Director, EHS

As the Director of EHS at Lonza in Slough, your primary responsibilities include leading all Environment, Health & Safety activities for the new facility establishment in Reading. This involves ensuring compliance with all regulatory EHS standards, providing high-quality technical leadership, promoting a culture of EHS excellence, and collaborating closely with various project teams to align operational needs. You will also oversee the approval of EHS documentation and engage in continuous communication with management about critical EHS issues.

To qualify for the Director of EHS position at Lonza, a NEBOSH Diploma is essential, along with appropriate environmental qualifications, like IEMA, being advantageous. Candidates should possess a high level of technical EHS skills and demonstrate effective leadership, communication, and management abilities. Experience in dealing with ambiguity and turning long-term objectives into actionable plans is also vital for success in this role.

In your role as Director of EHS for Project Falcon at Lonza, you will be integral in ensuring that EHS requirements are integrated into every phase of the project. You will provide expertise to the design team, approve EHS documentation such as construction health and safety plans, and secure that the Slough EHS team aligns seamlessly with the project's business readiness. Your leadership ensures that EHS concerns are prioritized throughout the project lifecycle.

At Lonza, the work culture is supportive and collaborative, particularly for the Director of EHS role. You'll be encouraged to foster a culture of EHS excellence, share your ideas, and work closely with various teams to tackle complex challenges. The environment promotes creativity and the continuous development of solutions in life sciences while maintaining ethical standards and a commitment to improving lives globally.

Lonza stands out as an exceptional workplace for a Director of EHS due to its commitment to ethical practices, employee development, and innovative problem-solving. The opportunity to lead impactful EHS initiatives in a new facility allows for both professional growth and the chance to make a significant difference in the lives of millions. With a strong focus on teamwork and career ownership, you can shape your journey while contributing to meaningful advancements in life sciences.

When answering this question, highlight specific instances where you ensured compliance with EHS regulations in previous roles. Discuss the frameworks you are familiar with and how you translated regulations into operational practices, demonstrating your capability to maintain a safe work environment.

Share successful strategies you have implemented to foster a culture of safety, such as training sessions, workshops, or gamification of safety practices. Explain how you communicate the importance of safety to all levels of staff and encourage reporting of hazards without fear of repercussions.

Provide a specific example showcasing your problem-solving skills. Detail the issue, the steps you took to resolve it, and the impact of your solution. Emphasize your analytical and decision-making process and how you kept communication open among all stakeholders.

Discuss your approach to designing and implementing training programs. You can describe how you assess training needs, create engaging content, and utilize feedback mechanisms to enhance training effectiveness. Showcase your adaptability to different learning styles within your audience.

Reflect on your experiences managing change resistance. Explain how you identify concerns, engage dialogue with stakeholders, and effectively communicate the benefits of EHS initiatives, ultimately building consensus and encouraging buy-in.

Articulate your experience with risk assessments by describing the process you follow. Highlight your use of methodologies, tools, and how you involve team members in identifying risks, evaluating their impacts, and recommending control measures to mitigate them.

Mention the resources you use to stay updated, such as professional associations, webinars, and industry publications. Also, explain how you apply new knowledge to enhance EHS practices within your organization.

Choose a project that showcases your leadership and results. Summarize the scope, your role, and the measurable outcomes. Share insights on challenges faced and how you overcame them, highlighting your ability to drive positive change.

Emphasize the importance of communication in fostering a proactive EHS environment. Discuss strategies you use to engage all employees, from management to frontline workers, ensuring everyone understands their role in maintaining safety and compliance.

Explain your perspective on how effective EHS management not only ensures regulatory compliance but also contributes to the overall success of the business by enhancing employee morale, minimizing operational disruptions, and protecting the company’s reputation.