EHS Director - Protein

We are partnering with a leading protein manufacturer to identify an experienced Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Director to lead and drive safety, environmental compliance and risk management across its manufacturing operations.

This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an EHS professional with a strong background in high-volume food or protein manufacturing, ideally across multi-site operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing EHS strategy, strengthening safety culture, ensuring regulatory compliance and partnering closely with plant leadership to deliver measurable improvements in workplace safety and environmental performance.

The business is looking for a hands-on leader who can combine strategic direction with practical execution on the plant floor, embedding a proactive safety culture across all levels of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• EHS Strategy & Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive EHS strategy aligned with business objectives, operational priorities and long-term growth plans.

• Multi-Site Oversight: Lead EHS programs across manufacturing facilities, establishing consistent standards, procedures and performance expectations.

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, state and federal regulations, alongside relevant food manufacturing and environmental requirements.

• Safety Culture: Drive a proactive, employee-led safety culture, promoting accountability, hazard awareness and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

• Risk Management: Oversee risk assessments, hazard identification, incident investigations and corrective action programs to reduce workplace injuries and operational risks.

• Incident Prevention: Analyze safety trends, leading and lagging indicators, near misses and injury data to identify risks and implement preventative measures.

• Environmental Compliance: Oversee environmental permitting, waste management, wastewater, air emissions and other applicable environmental obligations.

• Training & Development: Establish and deliver EHS training programs for employees, supervisors, plant managers and senior leadership.

• Operational Partnership: Work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, HR and Plant Leadership to integrate safety into daily manufacturing activities and capital projects.

• Audits & Inspections: Lead internal and external EHS audits, site inspections and compliance assessments, ensuring findings are addressed promptly.

• Contractor & Project Safety: Ensure appropriate EHS standards are maintained during equipment installations, facility upgrades, construction and other site projects.

• Performance Management: Establish KPIs, reporting systems and accountability frameworks to monitor performance and communicate progress to executive leadership.

• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve safety systems, reduce risk exposure, strengthen environmental performance and standardize best practices across facilities.

• Leadership Development: Build and develop site-level EHS capabilities, coaching safety professionals and operational leaders to take ownership of their responsibilities.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a proven EHS leader with experience operating within complex manufacturing environments and the ability to influence both frontline employees and senior executives.

Key requirements include:

• Significant experience in Environmental, Health & Safety leadership within manufacturing, ideally food, poultry, beef, pork or seafood processing.

• Previous experience overseeing EHS programs across multiple manufacturing sites.

• Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations, environmental compliance and applicable federal and state requirements.

• A demonstrated track record of reducing incident rates, improving safety performance and embedding sustainable safety practices.

• Experience leading incident investigations, root-cause analysis, risk assessments and corrective action initiatives.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing hazards, including machinery, lockout/tagout (LOTO), powered industrial trucks, confined spaces, chemical handling and contractor safety.

• Experience managing environmental compliance programs, including wastewater, waste disposal, permitting and emissions where applicable.

• The ability to influence plant managers and operational leaders, holding teams accountable while building strong working relationships.

• Strong communication, leadership and change-management capabilities.

• A practical, data-driven approach with the ability to translate EHS strategy into measurable operational results.

• Relevant qualifications such as a CSP, CIH or equivalent EHS credentials would be advantageous.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Strategic Influence: Work closely with senior leadership to shape EHS strategy and influence business-wide operational performance.

Meaningful Impact: Take ownership of initiatives that directly improve employee wellbeing, reduce operational risk and strengthen environmental responsibility.

Multi-Site Leadership: Drive consistency and best practices across a complex protein manufacturing operation.

Opportunity to Build: Develop and enhance EHS systems, processes and leadership capabilities within a growing business.

Long-Term Growth: Join an established protein manufacturer where safety, operational excellence and continuous improvement are critical to future success.