Utah State University

Executive Director, Environmental Health & Safety

Utah State University$90K — $120K *
Logan, UT 84321In-Person
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 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 including laboratory and OSHA compliance
  • Proven ability to develop staff and foster a collaborative culture
  • Exceptional communication skills with integrity

Responsibilities

  • Provide executive leadership and manage a multidisciplinary team of safety professionals
  • Oversee regulatory compliance programs and integrate new legislative changes into university operations
  • Lead EHS program development in areas such as laboratory and chemical safety
  • Serve as liaison to federal and state regulatory agencies
  • Develop and implement EHS policies and manage audits and inspections
  • Coordinate with emergency personnel for a comprehensive response to hazardous incidents
  • Develop a university-wide safety culture through training and communication

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
  • Generous annual and sick leave
  • Strong retirement planning package
  • Employee tuition benefits
  • Access to world-class recreation in the Cache Valley
Full Job Description
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.

*updated 12/2025

About Utah State University

Utah State University (USU) is a public land-grant research university in Logan, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah State University System. USU offers programs in agriculture, engineering, business, economics, natural resources, and other fields. The university has about 17,000 students and 1,500 faculty members. USU is known for its research in agriculture, ecology, and engineering. The university has a large campus with many research facilities and a strong athletic program.
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