Director, Environmental Health & Safety

Job Summary

The Director, Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) serves as the strategic leader and head of the enterprise-wide EHS organization. This role is responsible for setting the vision, strategy, and governance framework for environmental, health, and safety programs across the company.

The Director will

• Enhance and protect the company’s brand reputation and create a favorable business environment in all areas of responsibility.
• Ensure robust Environmental and EHS compliance with all applicable regulatory bodies and internal standards, while driving continuous improvement in environmental performance and workplace safety.
• This position is a key advisor to senior leadership and serves as the primary point of contact for enterprise EHS matters.
• Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Serve as the Head of the EHS organization, responsible for the development and execution of the enterprise EHS strategy.
• Establish EHS governance structures, policies, standards, and metrics to ensure consistency and compliance across all sites and operations.
• Provide regular briefings to executive leadership and the Board (as appropriate) on EHS performance, emerging risks, regulatory changes, and strategic initiatives.
• Champion a culture of environmental stewardship, safety, and corporate responsibility throughout the organization.

Environmental Compliance & Performance

• Assume ultimate responsibility for environmental compliance across the enterprise, ensuring alignment with Local, State, and Federal Environmental Protection regulations.
• Develop, implement, and oversee auditing of environmental programs to ensure adherence to regulatory and corporate requirements.
• Continually evaluate the company’s environmental footprint and develop strategies, initiatives, and targets to reduce or eliminate negative environmental impact.
• Determine, obtain, and maintain all necessary environmental permits and approvals for existing and new operations.
• Lead investigations of environmental releases or incidents, ensuring root cause analysis, determination of reportable events, and implementation of preventive measures.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion and submission of required reports to the EPA and other relevant regulatory agencies.
• Oversee environmental audits (internal and third-party) and ensure effective corrective and preventive action plans are established and implemented.
• Develop, implement, and monitor corrective actions for environmental exposure and risk reduction.
• Health & Safety (If desired as part of EHS scope – optional to keep/expand)
• Provide strategic oversight for workplace health and safety programs, ensuring alignment with OSHA and other applicable safety regulations.
• Oversee the development and deployment of safety standards, procedures, and training across the enterprise.
• Ensure incident reporting, investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions are managed consistently and effectively across locations.
• Partner with Operations and HR to drive injury and incident reduction initiatives and promote a strong safety culture.
• Serve as liaison with our insurance partners, participating in plant visits and answering pertinent questions they have.Follows up on recommendations and helps plants prioritize projects to address any issues found.
• Oversees workers compensation program and works with legal to manage claims.

Training, Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop, implement, and oversee enterprise EHS training programs to ensure awareness, competency, and compliance among employees and leadership.
• Communicate EHS expectations, performance, and initiatives clearly and consistently across all levels of the organization.
• Work effectively with local municipalities and community stakeholders to maintain positive relationships and address environmental and safety-related concerns.
• Collaborate with the Sustainability Director to integrate environmental responsibility and sustainability into business strategies, operations, and communications.
• Partner with Public Relations and Corporate Communications to support external messaging on EHS and sustainability topics.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Lead cross-functional teams (Operations, Engineering, HR, Legal, Supply Chain, Quality, etc.) to identify and deliver EHS improvements and risk-mitigation strategies.
• Identify emerging regulations, industry trends, and best practices, and proactively adjust company programs to stay ahead of requirements.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to EHS performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage EHS budgets, resources, and external consultants as necessary to achieve strategic goals.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree (BS) in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety, Chemical Engineering, or related field required;
• Master’s degree in a related field or Business Administration (MBA) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in environmental compliance and/or EHS management, preferably within manufacturing, food production, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading EHS teams and programs at a multi-site or enterprise level.
• Excellent communication skills with a proven track record in written and verbal communication, including executive-level presentations.
• Strong knowledge of corporate responsibility, ESG frameworks, environmental compliance, and (if included) health & safety regulations.
• Proven leadership, networking, and influencing skills, with a track record of successfully working across different business functions and with subject matter experts and senior leaders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and EHS-related systems or platforms.
• Ability to work professionally with flexibility in handling multiple priorities and competing demands.
• Strong organizational, program management, and change management skills

Additional Responsibilities

• Represent the company in industry forums, regulatory meetings, and professional associations related to EHS and sustainability, as appropriate.
• Support due diligence for new facilities, acquisitions, major projects, and changes in operations from an EHS perspective.
• Develop succession plans and talent development programs for the EHS organization.
• Lead crisis management aspects related to environmental and safety incidents and participate in broader enterprise risk management efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned by executive leadership aligned with the company’s EHS and sustainability objectives.

Language Skills

• Exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills required.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and compelling reports, policies, training materials, and executive briefings.
• Ability to communicate complex regulatory and technical information in an accessible manner to diverse audiences.

Mathematical Skills

• Exceptionally strong analytical and quantitative skills required.
• Ability to analyze and interpret environmental and safety data, performance metrics, and trends to support decision-making.
• Competence in using data to forecast impacts, model scenarios, and justify investments in EHS improvements.

Reasoning Ability

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to establish facts, conduct root cause analysis, and draw valid, actionable conclusions.
• Ability to balance regulatory requirements, business needs, risk, and stakeholder expectations in decision-making.
• Capability to manage complex issues across multiple sites and functions with sound judgment.
• Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations
• Professional Engineering (PE) Certification or ability to obtain is a plus.
• Relevant EHS certifications (e.g., CSP – Certified Safety Professional, CHMM – Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, CIH – Certified Industrial Hygienist) preferred.
• Additional sustainability/ESG or environmental management certifications (e.g., ISO 14001 Lead Auditor) a plus.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to travel to company facilities, offices, and external stakeholder locations as needed.
• Ability to conduct on-site assessments, including walking, standing, climbing stairs, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required by facility conditions.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based work environment with frequent interaction with manufacturing, distribution, and operational facilities.
• Regular exposure to plant environments, which may include noise, temperature variations, and use of industrial equipment and materials.
• Work may occasionally involve extended hours to address critical incidents, audits, or regulatory deadlines.
• Position requires travel to our six manufacturing sites, 4 DC’s and the Sarasota office.Travel varies as needed; can be up to 70% based on business needs.