Director, Environmental Health and Safety

About the role

The Director, Environmental Health and Safety will lead a comprehensive, enterprise-wide program supporting UC San Diego Health, one of the nation's premier academic health systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all Environmental Health & Safety programs across UC San Diego Health, including occupational safety, industrial hygiene, hazardous materials, biological safety, and environmental compliance.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive EHS vision, strategy, and operating model aligned with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, CDPH, Joint Commission), including continuous monitoring of evolving requirements.
• Direct and optimize EHS operations through subordinate managers and technical experts; build and lead high-performing, multidisciplinary teams.
• Establish enterprise policies, procedures, and programs to identify, prevent, and mitigate environmental and occupational hazards.
• Lead risk assessments, incident investigations, safety audits, and compliance reviews; ensure timely corrective actions and organizational learning.
• Oversee EHS-related emergency preparedness and response programs, including planning, training, and post-incident evaluation.
• Serve as the primary liaison to regulatory agencies; oversee reporting and ensure organizational readiness for inspections and surveys.
• Partner with clinical, research, and support service leaders to integrate safety into operations and foster a strong culture of safety and accountability.
• Manage departmental budgets, resources, and performance metrics; leverage data analytics to drive continuous improvement.
• Represent EHS at executive committees and institutional governance forums; provide expert guidance to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a related field and eight years of progressively responsible experience in environmental health and safety, or equivalent combination of experience, education and training.
• Progressive leadership experience, including oversight of complex programs and teams.
• Demonstrated expertise in EH&S regulations, standards, and best practices in healthcare, research, or similarly complex environments.
• Experience developing, implementing, and managing enterprise-level EH&S programs and policies.
• Strong knowledge of hazard recognition, prevention, and control across chemical, biological, and physical risk domains.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated ability to appropriately and efficiently respond to and direct the response to emergencies and critical situations, including follow-up evaluation and critique of response efficacy; recommend, develop and implement changes to emergency response as required.

Prior to employment

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

Special Conditions

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.