Director of Environmental Health & Safety

The Director of Environmental Health & Safety provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the university's EHS department, with the goal of ensuring a safe and healthy environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. This role plans, develops, and manages a comprehensive, highly technical service organization that supports research, academic, and operational programs. Reporting to the Chief Risk and Safety officer and working closely with other units within the Division of Risk and Safety, the Director oversees programs including chemical, biological, radiation, laboratory, fire, and occupational safety; hazardous materials management; and environmental protection, while ensuring compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations. The position requires a bachelor's degree and a minimum of seven years of relevant experience, with additional relevant education potentially counting toward experience as determined by the hiring manager.

The Risk and Safety Division at Kansas State University consists of EHS, Risk Management, Emergency Management, University Police, and Physical Security departments, all cohesively working together to reduce risk and make K-State safer.

This position is On-site. This position is an on-site position.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor's degree and six years of relevant experience. Education beyond the minimum degree requirement may count toward required experience if deemed relevant by the hiring manager. The degree requirement ensures candidates possess the scientific, regulatory and leadership skills essential for managing comprehensive environmental health and safety programs. These competencies are typically developed and validated only through the comprehensive curriculum and experiential learning inherent in a formal degree program.
• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, or other related field.
• Experience managing an EHS unit at a college or university as a director or assistant director.

Additional Role Information:

• EHS-related certifications such as a CSP, a CIH, or a CHMM.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to wear respirators or other specialized PPE and act on a university response team.

Sponsorship eligibility:

• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Please submit the following documents:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. Professional Reference

Applications close on: March 15th, 2026

$140k - $160k