Director, HSE

Environmental Solutions – Terex Utilities | Watertown, SD

About the role

This position is responsible for leading and coordinating health, safety, and environmental compliance, and risk-reduction programs across assigned manufacturing operations. The role provides both strategic leadership and hands-on technical support to employees, site leaders, cross-functional teams, and business leadership. The position is accountable for building a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and corporate requirements, reducing occupational and environmental risk, and aligning HSE initiatives with business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and inspire assigned teams and site leaders to achieve exceptional HSE performance.
• Apply, develop, implement, maintain, and enforce HSE policies, procedures, rules, programs, and standards that minimize workplace hazards and environmental risk.
• Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, state, local, corporate, and customer requirements.
• Serve as a primary contact for regulatory inspections, audits, external safety organizations, consultants, vendors, and other third-party compliance partners.
• Conduct and coordinate safety walkthroughs, audits, task evaluations, job hazard analyses, industrial hygiene assessments, process hazard reviews, testing, and compliance inspections.
• Identify hazards and operational risks, implement corrective and preventive actions, and track action items through closure.
• Investigate incidents, determine root causes, recommend improvements, maintain reporting systems, and communicate safety performance trends to leadership.
• Assess HSE training needs and deliver or coordinate training, briefings, employee awareness activities, and leadership coaching.
• Use metrics, reporting, performance measures, and appropriate incentives to drive safe behaviors and improve HSE results.
• Support leaders across departments to eliminate unsafe conditions, integrate safe work procedures, and strengthen personal accountability for safety.
• Lead and participate in behavior-based safety activities, safety committees, JHA / RPN Kaizen events, continuous improvement efforts, and sustainment initiatives.
• Develop strategies supporting business-unit goals related to safety, environmental protection, pollution prevention, waste reduction, and carbon reduction.
• Participate in new product, process, and equipment reviews, including process hazard analysis and operator training requirements.
• Oversee environmental compliance activities, audits, reporting, vendor coordination, pollution prevention, waste management, and environmental engineering standards.
• Maintain required HSE records, reports, safety reference materials, regulatory documents, and performance dashboards.
• Lead, develop, and coach HSE personnel, site-level HSE leaders, third-party personnel, and cross-functional resources where assigned.
• Support consistent standards, best-practice sharing, and seamless operations across assigned sites, including integration of future locations as required.
• Perform other duties supporting the HSE annual operating plan and business objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Health, Safety & Environmental, or Business, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline with equivalent experience may be considered. Advanced degree preferred where appropriate to role level.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible general industrial safety experience. Heavy manufacturing experience is strongly preferred.
• Professional knowledge of HSE principles, regulatory compliance, industrial safety methods, environmental protection programs, root-cause analysis, risk reduction, ergonomics, and pollution-prevention practices.
• Experience working with regulatory agencies, consultants, external personnel, and vendors. OSHA and EPA knowledge required.
• Ability to influence leaders and employees, gain cooperation, manage planned and unplanned priorities, and lead teams or cross-functional resources with urgency and accuracy.
• Excellent written, verbal, computer, presentation, and reporting skills. Ability to prepare concise reports and presentations using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel. Skilled in AI applications.
• English / Spanish bi-lingual a plus.
• Certified Safety Professional, Registered Environmental Manager, or comparable HSE credentials preferred.

Skills

• Strong Business Acumen and Sound Judgment
• Strategic Mindset
• Results Driven
• High Ethical Standards, Openness, and Trust
• Respect and Value People
• Ethics and Work Standards: Maintain the highest ethical and work standards while promoting the same expectations across the organization.
• Communication: Express thoughts clearly orally and in writing, listen to understand input and concerns, provide complete and straightforward information, and respond promptly and positively to questions and requests.
• Teamwork and Relationships: Work cooperatively across departments, sites, business units, and external partners. Build trust, support organizational initiatives, and maintain a positive and respectful approach.
• Continual Improvement and Problem Resolution: Identify opportunities for improvement, apply technical and analytical skills, perform root-cause analysis, implement permanent solutions, and share best practices across the business.
• Accountability: Accept responsibility for strategic planning and successful implementation of assigned EHS programs, projects, and responsibilities. Communicate concerns, progress, and barriers in a timely manner.

About the company

Terex Corporation is a global leader in specialized equipment solutions, serving essential sectors such as emergency services, waste and recycling, utilities, and construction. Our diversified portfolio positions us in resilient, high-demand markets with strong long-term growth potential. We design and manufacture advanced specialty vehicles—including fire, ambulance, and recreational vehicles—alongside waste collection vehicles, materials processing machinery, mobile elevating work platforms, and equipment for the electric utility industry.

Through our global dealer, parts and service network and true value-creating digital solutions, we deliver best-in-class lifecycle support, helping customers maximize return on investment. With a strong manufacturing footprint in the United States and operations across Europe, India, and Asia Pacific, Terex combines global reach with local expertise to capture opportunities worldwide.

Our strategy is clear: exceed customer expectations, invest in innovation, leverage our diversified portfolio, and deliver consistent, profitable growth for our shareholders.

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• 401(k)
• Medical, dental, and vision