Director of Employee Health and Safety

The START Center for Cancer Research (“START”) is the world’s largest early phase site network, fully dedicated to oncology clinical research. To date, over 45 therapies conducted at START locations have obtained FDA/EMA approval.

The START Center for Cancer Research is seeking aDirector of Employee Health and Safety (Remote)who will provide strategic and operational leadership for START's Occupational Health and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) program across START's clinical operations. This role is accountable for the design, documentation, standardization, implementation, and day-to-day execution of programs that ensure a safe environment for employees, patients, and research activities while maintaining up-to-date compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

The Director ensures adherence to OSHA, USP <797/800>, NIOSH, drug handling guidance, EPA requirements, and research standards. Given START's focus on oncology clinical research, this role also encompasses compliance touchpoints relevant to investigational product handling, hazardous drug exposure, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and ICH guidelines as they intersect with site safety obligations.

This role establishes and maintains enterprise-wide EHS standards, policies, and procedures governing areas such as drug storage and handling, PPE, fit testing, hazardous material and chemical management, and workplace incident response.

Partnering cross-functionally with Operations/Clinical Leadership, HR, and Compliance, this role translates regulatory and compliance requirements into practical, scalable processes that integrate seamlessly into site operations. The Director will also support select compliance program initiatives under the direction of the Vice President, Compliance and General Counsel, serving as an additional resource for enterprise-wide compliance priorities. The role is responsible for proactive risk identification, incident response, and continuous improvement of safety performance. Success is measured by reduced risk exposure, strong compliance outcomes, and seamless support of business objectives.

This is a remote role. The salary range for this role is $135,000 - $155,000.However, base pay may vary depending on multiple individualized factors including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Essential Responsibilities

Health & Safety (EHS) Compliance

• Develop, own, and lead a national EHS strategy aligned with organizational growth and operational complexity.
• Design, implement, and maintain EHS program aligned with OSHA and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Build and operationalize standardized EHS program across all U.S. sites, ensuring consistency while accommodating state-specific requirements.
• Ensure compliance across START's clinical, including clinical hazard protocols specific to oncology research settings such as needlestick/bloodborne pathogen exposure response, chemotherapy and hazardous drug spill response, aerosolizing agent exposure, and post-exposure pathways.
• Lead site assessments, audits, and inspections; implement corrective actions proactively.
• Maintain all required regulatory reporting and documentation, including OSHA logs and incident records.
• Provide executive-level reporting on risk, compliance, and safety performance.

Occupational Health

• Build and manage occupational health programs including injury prevention, case management, return-to-work processes, fitness for duty, and medical surveillance programs.
• Partner with HR and third-party vendors on workplace accommodations, fitness-for-duty assessments, and employee health-related compliance matters.
• Coordinate with occupational health providers, workers' compensation carriers, and third-party vendors.
• Support leaders in responding to workplace injuries or health concerns with clear, compliant processes.

Risk Management & Incident Response

• Lead investigations into workplace incidents, near misses, and safety concerns.
• Identify trends and implement preventive strategies to reduce risk exposure.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions, tracking findings through to verified closure — supporting movement toward a high-reliability operating environment.
• Maintain a robust near-miss and incident reporting culture; ensure follow-up actions are documented, assigned, and resolved, not merely logged.
• Oversee emergency preparedness and response planning across U.S. locations.

Training & Safety Culture

• Design, implement, and deliver role-based safety and occupational health training for all employees and supervisors, including new hire EHS onboarding, annual safety competency assessments, and training plans tailored to clinical hazard exposure levels.
• Embed a culture of accountability and proactive risk identification aligned with START values.
• Ensure onboarding includes essential safety and health training components; establish and maintain role-specific training matrices.

Operational Partnership

• Partner with Operations, Clinical Leadership, HR, and Compliance to integrate EHS into workflows and service delivery.
• Support new site openings, program expansions, and operational changes with safety and environmental assessments.
• Provide practical, field-ready guidance to managers to ensure compliance without creating operational burden.
• Support compliance program projects and initiatives as directed by the Vice President, Compliance and General Counsel, contributing subject matter expertise and implementation capacity.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and track key safety and occupational health metrics (e.g., incident rates, lost time, near-miss frequency, compliance completion, CAPA closure rates).
• Provide regular updates and executive summaries to leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety while supporting efficient operations.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health, Occupational Health, Safety, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in EHS, occupational health, or workplace safety.
• Demonstrated experience building and operationalizing EHS programs in a multi-site environment; healthcare, clinical research, or life sciences setting strongly preferred.
• Experience managing clinical safety hazards, including hazardous drug handling, bloodborne pathogen programs, and post-exposure response protocols.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Occupational Health Nurse (OHN), or similar credential.
• OSHA 30-hour training or equivalent certifications.
• Familiarity with GCP/ICH guidelines and the intersection of clinical trial operations and site safety obligations.

Physical & Travel Requirements:

• Travel: Required to travel up to 50% of the time across START's U.S. site network.
• Sitting: Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Standing: Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
• Bending: Must be able to reach overhead, at shoulder level, or bend to perform tasks.
• Lifting: Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent use of computer, keyboard, and mouse.

Best-in-Class Benefits and Perks

We value our employees’ time and efforts. Our commitment to your success is enhanced by a competitive compensation, depending on experience, and an extensive benefits package including:

• Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance provided
• Robust retirement planning: 401(k) plan available with employer matching
• Financial security: Life and disability insurance for added protection
• Flexible financial options: Health savings and flexible spending accounts offered
• Well-being and work-life balance: Paid time off, flexible schedule, and remote work choices provided
• Plus, we work to maintain the best environment for our employees, where people can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative, creative environment where everyone feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning, and culture.

More about The START Center for Cancer Research

Deeply rooted in community oncology centers globally, The START Center for Cancer Research provides access to specialized preclinical and early-phase clinical trials of novel anti-cancer agents. START clinical trial sites have conducted more than a thousand early-phase clinical trials, including for 43 therapies that were approved by the FDA. START represents the world’s largest roster of Principal Investigators (PIs) across its eight clinical trial sites. Committed to accelerating passage from trials to treatments, START delivers hope to patients, families, and physicians around the world.

Learn more at .

Ready to be part of a team changing the future of cancer treatment?

Join us in our mission to conquer cancer, one clinical trial at a time. Your expertise and dedication can help us bring hope and healing to patients worldwide. Please submit your application online.

We are an equal opportunity employer that welcomes and encourages diversity in the workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Originally posted on Himalayas