Executive Director, Environmental Health & Safety

Utah State University•Logan, UT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Utah State University is seeking a collaborative, highly experienced, and forward-thinking leader to serve as Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). This role provides strategic direction and operational oversight for comprehensive EHS programs at one of the Mountain West’s flagship land-grant universities — a community of over 27,000 students, 4,000+ employees, and research and diverse research, teaching, and extension operations spanning the state. The Executive Director will drive comprehensive university-wide efforts in environmental stewardship, occupational health, safety, and regulatory compliance. They will actively cultivate a culture safety and drive implementation of innovative solutions that ensure a secure, sustainable, supportive, and compliant environment where every member of the Aggie community can work, study, and thrive.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Science, Public Health, Industrial Hygiene, or a related field
7 - 10 years of progressive, professional EHS experience
Broad technical EHS background spanning laboratory safety, occupational health, and OSHA compliance
Demonstrated ability to empower and develop technical, professional, and administrative staff; build trust across a diverse institution; and foster a collaborative safety culture
Exceptional communication skills with high integrity — able to set clear goals, engage transparently, and maintain accountability at all levels

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or higher in a relevant discipline
10+ years of progressive, professional EHS experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership or supervisory role
Experience in higher education or a research-intensive university environment
Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or equivalent professional credential
Research safety background, including familiarity with NIH, NSF, or other federal research compliance frameworks
Experience with biosafety and radiation safety programs; awareness of emerging biosafety needs (e.g., veterinary or agricultural research settings)
Familiarity with agricultural and land-grant university operations and their unique safety contexts
Experience effectively leveraging and developing associate directors and senior staff to maximize team capacity
Track record of building EHS program visibility and elevating the department’s role within a large institution
Demonstrated experience encouraging the professional development of early-career safety professionals

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership to the EHS department, including hiring, mentoring, and managing a multidisciplinary team of safety professionals
Oversee all regulatory compliance programs (e.g. OSHA, EPA, DOT, NRC, and applicable state and local requirements); monitor emerging legislative and regulatory needs and ensure timely integration into university programs and infrastructure
Direct core EHS programs with a forward-thinking approach to safety program development and growth, including laboratory safety, radiation safety, biosafety, hazardous waste management, industrial hygiene, and chemical safety
Serve as primary liaison to federal and state regulatory agencies and maintain positive working relationships with pertinent regulatory entities.
Lead the development, interpretation, and implementation of EHS policies, procedures, and programs university-wide; manage audits, inspections, corrective action plans, and other appropriate monitoring initiatives
Integrate EHS considerations into research administration, facilities planning, capital construction, and emergency management
Coordinate with Logan City, North Logan City, and USU police, fire, and emergency personnel to ensure a comprehensive and integrated response to hazardous incidents on university property
Develop and champion a university-wide safety culture through training, accident investigation, communication, and shared accountability; exhibit calm decision-making skills in high-pressure environments leading to strong safety outcomes for the campus community
Lead or provide expert guidance for university EHS advisory and administrative committees; ensure documentation of activities and provide regular reporting to university leadership
Prepare and steward the EHS departmental budget; identify resource needs and advocate effectively for program investments
Ensure effective EHS support for distributed operations, including Statewide, agricultural, extension, and field-based research activities across the state
Collaborate with General Counsel, Risk Management, Facilities, Public Safety, and Research leadership on matters involving liability, insurance, incidents, and campus safety
Report to the Vice President for Research and present to university leadership as needed
Other duties as assigned