Director of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

The Director of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the university's EHS department, 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 six years of relevant experience, with additional relevant education potentially counting toward experience as determined by the hiring manager.

To learn more about this opportunity please view the executive profile.

This search is in collaboration with Summit Search Solutions. Please view the "How to Apply" section for more information on how to submit your application.

Responsibilities:

• Designs, develops, and implements institution-wide Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) strategies, programs, procedures, processes, and systems to ensure compliance with internal policies and all applicable local, state, and federal regulatory requirements.
• Provides strategic leadership and subject-matter expertise to ensure appropriate EHS governance structures, systems, and resources are established and aligned with university priorities.
• Conducts ongoing data-driven risk and trend analyses to identify existing and emerging EHS hazards and regulatory issues and independently develops mitigation and prevention strategies.
• Continuously evaluates university-wide EHS risks and hazards and provides advanced technical guidance to ensure regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and continuous program improvement.
• Ensures the Environmental Health & Safety department delivers effective, efficient, and high-quality services across chemical, biological, and radiological materials management and disposal; occupational safety and industrial hygiene; laboratory, radiation, and laser safety; site assessments; hazard and contaminant surveys; investigations; training; hazardous materials release response; environmental sampling; compliance reporting; compliance and safety inspections; remediation activities; hazard and risk assessments; corrective actions; construction plan review; and code and regulatory review.
• Provides oversight and management for the fire safety group and University Fire Marshal.
• Works closely with Risk Management and Human Resources on incident tracking, root cause analysis investigations, and data analytics.
• Establishes and maintains standards for exceptional customer service.
• Working closely with Emergency Management and University Police, develops and oversees emergency response and continuity of operations planning for EHS program areas, including response exercises, emergency contingency planning, and hazardous materials security planning.
• Assigns management of the hazardous materials response team and ensures appropriate fiscal, medical, and training support, including medical surveillance, examinations, training, personal protective equipment, response equipment, and supplies.
• Provides direct leadership of EHS staff and management, fostering a high-performing, service-oriented culture.
• Collaborates with managers and staff to establish goals, vision, and mission; provides clear direction to achieve objectives; and promotes employee engagement, professional development, and a supportive work environment.
• Develops and manages the EHS operating budget and allocates financial resources to support strategic priorities, regulatory obligations, and operational needs.
• Identifies, justifies, and prioritizes funding for staffing, equipment, technology, training, and program enhancements.
• Manages safety-related vendors and contracts.
• Oversees procurement and lifecycle management of EHS equipment, instrumentation, and response assets.
• Evaluates resource utilization and operational efficiency to ensure cost-effective delivery of services while maintaining program quality and compliance.
• Serves as the institutional liaison to federal and state oversight agencies and accrediting bodies related to environmental health and safety and fire safety, including but not limited to KDHE, EPA, KDOL, OSFA, DOT, and OSHA.
• Ensures all required data, documentation, and regulatory reporting are accurate, complete, and submitted in a timely manner.
• Oversees agency inquiries, inspections, audits, and investigations, and directs associated response actions and compliance reporting.
• Communicates and collaborates with vice presidents, deans, department heads, faculty, staff, and students to provide technical assistance, guidance, and oversight on environmental health and safety matters.
• Interprets regulatory requirements and institutional policy for campus stakeholders and facilitates resolution of complex compliance and risk issues.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President and Chief Risk and Safety Officer.

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.

Founded in 1863 as the nation's first operational land-grant university, Kansas State University (K-State) is a Tier 1 research university with more than 20,200 students, 1,300 faculty members, 3,000 staff members and three physical campuses: the main campus in Manhattan; the K-State Salina campus, home to aviation and technology programs; and K-State Olathe, which serves the industry and workforce needs of Greater Kansas City.

K-State has nine colleges, a Graduate School, and K-State Online, which offer more than 400 degrees and options, from bachelor's to doctoral degrees. K-State Research and Extension also serves the citizenry with a presence in every county throughout Kansas and supports research in more than 20 K-State departments.

With an annual budget of more than $900 million, K-State is known for the passion and pride of its alumni. With more than 200,000 living graduates, the K-State Alumni Association has been No.1 in the Big 12 Conference for more than 25 years, based on the percentage of graduates who are members, and No. 4 among Power Five conferences. Private giving to the university is around $200 million per year, and the KSU Foundation has an investment pool and endowment of $1 billion. The university and foundation recently completed a major fundraising campaign that raised $1.6 billion. The Princeton Review recognizes the university as one of the nation's best colleges. K-State also has been designated as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and is recognized as a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution. Commonly referred to as K-State, the university is proud of its welcoming environment. Click here to learn more about K-State.

This position is On-site.

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.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing individuals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A demonstrated record of a strong customer service approach.
• Strong project management skills.

Additional Role Information:

• EHS-related certifications such as a CSP, a CIH, or a CHMM.
• 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

A confidential review of applications will begin immediately. Applications received by October 9, 2026, will be given priority consideration. Please apply online through Summit Search Solution's website by submitting 1) a PDF version of your resume; 2) a cover letter that addresses your reasons for interest and outlines your related experience.

To apply online: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su521

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:

Caitlin Hummel

585-880-7550

chummel@summitsearchsolutions.com

Applications close on: October 9th, 2026

$140k - $160k