Careers at Lehigh

Lehigh University is a nationally ranked R1 research institution where rigorous inquiry, discovery, and innovation drive everything. As the Director of Environmental Health & Safety, you will shape the safety and environmental infrastructure that makes that research possible, leading a university-wide program that protects people, communities, and the institution's ability to do its best work. Reporting through the Campus Safety Division, this senior leadership role carries full accountability for Lehigh's EHS program across a complex, research-intensive campus.

Position Number: S87490

This position is a Grade: 12 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $104,850-$127,550 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Your Scope & Responsibilities

• Lead and modernize university-wide EHS programs and policies to support Lehigh's R1 research mission, ensuring compliance with EPA, OSHA, NRC, DOT, PADEP, and local regulatory requirements.
• Establish and maintain safety standards for high-containment laboratories, chemical and biological operations, radiation, lasers, and emerging research technologies including nanotechnology.
• Chair the University Laboratory Safety Committee and serve as Institutional Biological Safety Officer (BSO), collaborating with IACUC and IRB to support responsible research operations.
• Direct Lehigh's EPA Large Quantity Generator (LQG) hazardous waste program, ensuring full RCRA, DOT, and PADEP compliance across collection, storage, transportation, and manifest tracking.
• Oversee campus environmental stewardship programs including stormwater management (MS4), air quality permits, underground storage tanks, and industrial wastewater discharge.
• Partner with Facilities Services and Capital Projects to integrate EHS requirements into the design, plan review, and construction phases of major campus development and lab renovation projects.
• Oversee the Life Safety Department to ensure fire protection systems and building operations meet code, coordinating with municipal fire departments on pre-incident planning and Tier II hazardous materials reporting.
• Design and deliver scalable EHS training programs — including RCRA, Hazard Communication, Biosafety, Radiation Safety, and PPE — for a diverse campus population of students, faculty, postdocs, and staff.
• Lead incident response as primary administrative lead and potential Incident Commander for hazardous material emergencies; direct root-cause investigations and corrective action reporting to senior leadership.
• Supervise and develop a multidisciplinary EHS team — including the Hazardous Materials, Occupational Safety, and Life Safety Managers — while managing the departmental budget, vendor contracts, and technical resources.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Engineering, or a related scientific discipline; Master's Degree preferred.
• Five to eight years of progressively responsible experience managing EHS programs in higher education, research institutions, or complex technical organizations (with at least three to five years in a supervisory/leadership role).
• Proven leadership experience managing a comprehensive EHS program, ideally within a research university, healthcare, or similarly complex regulated environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in LQG hazardous waste compliance and research laboratory safety frameworks.
• Strong working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, NFPA, and relevant federal and Pennsylvania state regulations.
• Experience partnering with senior institutional stakeholders to advance safety strategy at an enterprise level.

Why Lehigh

Lehigh's R1 designation reflects a genuine commitment to discovery — and this role sits at the intersection of enabling that mission and protecting the people who pursue it. You will join a Campus Safety Division that values collaboration across academic and operational boundaries. Lehigh offers a competitive benefits package including robust retirement contributions, generous paid leave, tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents, and a campus community that takes pride in doing serious work thoughtfully. Bethlehem, PA offers an accessible, affordable mid-Atlantic location with proximity to both Philadelphia and New York City.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission. 

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety.  Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.