EHS Manager / Senior EHS Supervisor📣 Job Ad

About the Opportunity

WuXi AppTec is seeking a highly competent and hands-on EHS Manager / Senior EHS Supervisor to oversee environmental, health, and safety operations at its Saudi Arabia base in Jeddah, Makkah. This full-time role is critical for establishing, executing, and maintaining an EHS management system that strictly complies with Saudi Arabian local regulations. The position requires a strong background in chemical safety and pharmaceutical R&D/laboratory environments, along with proven experience in direct liaison with Saudi government authorities.

Core Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day EHS operations, ensuring 100% compliant and penalty-free operations by establishing and maintaining an on-site EHS management system aligned with local regulations.
• Lead occupational health, safety, and environmental initiatives, with a focus on laboratory chemical/hazardous chemical management (storage, handling, disposal), waste management, wastewater treatment, and air emission monitoring.
• Manage site firefighting and security, including the supervision of the security guard team.
• Coordinate industrial hygiene testing in the workplace and conduct employee occupational health surveillance.
• Manage safety protocols for high-risk operations such as special equipment (elevators, lifting equipment), work at heights, confined spaces, and hot work.
• Conduct routine EHS inspections, specialized audits, and hazard investigations, formulating and tracking CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) plans to 100% closure.
• Formulate, update, and test the site emergency response plans (ERP), organize regular drills, and lead immediate, compliant handling of EHS incidents.

Regulatory Compliance and External Relations

• Act as the primary point of contact for Saudi EHS regulatory authorities, including NCEC/MEWA for Environment, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), Civil Defense, and local Municipalities.
• Manage EHS compliance declarations, permit applications, and documentation submission.
• Lead the preparation and reception of official government inspections.
• Coordinate with local third-party agencies for EHS-related testing, ISO certifications, waste management vendors, and emergency response partners.

Candidate Profile and Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or above in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Safety Engineering, Environmental Science, Occupational Health, or related disciplines is preferred.
• Experience: 3 to 5+ years of full-time EHS management experience within the Pharmaceutical, Biotech, or Chemical laboratory sector is highly preferred. Proven experience managing EHS for overseas facilities of multinational companies is also highly preferred.
• Technical Knowledge: Must possess a solid foundation in chemistry and a deep understanding of pharmaceutical industry chemical safety (laboratory safety, chemical compatibility, and hazardous waste).
• Local Competency: In-depth, practical knowledge of Saudi Arabian environmental, occupational health, and safety laws and regulations (*, SASO standards, Labor Law, Civil Defense codes).
• Language: Professional fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory as the working language. Arabic language skills are a significant plus.
• Certifications (Preferred): NEBOSH IGC / NEBOSH Diploma, Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) registration, Certified Safety Engineer, OSHA 30 Hours, or Occupational Health Manager equivalent.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Laboratory Safety Expertise: Deep knowledge of process safety and hazard controls specific to chemical R&D/pharmaceutical environments.
• Local Problem-Solving: High compliance awareness with the ability to interpret local Saudi regulations and translate them into actionable on-site procedures.
• Communication: Excellent cross-cultural communication and negotiation skills, with a track record of successfully handling relations with Saudi government officials.
• Adaptability: Culturally sensitive, versatile, resilient, and fully adaptable to live and work on-site in Saudi Arabia.

Team Leadership and Cultural Integration

This role involves supervising and developing the local EHS team on-site, allocating tasks, managing performance, and building local EHS capability. The EHS Manager will also bridge communication between China Headquarters and the local Saudi operations team to ensure global EHS standards are practically localized. A key aspect is tailoring EHS communication and training programs to align with local Saudi culture, language requirements, and religious customs, fostering a proactive safety culture within the organization.