Associate Director EHS&S

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S) provides leadership and oversight for EHS&S programs across the Boulder and Louisville sites, while supporting broader corporate EHS&S initiatives. This role supports site EHS&S strategy execution, ensures regulatory and corporate compliance, and promotes a proactive safety culture that supports laboratory, manufacturing and support operations.

The Associate Director is accountable for EHS&S program effectiveness, risk mitigation, organizational readiness, and continuous improvement. This leader partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Process Development, AFS, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure robust risk controls, world-class safety behaviors, and seamless integration of EHS&S into business processes.

The Associate Director serves as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, senior leadership, and cross-functional governance bodies. This role oversees a team of EHS&S professionals and cross-functional representatives, supports development of site EHS&S subject matter expertise, and ensures consistent execution of EHS&S standards across systems and processes.

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Lead the development and implementation of long-term EHS&S strategy for the Boulder and Louisville sites, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and regulatory expectations.

• Lead site-level EHS&S governance, performance management, and strategic risk reviews.

• Collaborate with corporate and site EHS&S teams to support standardization and best practice sharing across locations.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local EHS&S laws and regulations, and anticipate emerging regulatory requirements.

• Serve as primary point of contact for EHS&S regulatory agencies and inspections.

• Oversee environmental permitting, waste management, wastewater sampling and reporting, and sustainability initiatives.

• Lead complex risk assessments, process hazard analyses, and enterprise risk reduction programs.

Program Ownership & Continuous Improvement

• Manage the implementation, integration, and continuous improvement of all site EHS&S programs (e.g., LOTO, confined space, industrial hygiene, hazard communication, PPE, workers' compensation, emergency management).

• Manage EHS budget including budget preparation, purchase order creation and cost center management.

• Oversee EHS&S assessments for new product introductions, new processes, and facility modifications.

• Support initiatives to enhance environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, and sustainability performance.

Culture, Training & Organizational Development

• Champion a strong, positive safety culture and behaviors across laboratory, manufacturing, and support operations.
• Provide leadership development, coaching, and technical guidance to the EHS&S team and cross-functional representatives.
• Develop subject matter experts and build organizational EHS&S capability across sites.

Operational Support & Incident Management

• Oversee response to EHS&S incidents, near misses, and emergencies; ensure effective investigation, corrective actions, and learning dissemination.
• Ensure timely, accurate reporting of EHS&S metrics, compliance reviews, KPIs, and executive-level dashboards.
• Drive standardization and harmonization of EHS&S systems, procedures, and documents; review and approve key EHS&S documentation.

Qualifications

To perform this role successfully, the individual must demonstrate the ability to lead complex EHS&S programs, influence senior stakeholders, and drive strategic initiatives across multiple functions and sites. The requirements below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected at the Director level. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational health & safety, environmental science, engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 8-12 years of progressive EHS&S experience, including substantial leadership responsibility in a regulated manufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or similar environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading EHS&S strategy, regulatory compliance programs, and cross-functional safety initiatives at the site or enterprise level.
• Proven ability to interact with regulatory agencies, provide executive-level guidance, and lead organizational readiness for inspections and audits.

Training, Certifications, and Technical Expertise

• Relevant professional training and/or certifications in regulated safety and environmental programs, such as:
• RCRA Hazardous Waste Management
• DOT Hazardous Materials Shipping
• First Aid/CPR/AED (Instructor-level preferred)
• 30-Hour OSHA General Industry Certification
• 40-Hour HAZWOPER Certification
• Additional professional certifications (e.g., CSP, CIH, CHMM) strongly preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a cGMP manufacturing environment (biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or medical device industries).
• Broad understanding of laboratory, pilot-scale, and commercial operations typical of the biotechnology/pharmaceutical sector.
• Experience directing or influencing EHS&S programs across multiple sites or supporting global safety initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cultural transformation, organizational capability building, and high-impact safety performance improvements.

Working Conditions

• The Director may periodically access laboratory, manufacturing, utility, and construction areas where exposure to toxic materials, toxic gases, hazardous energy sources, electrical hazards, and specialized equipment is possible. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used at all times.
• This role requires regular interaction with cross-functional teams and external regulatory agencies, which may involve extended or flexible hours during audits, inspections, incident responses, or critical project milestones.
• Travel may be required to support multi-site EHS&S initiatives, audits, or corporate programs, including visits to other KBI locations and external partners.
• Must comply with all applicable company, industry, and regulatory requirements, including FDA regulations (cGMP, GDP), OSHA/EPA/CDPHE environmental and safety regulations, sustainability standards, and internal policies such as the Employee Handbook and corporate EHS&S procedures.

Salary range: $134,080 - $184,360 annually

Salary range provided per current averages and expectations. The salary and job title for this opening will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience and may be outside this range. KBI has a robust total rewards strategy which includes an annual bonus structure for all employees, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid PTO and holidays, 401K matching with 100% vesting in 60 days and employee recognition programs.   

KBI Biopharma, Inc. is an EEO/AA employer and actively seeks to diversify its work force. Therefore, all qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, are strongly encouraged to apply.

I understand that neither the completion of this application nor any other part of my consideration for employment establishes any obligation for KBI Biopharma, Inc. to hire me. If I am hired, I understand that either KBI Biopharma, Inc. or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice. I understand that no representative of KBI Biopharma, Inc. has the authority to make any assurance to the contrary.

I attest with my signature below that I have given to KBI Biopharma, Inc. true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed. I authorize KBI Biopharma, Inc. to contact references provided for employment reference checks. If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.