Working/Functional Title
Exec. Director of Environmental Health & Safety
Position Summary
Michigan State University (MSU), a leading global research institution, invites applications and nominations for the role of Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). This is a pivotal leadership opportunity to shape and advance a proactive, innovative, and collaborative safety culture across a world-class university.
About the Role
The Executive Director of EHS provides strategic vision, operational oversight, and expert guidance for MSU’s comprehensive environmental health and safety portfolio. Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Administration – with a dotted-line relationship to the Associate Vice President for Research Regulatory Support – this leader is responsible for ensuring a safe, healthy, and compliant environment for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and surrounding communities.
This executive serves as MSU’s senior authority on environmental health and safety matters, overseeing programs in biosafety, chemical and radiation safety, environmental compliance, occupational health and safety, hazardous waste management, and construction safety. The role spans MSU’s flagship East Lansing campus as well as multiple locations across Michigan, including Grand Rapids, Detroit, Battle Creek, and northern field sites.
Salary
The salary range for this position is fixed at $160,000 – $200,000. Final compensation will be determined based on relevant experience within this range.
Work Modality
This position is based in East Lansing, Michigan, on the campus of Michigan State University. As the work of Environmental Health and Safety is inherently hands-on and requires direct engagement with campus facilities, laboratories, and operational units, this role is an onsite position. The Director is expected to work on campus five days per week (Monday-Friday) to ensure timely response, effective oversight, and close collaboration with campus partners.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Shape and implement the university’s EHS vision, policies, and long-term strategies.
- Serve as MSU’s senior advisor on regulatory trends, emerging risks, compliance obligations, and safety innovations that support cutting-edge research.
- Represent MSU with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies (EPA, OSHA, EGLE, NRC, and others).
Program Oversight and Compliance
- Oversee comprehensive safety programs, including biosafety (BSL-1 to BSL-3), chemical and laboratory safety, radiation safety, environmental compliance, and contractor/construction safety.
- Ensure adherence to all federal, state, and local regulations and code standards; guide stakeholders on compliance expectations.
- Lead emergency preparedness and response planning, safety audits, inspections, and continuous improvement efforts.
Collaboration & University Engagement
- Partner with research, academic, facilities, public safety, HR, and administrative units to integrate safety into daily practice and strategic decision-making.
- Engage faculty, staff, and students through training, communication, and shared accountability in promoting a positive safety culture.
- Represent MSU in professional forums, committees, and regulatory hearings.
Administration & Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of EHS professionals, including seven direct reports and additional dotted-line partners across the university.
- Manage the EHS budget, resources, staffing, and equipment needs to ensure efficient and effective operations.
- Establish performance metrics and monitor progress across all EHS functions.
The Ideal Candidate
MSU seeks an experienced and forward-thinking leader with:
- Deep expertise in environmental health and safety within complex laboratory, research, academic, or public sector environments.
- Proven leadership capability, including strategic planning, program oversight, and organizational development.
- Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with faculty, researchers, administrators, and senior leadership.
- Strong regulatory knowledge and experience interacting with governmental agencies.
- A commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and service-oriented safety culture.
Why MSU?
Joining MSU means becoming part of a community that values innovation, collaboration, and societal impact. As a leading global research institution, MSU offers a dynamic environment where safety leadership directly supports groundbreaking scholarship, student success, and community engagement.
This is an exceptional opportunity to lead at scale, influence university-wide priorities, and shape MSU’s environmental health and safety landscape for years to come.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Bachelors -Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, or a related field
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in Environmental Health and Safety, including proven experience in a senior EHS leadership role.
- Demonstrated experience building, scaling, and governing EHS programs across multiple sites and/or jurisdictions.
- Thorough working knowledge and understanding of EHS compliance (local, state and federal) regulations that are applicable to the operations.
- Ability to research, interpret and apply EHS regulations to operations. Must be capable of managing and leading all EHS functional activities.
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Occupational Health and Safety Environmental Science, or a related field.
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Safety Director (CSD), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and/or Certified Hazardous Materials Manager certification(s) or equivalent designation.
- Proven ability to influence senior leadership, operations teams, contractors, and external stakeholders without direct supervisory authority.
- Experience in higher education and a unionized environment; an understanding of shared governance structures.
Required Application Materials
Website
https://ehs.msu.edu/
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
