assist with development of recommendations that strengthen safe execution during construction-to-operations transition activities.

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of experience supporting construction safety, industrial safety, commissioning, operational readiness, startup, or related activities.

• Experience working on large industrial, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing, chemical, industrial gas, refining, petrochemical, or similar high-hazard projects.

• Experience supporting facilities involving flammable liquids, solvents, toxic chemicals, refrigeration systems, utility generation and distribution systems, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, or other similar high-hazard industrial operations preferred

• Knowledge of process safety principles and the ability to identify conditions that could result in high-consequence events

• Experience supporting Mechanical completion, Pre-commissioning activities, Commissioning, Startup and turnover activities, and operational readiness programs, Familiarity with Hazardous energy control (LOTO), Line breaking, Hot work, Confined space entry, Temporary systems, SIMOPS management Loss of containment prevention, High-consequence hazard recognition preferred

• Demonstrated experience engaging contractors and performing field-based safety oversight.

• Working knowledge of construction safety principles, hazard recognition, and control of high-risk activities.

• Strong communication, observation, and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to effectively influence safe work practices across multiple organizations and contractors.

• Ability to spend the majority of working time in the field environment.

Who We Are: 

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations. 

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level. 

Please submit your resume and brief cover letter. Based on review of these responses, shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews. 

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. 

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  

Thank you for your interest in ERM!