EHS Specialist

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX Blue Origin major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures Lux Capital Founders Fund Caffeinated Capital General Catalyst and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo California where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles equipment and materials are built integrated and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington DC and Huntsville AL.

Join Varda and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

VardasEnvironmental Health & Safety (EHS) teamplays a crucial role in ensuring the seamless operation ofsophisticated spacecraft engineering and productionfacilities along with world-class pharmaceutical anEHS Specialist you willholdsignificantresponsibilityforthe day-to-day systems processes andresourcesthatsafeguardourengineers scientists and many other team members working to revolutionize the commercial space economy.

This role offerstheunique opportunity to work with a variety of complex chemical and physical systems ranging from chemical propulsion to pharmaceuticals to spacecraft developmentatan exciting and fast-paced startup.

This is a full-time exempt positionlocatedat our El Segundo headquarters.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all local state and federal regulatory standards( Cal/ Fire Code) including recordkeepingand reportingrequirements
• Ensure compliance with industry standards (e.g. NIOSH ANSI NFPA) where applicable
• Conductroot cause corrective action (RCCA) investigationsasneededworkingclosely with leadership to implement any corrective actionstomitigate EHS risks
• Oversee accumulation and disposalof hazardous wasteincluding routine inspections
• Ensure safe handling and processing of pharmaceuticals through laboratoryand equipment designand development and implementation of safety procedures/systems
• Ensure safe handling ofchemicals andhazardous materialsthroughHazard Communication (HazCom) programelements(e.g. SDSmanagement container labeling)and control measures (e.g. PPE)
• Develop administer and manage EHS training materials and requirements/assignments
• Coordinate emergency response procedures develop/maintainsite emergency action plan andorganize emergency drills and related training (e.g. first aid/CPR/AED)
• Support regular maintenance and inspection of safety systems and equipment (e.g. emergency eyewashes/showers fire extinguishers firealarmand suppression systems)
• Develop and implementaperiodicworkplaceinspection program to proactivelyidentifyEHS risks
• Supportcontractor safety programtoensure plannedwork procedures include adequate safety controls
• Developimproveand maintainEHSsoftware &management system

Basic Qualifications

• 2 years of relevantEHSexperience inanaerospacechemicalengineering pharmaceuticalor manufacturingenvironment
• Bachelors degree in occupational safety & healthenvironmentalengineering/safety physical sciencesor related field
• Knowledge ofCaliforniaenvironmental(e.g. Cal/EPA DTSC SCAQMD)and health/safety (e.g. Cal/OSHA) standards
• Ability to make decisions and recommendations about complex EHS situations and topics when the solution is not clear
• Strong written and verbalcommunicationskills
• Proficiencyin Microsoft Office and Atlassian suites

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate Safety Professional(ASP)and/orequivalent professional certification
• Masters degree in occupational safety& health environmental engineering/safetyphysical sciencesor relatedfield
• Experience withmanaginghazardous chemicalsHazComrequirements and hazardous waste accumulation and disposal
• Experience with creating and administering EHS training and managing recordkeeping
• Ability to manage priorities and multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work all shifts and available for overtime and weekends as needed
• Ability tolift upto push/pull up to 50 lbs. unassisted
• Ability tostand forlong periodsof time;climbing up and down ladders bending grasping sitting pulling pushing stooping and stretching may berequiredto perform the functions of this position
• Fully onsite in El Segundo

Compensation

• Salary range: $110000 to $130000
• Leveling and salary is determined by job-related skills education level experience level and job performance
• You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
• Offer compensation also includes the ability to receive stock options under the Companys Equity Incentive Plan

• Varda like all employers must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than U.S. Persons as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items our current policy is to only hire U.S. persons who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

  US person means: U.S. citizen U.S. lawful permanent resident or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e. individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)

  Learn more about the ITAR here.

Benefits