Associate Director of Facilities, SHE

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts – Kendall Square

Type: On-Site
Function: Safety, Health and Environment (SHE)
Reports to: Director, SHE

The SHE Associate Director – Site Operations Safety will lead facility safety, contractor governance, project safety, and built-environment assurance for AstraZeneca’s strategic R&D facility in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The role will provide SHE leadership across building systems, utilities, laboratories, shared spaces, construction, renovations, facilities operations, contractors, and outsourced service providers. It will ensure that site activities align with Global SHE standards, R&D operations, applicable U.S. regulatory requirements, and AstraZeneca’s sustainability ambitions.

The successful candidate will lead the implementation and continuous improvement of the facilities SHE strategy and management system, including controls for high-risk work, site-related Management of Change (MoC), contractor governance, incident prevention, assurance, emergency preparedness, environmental performance, and operational readiness.

The role will also provide SHE oversight for a portfolio of construction, commissioning, laboratory modification, and renovation projects from design through operational handover.

The site safety approach will be informed by Core OSHA principles, Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), and prevention of potential Serious Injuries and Fatalities (pSIF).

Facilities Safety Strategy and Leadership

• Safety strategy
  :
  Lead the site facilities safety strategy, aligning it with Global SHE standards, R&D operations, site risk priorities, and sustainability

• Safe systems of work
  :
  Establish and embed safe systems of work for facilities operations, maintenance, laboratories, utilities, projects, and shared spaces.

• Governance
  :
  Establish and chair facilities safety governance forums, ensuring clear ownership, effective decision-making, and timely escalation of significant risks.

• Standards and procedures
  :
  Develop and maintain policies, standards, procedures, and operational controls for facilities, engineering, projects, and laboratory infrastructure.

• Stakeholder partnership
  :
  Partner closely with Facilities, Engineering, Project Management, Laboratory Operations, Procurement, Property Management, contractors, service providers, and Global SHE.

• Visible leadership
  :
  Serve as a visible and influential SHE leader who promotes proactive risk management, embedded safe practice, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.

SHE Management Systems and Compliance

• Management system
  :
  Develop, implement, and continuously improve the site SHE management system, with a strong emphasis on practical risk control, regulatory compliance, and operational effectiveness.

• Regulatory alignment
  :
  Translate applicable U.S. workplace safety requirements, including relevant OSHA standards, and AstraZeneca requirements into clear and practical site standards.

• Facility integrity
  :
  Ensure the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of building systems, utilities, pressure systems, critical assets, laboratory infrastructure, and other safety-critical equipment.

• Internal controls
  :
  Maintain effective internal controls, assurance processes, documentation, performance measures, and management reviews.

• Risk-based decision-making
  :
  Apply a proportionate, risk-based approach that balances safety, compliance, sustainability, operational delivery, and business continuity.

Safe Systems of Work and High-Risk Activities

• High-risk work controls
  :
  Own and enforce controls for permit-to-work, lockout/tagout (LOTO) and energy isolation, confined space entry, hot work, working at height, electrical safety, lifting operations, and other high-risk activities.

• Work…