The Opportunity:Avantor is looking for a Director, EHS&S - Americas to join our Global Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainability team.
The Director is a strategic leader responsible for advancing environmental, health, safety, and sustainability (EHS&S) programs across North America. Leading regional teams, this position drives compliance, risk management, safety excellence, and operational performance while aligning EHS&S priorities with business objectives. The role reports directly to the VP of EHS&S.
What we're looking for- Education: Bachelor's degree in EHS, Engineering, or related field
- Experience: 10-15+ years of EHS experience
- Multi-site and multi-country experience required
- Strong regulatory knowledge across America
- Proven leadership and cultural transformation experience
- Preferred Certification(s):
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
- Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
- Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
How you will thrive and create an impactThe Director develops and executes EHS&S strategies across the Americas, driving regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, sustainability objectives, and business performance. Leading regional teams and partnering with executive leadership, this role oversees EHS&S programs and enterprise-wide initiatives that strengthen safety culture, enhance environmental stewardship, improve operational excellence, and advance the organization's long-term sustainability goals.
- Develop and execute the Americas EHS&S strategy, ensuring full alignment with global EHS&S objectives and the organization's broader business goals.
- Provide leadership and direction to regional EHS&S teams, building capability, driving accountability, and fostering a high-performance culture focused on safety excellence.
- Ensure consistent compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA), while proactively identifying and mitigating risks across all North American sites.
- Lead the design and implementation of programs that strengthen safety culture, promote employee engagement, and embed EHS&S principles into daily operations.
- Oversee audits, inspections, and incident investigations, ensuring root cause analysis is conducted and corrective actions are effectively implemented and sustained.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance environmental, health, and safety performance, leveraging data, metrics, and best practices to achieve measurable results.
- Direct emergency preparedness, business continuity, and crisis management efforts to ensure organizational readiness and resilience.
- Partner cross-functionally with operations, HR, and leadership teams to integrate EHS&S priorities into operational planning and decision-making.
- Advance sustainability and ESG initiatives by supporting environmental stewardship, compliance, and reporting aligned with corporate commitments.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (Those necessary to perform the job competently)- Strategic leadership
- Regulatory expertise
- Communication and stakeholder engagement
- Data-driven decision making
- Change management
ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL EFFORT (Under Typical Positions)- New alternatives may be developed to resolve problems.
- A frequent volume of work and deadlines impose strain on routine basis.
- Up to 35% travel across the Americas.
- Minimal physical effort is required. Work is mostly sedentary but does require walking, standing, bending, reaching, lifting or carrying objects that typically weigh less than 10 lbs.
#LI-RemoteDisclaimer:The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.
Avantor offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, wellness programs, health savings and flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with company match, and an employee stock purchase program. Employees also receive 11 paid holidays, accrue 18 PTO days annually, are eligible for volunteer time off and 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave (except in states that offer paid family leave). These benefits may not apply to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement or those subject to other eligibility rules.
