Environmental Health & Safety Director

Overview

Location(s):  Remote - USA, Remote - CaliforniaPractice/Department:  EHS Work Environment:  Remote Office BasedCompensation: 160,000 - $205,000 annually*

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies. 

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards. 

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience. 

Learn more about our award-winning culture, the benefits and perks of being a Dudekian, and the projects you will have the opportunity to shape.  

Position Overview

Who You Are 

As an employee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently. 

Like all Dudekians, you are curious and solution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit of innovation.  

How You’ll Make an Impact 

Dudek is seeking an Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Director who excels as both a strategic leader and hands-on operator, capable of building scalable systems while ensuring effective day-to-day execution. This role will lead and evolve Dudek’s EHS programs, advancing a proactive, integrated culture of safety across a growing, multi-state organization with both field and office operations.

This position is responsible for designing and implementing Dudek’s EHS operating model, aligning safety support to business practices, and ensuring clear accountability for safety performance across all levels of the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities  

As the EHS Director, you will lead the continued development of Dudek’s EHS program and serve as a key partner to operational leadership, ensuring safety is fully integrated into business planning, project execution, and day-to-day operations. You will establish scalable programs, strengthen accountability, and lead and continue to build a cohesive, high-performing EHS team.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategy, Leadership, and Operating Model

• Lead the strategic direction, development, and continuous improvement of Dudek’s EHS programs and safety culture.
• Design and implement a scalable EHS operating model, including aligning EHS Managers to business practices and ensuring consistent support across regions.
• Partner with Company leadership and Practice Leaders to embed safety accountability at all levels and integrate safety into operational planning and performance management.
• Lead and continue to grow a cohesive, high-performing EHS team, ensuring alignment across safety, training, field support, and incident management functions.

Program Development and Systems

• Establish and maintain firmwide EHS policies, programs, and standards, ensuring consistency across field and office environments.
• Design scalable systems for training, audits, inspections, and compliance that support a multi-state, multi-practice organization.
• Ensure EHS programs effectively support both field-based and office-based work environments, with appropriate differentiation based on risk and work type.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, tools, and systems to increase efficiency, consistency, and impact.

Practice and Operational Support

• Establish a consistent EHS partnership model with business practices, ensuring each practice has clear EHS support, expectations, and regular engagement.
• In partnership with EHS Manager, provide technical guidance and support to project teams, including safety planning, risk assessments, and field execution.
• Ensure structured field-level safety oversight is in place, including audits, inspections, and support for higher-risk projects.

Compliance, Risk, and Incident Management

• Oversee company and project compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local EHS regulations (e.g., OSHA, Cal/OSHA, etc.).
• Oversee the company’s incident management framework, including investigation standards, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Work with EHS Managers to partner with Human Resources and Legal on workers’ compensation programs and claims management as applicable.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies, client safety inquiries, and inspections.

Metrics, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement

• Oversee and monitor leading and lagging safety metrics, ensuring visibility, consistency, and accountability across practices.
• Prepare and present safety performance reports to executive and operational leadership, identifying trends and driving continuous improvement.
• Use data and insights to refine programs, improve outcomes, and support strategic decision-making.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), or a related field.
• In-depth working knowledge of health and safety regulations, including federal, state, and local requirements (OSHA, Cal/OSHA, etc.).
• Valid driver’s license required.

As a federal contractor, successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check.

Preferred Qualifications 

• 15+ years of experience in safety management within the Environmental and Engineering consulting industry, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Professional certifications such as CSP, ASP, CHST, or equivalent.
• Ability to travel to project sites and Dudek offices as needed to support field operations, audits, and engagement with practice teams.
• Preferred candidate is based in Southern California or has the ability to travel to the Encinitas corporate office on a frequent and consistent basis.
• Demonstrated success building and scaling EHS programs across multi-location organizations.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and EHS management systems.

Compensation: $160,000 - $205,000 annually* 

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment. 

Working Conditions  

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc. 

• REMOVE IF POSITION DOES NOT REQUIRE SITE VISITS This job requires occasional project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment. 

Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:  

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting. 

• Attending meetings, both in person and virtually, and speaking on the phone with peers, clients, etc.  
• Specific vision abilities, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

Connect with us! 

💼LinkedIn 

📸Instagram 

▶️YouTube 

🤝Dudek Talent Community 

Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair and equitable processes, based on merit, free from any discrimination. 

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.