Graduate Program Associate - Environmental, Health & Safety

Location: Ireland - Cork

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

The EH&S Graduate will support the Environmental, Health & Safety team in maintaining a safe, compliant and sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. The role provides broad exposure to occupational safety, environmental compliance, risk management, emergency preparedness, EHS systems and continuous improvement within a GMP-regulated manufacturing setting.

Key Responsibilities

Health & Safety

Support the implementation and continuous improvement of site EH&S policies, procedures and standards.

Assist with workplace risk assessments, hazard identification and routine safety inspections.

Participate in incident and near-miss reporting, investigation and corrective action follow-up.

Support contractor safety management, permit-to-work activities and emergency response exercises.

Track and trend safety metrics including observations, near misses, incidents and action closure.

Environmental Compliance

Assist with environmental monitoring programs, waste management activities and recycling initiatives.

Support the maintenance of environmental permits, registers and compliance documentation.

Help track environmental KPIs such as energy, water, waste and emissions data.

Contribute to sustainability, resource efficiency and carbon reduction projects.

Regulatory & Management Systems

Support compliance with Irish EHS legislation and relevant site standards.

Assist with ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System activities where applicable.

Support GMP-aligned documentation, change control inputs and audit readiness activities as required.

Maintain EHS records, databases and digital EHS management systems such as Cority or equivalent platforms.

Training & Safety Culture

Assist with EHS induction training for employees, contractors and visitors.

Support safety campaigns, toolbox talks and awareness events.

Participate in Safety Committee meetings and follow up on assigned actions.

Promote positive safety behaviors and employee engagement across operational areas.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

Desirable

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety, Engineering, Chemistry, Biological Sciences or a related scientific discipline.

Strong communication skills, attention to detail and a proactive approach to learning.

Competence in Microsoft Office and ability to manage data accurately.

Internship or placement experience in pharmaceutical, chemical, manufacturing or regulated industry.

Basic knowledge of Irish safety and environmental legislation.

Awareness of ISO 14001, ISO 45001, GMP principles and EHS management systems.

Core Skills and Competencies

Technical

Risk assessment, hazard identification, incident investigation support, environmental monitoring, EHS documentation and KPI reporting.

Communication

Ability to engage with colleagues, contractors and cross-functional teams in a clear and professional manner.

Problem Solving

Practical approach to investigating issues, identifying root causes and supporting corrective actions.

Organisation

Strong attention to detail, ability to prioritise tasks and maintain accurate records.

Mindset

Positive safety attitude, curiosity, integrity and commitment to continuous improvement.

Development Opportunities

• Occupational safety management and risk assessment methodologies.
• Process safety fundamentals and chemical safety awareness.
• Industrial hygiene and exposure monitoring programs.
• Emergency response planning and business continuity support.
• Environmental compliance, waste management and sustainability programs.
• ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and pharmaceutical GMP operating environments.
• Digital EHS systems, data analytics and KPI dashboard development.

Typical Graduate Projects

• Safety culture improvement initiative or behavioral safety campaign.
• Near-miss and observation trending project with corrective action analysis.
• Waste reduction, recycling or sustainability improvement project.
• Ergonomic assessment program for operational or laboratory work areas.
• Contractor safety documentation review and improvement plan.
• EHS digital system support, including data quality and workflow optimisation.

This role is suited to a motivated graduate who wants to build a long-term career in Environmental, Health & Safety within a highly regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will receive mentoring, structured development and hands-on experience across both strategic and operational EHS activities.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

It is the policy of Gilead Sciences, Inc. and its subsidiarie