Associate Director EHS Bern

For our Bern location, we are looking for a

Associate Director Environment, Health and Safety (EHS)

In this key role, you support the strategic implementation of Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S) at the Bern site. As Associate Director EHS, you actively drive the development of a strong safety culture, the implementation of global EHS goals, and continuous improvements in a highly regulated, GMP-controlled environment. 

You lead a motivated EHS team, promote its further development, and are responsible for daily operations as well as the successful implementation and monitoring of all relevant EHS processes at the site. 

Your main responsibilities 

• Implementation of the global and local EHS strategy at the Bern site in compliance with legal requirements, internal standards (including ISO 14001, ISO 45001), and best practices. 

• Promotion of a strong safety and environmental culture through active change management and leadership behavior. 

• Management of daily operational EHS activities including resource planning, task distribution, and monitoring. 

• Development and monitoring of meaningful KPIs to measure the success of EHS activities; actively driving target achievement. 

• Ensuring compliance with all relevant Swiss and international environmental and safety regulations. 

• Responsibility for strong process safety management (process safety), including hazard assessments, risk registers, and action tracking. 

• Control and further development of third-party management processes including safety approvals, audits, and training. 

• Close collaboration with global EHS functions to ensure consistent implementation of global programs and initiatives. 

• Identification, assessment, and management of significant EHS risks (including emergency management) in cooperation with operational units. 

• Proactive shaping and implementation of global and local processes, especially in the context of regulatory requirements and sustainability. 

• Driving and shaping continuous improvement projects and, if applicable, AI usage.  

Leadership responsibility 

• Leading, motivating, and developing a multidisciplinary EHS team. 

• Promoting a performance-oriented, collaborative, and safe working environment. 

• Responsibility for talent development, coaching, and succession planning. 

• Living the company values and driving a positive, inclusive safety culture. 

Your profile 

Education 

• University degree in environmental management, safety engineering, natural sciences, or a comparable field. 

Professional experience 

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in Environment, Health & Safety – ideally in a GMP-regulated environment (e.g., biotech, pharma, chemical industry). 

• Proven experience in leading and developing teams. 

• In-depth knowledge in process safety management and hazardous materials management. 

• Experience with managing third-party companies and contractors. 

• Experience in establishing and managing EHS metrics (KPIs) as well as in the use of EHS management systems (e.g., ISO 45001/14001). 

• Experience working within a matrix organization. 

Expectations for leadership personalities 

• Strong leadership skills with a focus on developing, motivating, and retaining talent. 

• Strong communication skills across all hierarchy levels. 

• Analytical thinking combined with a hands-on mentality. 

• Ability to actively shape change and inspire others to do so. 

• Strategic thinking combined with operational excellence.