Capital Project HSE Advisor
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 10, 2026. First seen by Alion on Nov 4, 2026. Planet Pharma scores B on the Alion truth index.
Capital Project HSE Advisor
ENGAGEMENT OVERVIEW
Location: Lebanon, IN - Onsite
Schedule: Full-Time; additional hours may be required during critical startup milestones
Duration: 12-month initial contract with strong extension potential
Start: Late-November, but could extend towards early 2027 due to Holidays.
Compensation: W2 - $115-140/hr | 1099 - $130-160/hr
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Planet Pharma is supporting a large-scale greenfield manufacturing facility currently progressing through construction, commissioning, qualification, and early operational startup. This is a high-visibility capital program where construction activities, system commissioning, and initial operational readiness efforts will occur simultaneously, creating a uniquely complex risk environment.
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Capital Project HSE Advisor serves as a senior subject matter expert supporting project and site leadership through the critical transition from construction into commissioning, startup, and early operations. This is not a traditional site safety role and is not focused on daily field supervision. Instead, the successful candidate will function as an experienced advisor and technical sounding board, helping project teams anticipate risks, pressure-test plans, and identify gaps before they become incidents or operational challenges. The ideal candidate has successfully navigated multiple large-scale manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical, or industrial facility startups and can quickly apply those lessons learned to help guide project decision-making.
SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS (SIMOPS) & STARTUP RISK
- Review and challenge plans for managing concurrent construction, commissioning, qualification, and operational activities
- Evaluate interface risks between contractors, commissioning teams, and operations personnel
- Assess area turnover sequencing and startup readiness strategies
- Provide recommendations for maintaining life-safety systems, emergency response readiness, and operational continuity during phased occupancy and startup
DESIGN REVIEW & PRE-STARTUP SAFETY SUPPORT
- Provide independent review of safety-related design questions, construction changes, and startup readiness plans
- Support Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) preparation, execution, and closure activities
- Participate in readiness assessments, field walkdowns, and operational handover reviews
- Review supporting documentation associated with mechanical completion, startup readiness, and system turnover
PROCESS SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT
- Participate in process hazard reviews (PHRs), risk assessments, and startup readiness evaluations
- Identify hazards associated with new equipment, manufacturing systems, utilities, and novel operating conditions
- Recommend practical risk mitigation strategies based on prior startup experience and industry best practices
- Support development of sustainable risk management practices that remain effective after project completion
MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE (MOC) ADVISORY
- Review higher-risk or higher-complexity Management of Change (MOC) activities
- Provide independent feedback on risk evaluations, implementation plans, and change control strategies
- Help strengthen site governance processes and long-term MOC effectiveness
CONSTRUCTION & COMMISSIONING ADVISORY SUPPORT
- Provide advisory input on contractor safety plans and high-risk work activities including hot work, confined space entry, excavation, energized work, and LOTO
- Review significant incidents, investigations, and corrective action plans as needed
- Support startup, commissioning, and operational readiness teams through critical project milestones
LEADERSHIP & MENTORSHIP
- Serve as a trusted advisor to project, engineering, operations, and HSE leadership teams
- Mentor site personnel on startup-phase risk management, operational readiness, and decision-making
- Provide periodic assessments highlighting emerging risks, lessons learned, and recommended actions
- Help build organizational capability that will remain in place after the startup phase is complete
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Occupational Safety, or related discipline; equivalent experience considered
- 12+ years of experience supporting capital projects within manufacturing, pharmaceutical, chemical, energy, or industrial environments
- Direct experience supporting one or more facility startups from construction through commissioning and operational readiness
- Strong background in SIMOps planning, startup risk management, and construction-to-operations transitions
- Demonstrated experience participating in or leading PSSRs, Process Hazard Reviews (PHRs), and Management of Change (MOC) programs
- Ability to operate independently, quickly assess project conditions, and provide practical recommendations with minimal ramp-up
- Strong communication skills with the ability to influence project teams and leadership stakeholders
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, or advanced manufacturing startup experience
- Experience with Process Safety Management (PSM), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), and DCS lifecycle activities
- Professional Engineer (PE), CFSE, CSP, CHST, or similar credential
- Prior consulting, owner’s representative, advisory, or peer-review experience on major capital projects
- Experience supporting commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness programs