Executive Director, Environmental Health & Safety

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Executive Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Requisition ID: 2026-10255
# of Openings: 1
Location: US-UT-Logan
Category: Other
position Type: Benefited Full-Time
Job Classification: Exempt
College: Research
Department: Environmental Health & Safety
Advertised Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. USU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous annual and sick leave; a strong retirement planning package; employee tuition benefit; and access to world-class recreation in the Cache Valley.
Overview
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.
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

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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

Required Documents
Along with the online Application, please attach:

1. Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Cover Letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application
3. Name and contact information (including email) of three professional references to be entered at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
If a minimum or preferred qualification is not represented in your resume, please use the cover letter as an opportunity to demonstrate that qualification or characteristic. Review of applications begins May 21, 2026. Position open until filled.
Advertised Salary
Commensurate with qualifications and experience. USU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous annual and sick leave; a strong retirement planning package; employee tuition benefit; and access to world-class recreation in the Cache Valley.
ADA
The environment and physical requirements may change depending on the specific function of the work each department performs. Incumbents may be in both indoor and outdoor environments. Indoors, in an office space, event space, or public space are protected from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes. Incumbents may nearly continuously sit and often use repetitive hand motion (such as typing).
Outdoors, incumbents may not be protected from weather conditions and may be exposed to extreme heat and extreme cold. Additionally, indoor or outdoor work environments may include being confined or in narrow spaces for periods of time. The incumbent may also be exposed to loud noises or vibrations from equipment, and conditions that may affect the respiratory system, such as fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and poor ventilation. Bending, crawling, and crouching may be required. Incumbents may be required to lift, push, and/or pull objects up to 50 pounds and be required to walk and/or stand for long periods of time. The work environment includes oversight of biosafety, chemical safety, radiation safety, hazardous waste, and occupational health.
College/Department Highlights
University Highlights
Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.
USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.
Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU’s commitment to perseverance and achievement.
Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.
The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu.
*updated 12/2025
https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/10255/executive-director%2c-environmental-health-%26-safety/job?in_iframe=1
Notice of Non-discrimination
In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.
The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USUs non-discrimination policies:
Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266
Title IX Coordinator Matthew Pinner, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266
Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, Ut 84322
For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov
U.S. Department of Education, Denver Regional Office, 303-844-5695, OCR.Denver@ed.gov
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USU recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the university’s academic mission of learning, discovery, and engagement. USU is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any of its programs and activities based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or local, state, or federal law (https://equity.usu.edu/non-discrimination).

 

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