Associate Director - Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS)

Role Summary

The Associate Director, Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) develops, implements, and oversees the EHS compliance programs for Codexis laboratories, offices, and GMP facilities. This role ensures general lab safety, regulatory compliance, training, and ergonomics, serving as a primary point of contact for safety questions and driving a culture of safety and compliance. Based in Redwood City, CA, the position supports scalable EHS programs aligned with regulatory requirements and business growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, development, and execution of scalable EHS programs to support evolving laboratory and GMP operations, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, business growth, and long-term sustainability goals.
• Oversee all EHS functional areas, including Emergency Response, Emergency Action Planning (EAP), Respiratory Protection (RPP), Injury and Illness Prevention (IIPP), Ergonomics, Hearing Conservation, Medical Waste, Biological Safety, Chemical Hygiene, Hazard Communication, and Exposure Control.
• Lead the Crisis Management Team (CMT) and Emergency Response Team (ERT), ensuring readiness, training, and coordinated response capabilities.
• Drive a comprehensive Process Safety Management program, integrating technical, procedural, and managerial controls to proactively identify and mitigate hazards.
• Develop and implement risk assessment protocols for chemical handling, SDS management, and operational activities to ensure regulatory compliance and employee safety.
• Establish and lead a cross-functional safety committee to coordinate safety initiatives, promote compliance, and drive continuous improvement across the organization.
• Oversee incident investigation processes, analyze trends, and lead the development of corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to strengthen safety performance.
• Design and maintain compliant waste management programs, including hazardous and medical waste collection, storage, and disposal, in accordance with evolving regulations and operational needs.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering related discipline.
• Required: Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in laboratory operations experience managing and scaling lab operations in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical research environment (Ten years with a master’s degree; other combinations may be considered).
• Required: Customer service oriented with a track record of anticipating the needs of all customers, including bench scientists and office employees.
• Required: Proficient in GMP, GLP, and GDP processes and procedures.
• Required: Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and align stakeholders to a common problem or solution.
• Preferred: Experience managing and prioritizing input from diverse stakeholders to deploy a plan that meets the needs of the business.
• Preferred: Ability to operate effectively at both an operational and strategic level.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering related discipline (as listed in the essential requirements).