Environmental Health & Safety (Ehs) Manager

Job Title: EHS Manager

About OmniaBio:

OmniaBio Inc. is a subsidiary of Toronto-based CCRM, a leader in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies (ccrm.ca). OmniaBio’s facility will be Canada’s first commercial scale contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) dedicated to cell and gene therapies, and is expected to be the largest facility of its kind in Canada.

Based at McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton, Ontario, OmniaBio will anchor a biomanufacturing centre of excellence and open in three phases between 2024 and 2026. OmniaBio has built a substantial team and continues to grow to prepare for this expansion. Benefitting from CCRM’s existing expertise and business practices, OmniaBio currently has established process and analytical development teams and contract manufacturing capabilities. OmniaBio is built upon leadership in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), immunotherapy and lentiviral vectors (LVVs). The vision is to provide focused support for clients with late clinical stage manufacturing and commercial supply needs, in addition to early-stage development and first in-human clinical trial material services. Please visit us at omniabio.com to learn more.

Role Summary:

The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Manager will be part of the Human Resources team, as a shared resource between CCRM and OmniaBio. The person in this role will be responsible for developing an EHS program to ensure compliance with regulatory bodies and standards, conducting audits and reviews of existing health and safety policies, advising employees on safety procedures, conducting training sessions, and addressing incidents and injuries at OmniaBio and CCRM locations. The EHS Manager will work with all areas of the business under the supervision of the Senior HR Manager. The EHS Manager will be responsible for overseeing the Joint Health and Safety Committees (JSHCs) and ensuring proper reporting and escalation of issues in a timely manner. The person in this role will ensure that both companies comply with legislative requirements and work toward a gold standard program.

This person will be an integral member of a dynamic and collaborative team, including technical experts within the OmniaBio and CCRM companies. Flexibility to work from home, with frequent/weekly trips to Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, is the preferred working arrangement.

Responsibilities:

• Plans, implements and conducts preventative care, safety and compliance training programs.
• Manages, tracks and coordinates training requirements (first aid, WHMIS, certifications, etc.)
• Guides and holds leaders accountable to performing work in accordance with approved legislation, internal policies and procedures.
• Discusses with manager the needed resources to manage the EHS program and provide inputs on the required budgets and timelines.
• Plans, implements, manages and maintains comprehensive EHS programs on premises or at project site locations.
• Proactively ensures compliance with theCanadian Biosafety Standard (CBS) and assesses gaps for containment level 2 (CL2) laboratory operations.
• Ensures all locations meet industry, provincial and federal guidelines and regulations.
• Maintains a written log of safety inspection activities, reports and correspondence.
• Manages the EHS risk assessment for equipment and processes.
• Maintains all required records and documentation.
• Plans training requirements as per the act and needs of the organization, including mobile equipment, biohazards, blood borne pathogens, incident reporting, accident investigation/root cause analysis, etc.
• Provides guidance to the business on implementing safe work plans for activities involving the introduction of new equipment, chemical cleaning agents or biohazards.
• Acts as the subject matter expert and resource for topics related to environmental and occupational health and safety (OHS).
• Works with the Operations team to ensure environmental hazards are properly managed.
• Provides guidance on developing safe work action plans.
• Plans an EHS program with senior management, comprised of EHS policies, procedures and training.
• Provides the management team with guidance on health and safety best practices.
• Manages workers’ compensation programs/claims and liaises with the Finance team for payment requirements.
• Keeps up-to-date with labour laws and OHS guidelines and regulations.
• Provides guidance and oversight for investigating incidents, prepares corrective and preventative action (CAPA) plans, and assigns action items to responsible functions.
• Proactively builds and implements EHS processes to better meet the demands of a growing company in multiple work settings.
• Maintains records of employee exposure to hazardous waste and/or pollutants, as required.
• Oversees and guides the JHSCs and Biosafety committee to ensure compliance with meetings, inspections, and training; ensures escalation of concerns is properly managed.
• Conducts safety meetings, audits and inspections to ensure compliance, evaluate performance, identify corrective action, and implement follow-up assessments.
• Collaborates with management to develop an emergency response plan, and serves as the primary contact for injury and incident notification, investigation and case management.

Qualifications:

• Fluent in English.
• Ability to influence without authority.
• First aid/CPR certification.
• Bachelor of science, with emphasis in industrial hygiene, environmental engineering, health and safety, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience supporting CL2 laboratories is an asset.
• Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (CRSP) designation.
• Experience with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) sites is preferable.
• Knowledge of federal and provincial OHS regulations, as applicable to manufacturing operations.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and/or biologics industry.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel and Word.

Desired Characteristics:

• Experience as a Biosafety Officer (BSO).
• Very strong communication and writing skills, with ability to express complex ideas simply and directly.
• Strong team player with commitment to overall company goals.
• Experience in industrial hygiene.
• Comfortable presenting to internal audiences and articulating needs.
• Demonstrated experience with change management.
• Ability to work in a matrixed environment with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Ability to identify areas of need and contribute without explicit direction.

Physical Requirements

• Physically able to conduct inspections and carry equipment used for inspections.
• Able to travel between locations (Toronto and Hamilton), as required.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

OmniaBio is a developing organization and represents a fluid working environment. Flexibility and adaptability are essential, and duties will be influenced by the needs of the organization.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada.

OmniaBio is committed to accessibility, diversity, and equal opportunity. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process, providing the applicant has met the bona fide requirements for the open position. Applicants should make their requirements known once contacted to schedule an interview, or when the job offer has been made.