Pfizer will be spending $470 million to expand the Pearl River vaccine research facilities located 25 miles northwest of New York City. The 260,000-square-foot expansion, including 55,000 square feet of lab space, aims to be completed by 2026.

There will be new building construction and renovation of existing facilities at the Pearl River campus, which has been the nexus of laboratory research driving its vaccine programs, including the mRNA technology used to develop the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Why Patients Need You

Pfizer’s Environmental, Health and Safety team is critical to ensuring the highest safety standards are met for patients and our colleagues. You will be part of an innovative community dedicated to delivering excellence which enables Pfizer to get our medicines in the hands of the people who need them most more efficiently, and safer, than ever before.

What You Will Achieve

You will be part of a dynamic team of experts who form Pfizer’s Environment, Health & Safety division. Due to the importance of this team for Pfizer’s employees and patients, the organization relies heavily on its team members’ timely actions and decision-making ability.

The Manager, EHS & Biological Safety is primarily responsible for providing technical biosafety support and implementing and overseeing biological safety programs as the Biosafety Officer (BSO).  This requires ensuring a safe workplace and compliance with regulatory and company requirements supporting the overall site operations and colleagues for the Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) – Americas Region II Pearl River R&D campus located in Pearl River, NY and the CTI – NY site located in New York, NY.  This role will also be responsible for implementing important aspects of the EHS Management Systems including but not limited to operational control, risk assessment, inspections, program and compliance improvements and investigations for both sites. 

This role requires a tactical mindset and approach in partnering with colleagues representing multiple business lines ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory and company guidelines and standards.  This entails a diverse range of accountabilities and the development and maintenance of close working relationships with colleague and contracted resources to define requirements, analyze needs, provide recommendations, and execute plans and options that align with overall GWS goals and supported business line objectives and strategies. It is your hard work and focus that will make Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.

How You Will Achieve It

• Implement and oversee biological safety programs as the BSO for infectious or potentially infectious materials, bloodborne pathogens and other materials as required

• Liaise, provide advice and support to internal scientific customers and stakeholders on the design, documentation, implementation of programs aligned with company EHS Standards, site safety policies, standards and procedures and regulations governing biological safety

• Maintain and develop safety management systems, including policies, procedures and training, while enhancing and optimizing the safety programs

• Maintain an inventory of biological agents in use, advising on and approving biological risk assessments

• Review and approve studies involving biological agents through Pfizer’s electronic Biological Agent Registration system

• Develop metrics to measure safety program performance and enable continuous improvement

• Actively lead and support the Biosafety Committee and interact and coordinate with other regional GWS Biosafety Committees as applicable

• Review and approve the purchase of biological agents

• Perform and document risk assessments of chemical and biological agent use, and the associated equipment in consultation with customers and other EHS colleagues

• Perform and support general site safety and lab safety inspections, investigations, and continuous improvement programs

• Develop and communicate specific biosafety handling practices to meet hazard mitigation and risk reduction

• Investigate workplace incidents, determine root cause and develop corrective actions

• Participate in global EHS networks including but not limited to the Biosafety and Lab Safety Networks

• Update job knowledge by participating in internal and external training opportunities; internal communities of practice; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.

• Provide Risk Management guidance and lead/co-lead projects, work independently to identify situations and implement results for high-level projects.

• Monitor site compliance and Environment, Health & Safety (Local applications) performance, report key metrics and recommend corrective actions.

• Assess the probability, magnitude, and potential financial impact of the risks, and develop feasible, cost effective, control alternatives.

• Interact with Pfizer Legal Groups including Global Environment, Health & Safety legal.

• Provide advice and support on the implementation of Pfizer Health & Safety standards, site safety policies, standards and procedures, and regulations governing biological safety.

• Conduct assessments of workplace conditions to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state occupational safety and health standard provisions.

• Check and evaluate the effectiveness of actions taken or proposed to be taken to prevent personal injuries.

• Liaise with regulatory compliance organizations.

• Partner with site business functions, including leaders and colleagues at every level, Global Environment, Health & Safety (Local applications) and Legal, and external sources to implement improvements.

• Provide updates and continuous improvements to the site Emergency Plan.

• Function as the GWS main point of contact for CTI-NY.

• Manage Risk Management related capital and expense projects working with Facilities Project Engineering.

• Liaison with facilities/security teams to ensure appropriate support model is provided to Pfizer leased spaces. 

• Support changes to lab and office spaces as dictated by new science modalities.

• Responsible for all EHS Management Systems and Level II EHS Audits and inspections from outside regulators.

• Function as Site Security contact for CTI-NY and Alternate Security Officer for Pearl River, NY. 

• Function as Biological Safety Officer for Pearl River and CTI-NY. 

• Perform risk assessments on new processes/equipment.

• Manage EHS (IH/Environmental/Radiation) contractors supporting Pearl River and CTI-NY sites.

• Support all high containment safety operations (BSL3/ABSL3) and emergency management.

• Chair of Pearl River IACUC and Biosafety Committee.

• Complete related assignments and tasks as determined by Sr. Manager, Risk Management. 

Must-Have

• Bachelor’s Degree in the biological sciences, bio-engineering or equivalent discipline

• Active membership in at least one relevant professional body, ideally with a formal continuous professional development requirement

• Minimum of 5 years of experience implementing EHS and biosafety-related programs in a laboratory setting or related experience.

• Subject material expertise and experience in National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) guidelines application

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge and application experience with biosafety principles, laboratory and large-scale biosafety programs, and key processes such as risk assessment, inspections, audits and root cause investigations.

• Demonstrated ability to implement safety related programs with safety committee participation

• Ability to independently assess safety and biosafety risks and programs and effectively communicate/collaborate with customer management on appropriate risk control measures

• Demonstrated knowledge and application of local, state and federal regulatory requirements and guidelines associated with EHS and biosafety

• Ability to identify, drive change and implement improvement programs across a multi-discipline organization through influence versus direct reporting relationships

• Ability to present and discuss findings with senior and first level management, colleagues, consultants and non-company officials

• Ability to prepare technical reports and evaluations

• Demonstrated computer skills; MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

• Possess excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills

Nice-to-Have

• Master’s Degree

• Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) high containment experience

• Registered Biosafety Professional and active member of the American Biological Safety Association

• Prior experience with biopharmaceutical industry and participation on institutional biosafety committee

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Day shift with occasional after hours or weekend response for onsite support associated with facility incidents or excursions or planned shutdowns for maintenance and/or capital and expense project execution

• Respond as required to the site in support of business continuity and emergency events

• Periodic travel may be required in support of GWS business requirements

• Entry and work inside cGLP spaces, laboratories, mechanical/electrical rooms, maintenance shops, shipping and receiving and service corridors.  While working in these areas, strict adherence to aseptic gowning and procedures and personal protective equipment will be required as applicable.

• General safety knowledge and awareness expected in office, laboratory and manufacturing environments

OTHER JOB DETAILS:

Work Location Assignment: On Premise

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.