Environment Health & Safety Manager

About Focused Energy

Focused Energy is a fusion energy startup committed to generating unlimited clean energy to responsibly meet future global demand. Founded by two world-renowned scientists and a seasoned entrepreneur behind several successful startups, we are commercializing laser-induced inertial fusion—a clean and highly efficient power generation technology poised to transform the energy landscape.

Role Overview

The Environment Health & Safety (EH&S) Manager establishes and leads the company’s Environment Health & Safety framework in Germany, enabling safe, compliant, and scalable operations across high-hazard technical environments and office settings. This role ensures compliance with German occupational safety requirements while partnering closely with US safety leadership and global operational teams to align principles, reporting, and cross-site learning. By building risk-based governance, training, and incident management, the role protects employees and visitors, reduces operational disruption, and supports the company’s growth and credibility with partners and regulators.

What You’ll Do:

• Own Germany and US H&S management system and compliance — build and maintain governance, documentation, and processes aligned with ArbSchG, BetrSichV, DGUV and domain-specific regulations (OStrV; StrlSchGwhere applicable), including ASA cadence/action tracking.

• Help to ensure the organization is well equipped for audit/inspection readiness, and coordination with the Betriebsarzt for occupational health programs (hazard-based required/offered measures where applicable).

• Lead risk assessment and control effectiveness for high-hazard operations — ensure Gefährdungsbeurteilungen, safe operating procedures, and risk-based controls are implemented for labs, cleanrooms, technical workspaces, and technical systems, including contractor safety / permit-to-work for installs, maintenance, and commissioning activities.

• Drive technical safety governance — oversee safety frameworks for Class 4 laser systems, high-voltage systems, cryogenics, vacuum/pressure equipment, and ionising/non-ionising radiation-related environments: coordinate with LSB/LSO and Radiation Protection Officer.

• Run office & workplace safety governance — maintain emergency organization (first aiders, fire wardens, evacuation roles/drills), visitor safety, ergonomics/DSE guidance (incl. scalable mobile-work approach), and psychosocial risk assessment processes; align shared-premises topics with Facilities/Security and the property owner/landlord as needed.

• Own incident management and CAPA — lead investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions; ensure timely closure and effectiveness checks; share learnings cross-site.

• Build capability through training and communication — deliver role-appropriate training for technical and office teams; ensure differentiation between low-risk office environments and high-risk technical areas; maintain the training/competency matrix and coverage of appointed roles (e.g., emergency roles).

• Coordinate global safety alignment and reporting — align principles, taxonomy, and reporting with US/global counterparts; maintain dashboards, cross-site visibility, and a management review / continuous improvement rhythm.

• Establish external-site governance — define minimum requirements and oversight for employees working at partner/supplier/customer facilities, including induction, local risk assessment alignment, emergency procedures, contractor management boundaries, and structured reporting/escalation for off-site risk exposure.

Who you are:

• Certified Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit (SiFa) with strong implementation experience in Germany.

• Deep working knowledge of German H&S regulations and practice (ArbSchG, BetrSichV, DGUV; OStrV; StrlSchG where applicable) and how to operationalize them.

• Strong risk assessment capability (Gefährdungsbeurteilungen) and control design/verification in high-hazard technical environments.

• Experience with safety governance for complex technical hazards (e.g., Class 4 lasers, high voltage, cryogenics, vacuum/pressure); effective coordination with statutory roles (LSB/LSO, Radiation Protection where applicable).

• Incident investigation and CAPA expertise, incl. effectiveness checks and cross-site learning.

• Ability to build scalable systems: training/competency matrix, contractor safety/permit-to-work, audit/inspection readiness, KPI dashboards, and governance cadences (incl. ASA) in a growing organization.

Why Work with Us?

• Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.

• Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.

• Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers, and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.

• Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges, and shaping the future of our company.

• Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and ownership in what we build together.

• Vacation Days: We support your work-life-balance by granting you 30 days of vacation per year.

• ​​​Flexibility: We believe that work should fit around your life, not the other way around. We offer the ability to work from our office, but some flexibility to work from home as well.

• Snacks and Drinks: Our office fridges are never empty. Enjoy our healthy snacks and drinks. Our Darmstadt office even offers a subsidized canteen with delicious lunch options daily.

• Retirement Plan: If you decide for a private pension plan, we will finance 15% on top of your monthly contributions.

• Equipment: Choose between a state of the art Windows or Apple Laptop. In addition, you will receive a keyboard, mouse and headset so you are fully equipped from day 1.

• Events: We organize regular events to foster team bonding, encourage collaboration, and build a strong, supportive company culture. Connect with colleagues across departments, share ideas, and have fun together, both in and outside of the workplace.

Focused Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Focused Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, benefits.