Associate Director, Environmental Health and Safety

Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.•Boston, MA

56d•$127,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ginkgo isn't slowing down, and neither should you. As we push into new territory - including building the world's first autonomous lab - keeping our team safe and our infrastructure compliant is mission-critical work. The Associate Director, EH&S will lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of comprehensive Environmental Health and Safety programs across Ginkgo sites. This role requires a resourceful, hands-on leader who can build practical, scalable EH&S programs with the lean resources of a company our size while maintaining site-specific operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have previous experience in chemical hygiene as well as working within regulated environments such as CLIA or FDA. You will work cross-functionally to drive efforts to optimize laboratory safety and infrastructure to enhance efficiency and quality.

Requirements

Four-year degree (BS/BA) in Science, Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Science, or a related applicable degree.
4+ years of management and EH&S experience specifically in a laboratory or manufacturing setting.
Demonstrated knowledge of managing Chemical Hygiene programs.
Demonstrated ability to create and execute EH&S programs that engage employees and enable a safe work culture.
Strong understanding of systems under applicable regulatory controls at the local, state, and federal levels.
Advanced interpersonal and communication skills, with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a scientific discipline or engineering field.
Working knowledge of CLIA lab requirements, with the ability to take on ongoing CLIA compliance ownership if needed.
Comfortable identifying and adopting modern tools, including AI-assisted approaches, to improve program efficiency and reduce manual overhead.
Ability to quantitatively capture initiative deliverables and link outcomes to corporate strategy and vision.

Responsibilities

Manage all applicable EH&S permits (Local, State, Federal) including County AQMD, EPA, OSHA, USDA, and Fire Departments. Ensure compliance with regulated processes, including CLIA standards.
Support the implementation and continuous improvement of the EH&S Management System, including event reporting, CAPA management, bio-risk management, and chemical hygiene programs.
Lead the authoring and maintenance of EH&S programs for the organization with a view toward building scalable corporate programs.
Support site leaders to progress EH&S programs and actively measure performance through compliance metrics.
Develop and improve training materials, managing both in-person and online training via the Learning Management System.
Direct site EH&S Committees, chairing meetings and working collaboratively to deploy global safety standards.
Transition existing EH&S programs into new facilities, creating site-specific manuals and coordinating contractor or site-level support as needed, working within a lean team structure.
Develop internal inspection and audit programs for lab safety, flammable inventory checks, and controlled substance reconciliation.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Facilities, Shipping and Receiving, and Technical Management to ensure regulatory compliance.