Director – Functional Safety and Controls Compliance

Job Summary:

The Director of Functional Safety and Controls Compliance is responsible for establishing, managing, and enforcing the functional safety and control systems compliance strategy across all engineering and manufacturing operations. This leadership role ensures that all automation, instrumentation, and control systems comply with international safety standards, regulatory requirements, and internal risk mitigation frameworks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and implement corporate-level strategies for functional safety and control systems compliance.

• Lead functional safety lifecycle processes in accordance with IEC 61508, IEC 61511, ISO 13849, and other relevant standards.

• Oversee risk assessments, safety integrity level (SIL) determination, hazard and operability studies (HAZOP), and Layer of Protection Analyses (LOPA).

• Ensure the design and validation of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and machine safety controls.

• Collaborate with engineering, legal, quality, and EHS teams to align safety requirements across the organization.

• Drive compliance initiatives and audit readiness for regulatory agencies and internal governance bodies.

• Manage a cross-functional team of safety engineers, compliance experts, and consultants.

• Develop and deliver training programs on functional safety standards, processes, and best practices.

• Act as the primary liaison with certification bodies and external auditors.

Key Focus Areas:

1. Functional Safety Governance:
   Lead enterprise-wide implementation of functional safety lifecycle management in line with IEC and ISO safety standards.

2. SIL Assessment & SIS Validation:
   Oversee all SIL determination, verification, and validation activities, ensuring effective performance of Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs).

3. Controls Compliance:
   Ensure compliance of control systems (PLCs, DCS, machine controls) with applicable safety and cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443, NFPA 79, etc.).

4. Risk Management:
   Conduct systematic risk assessments (HAZOP, FMEA, LOPA) and implement mitigation measures aligned with regulatory and corporate safety policies.

5. Audit & Regulatory Preparedness:
   Lead internal audits, regulatory inspections, and third-party certifications to validate control system safety and compliance.

6. Training & Culture Development:
   Promote a safety-first culture by developing robust training programs and building awareness of functional safety across engineering and operations teams.

7. Vendor and Lifecycle Oversight:
   Ensure safety and compliance requirements are embedded in vendor selection, system design, commissioning, and decommissioning processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Control, or Safety Engineering; Functional Safety certification (e.g., TÜV Rheinland, CFSE) is highly preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in functional safety and control system compliance within industrial, manufacturing, or process sectors.

• Expert knowledge of IEC 61508, IEC 61511, ISO 13849, and related safety and automation standards.

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills across multi-disciplinary teams.

• Proven experience with safety lifecycle tools and methodologies (e.g., ExSILentia, RiskGraph).

• Excellent communication, audit, and training skills.