Director, Combustible Dust Safety, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

• Remote FDRsafety is seeking a Director, Combustible Dust Safety & Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) for a leading food manufacturing organization with operations across the United States.

This executive-level position is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving enterprise-wide combustible dust safety programs while ensuring compliance with NFPA, OSHA, EPA, and other applicable regulations.

The Director will serve as the organization's technical authority on combustible dust safety, leading strategy, governance, engineering controls, regulatory compliance, and culture transformation initiatives across multiple operating facilities. This individual will partner closely with executive leadership, engineering, maintenance, operations, and environmental teams to minimize operational risk, strengthen process safety programs, and promote a world-class safety culture.

The salary range for this position is $146,000

• $220,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance)
• -Essential ResponsibilitiesEnterprise Safety Leadership
• Develop and execute the organization's combustible dust safety strategy across multiple operating facilities.
• Establish enterprise-wide policies, standards, governance frameworks, and compliance programs aligned with NFPA 660 and applicable OSHA and EPA regulations.
• Serve as the executive subject matter expert on combustible dust hazards, explosion prevention, and process safety.
• Drive organizational culture change by embedding combustible dust awareness and housekeeping excellence throughout all levels of the organization.
• Partner with executive leadership, engineering, maintenance, and operations to prioritize safety initiatives and capital improvement projects.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Lead enterprise combustible dust compliance initiatives and process safety programs.
• Direct Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) programs, ensuring documentation, five-year revalidation requirements, and corrective actions remain current.
• Establish inspection, testing, and maintenance standards for dust collectors, explosion protection systems, rotary valves, isolation devices, and related safety equipment.
• Coordinate facility audits, compliance assessments, and effectiveness reviews.
• Serve as the primary liaison with OSHA, regulatory agencies, insurance representatives, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs).Engineering & Technical Support
• Provide technical leadership for combustible dust engineering controls and hazard mitigation strategies.
• Support engineering teams with facility layouts, electrical classifications, grounding and bonding requirements, and explosion protection systems.
• Lead Management of Change (MOC) reviews and Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR) involving dust-handling equipment.
• Partner with engineering and maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability and regulatory compliance.

Incident Prevention & Continuous Improvement

• Lead investigations involving combustible dust incidents and near misses.
• Perform root cause analyses and oversee corrective and preventive action plans.
• Analyze leading and lagging performance indicators to prioritize risk reduction initiatives.
• Develop emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and business continuity programs.
• Establish partnerships with engineering consultants, testing laboratories, equipment manufacturers, and recognized combustible dust experts.

Training & Leadership

• Develop enterprise training programs focused on combustible dust safety and environmental compliance.
• Deliver foundational and advanced technical training for operations, maintenance, and engineering personnel.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing regional EHS and combustible dust safety team.
• Promote employee engagement, operational excellence, and continuous safety improvement throughout the organization
• -QualificationsEducation
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Health & Safety, or a related technical discipline required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive Environmental Health & Safety or Process Safety leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide combustible dust safety initiatives.
• Expert knowledge of NFPA 660 and legacy combustible dust standards including NFPA 61, 484, 652, 654, and 664.
• Experience implementing large-scale combustible dust projects across multiple facilities.
• Strong background supporting high-risk manufacturing, grain handling, industrial processing, or similar production environments.
• Extensive knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and NFPA regulations.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Dust Safety Professional (CDSP™)
• Certified DHA Leader (CDHA)
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH
• -Travel & Working Conditions
• Ability to travel regularly to manufacturing and production facilities.
• Comfortable working in industrial production environments and elevated work areas.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations outside of normal business hours when necessary
• -Success MeasuresSuccess in this role will be measured by:
• Enterprise combustible dust risk reduction
• Successful completion and maintenance of Dust Hazard Analyses
• Improved audit and regulatory compliance performance
• Reduction of combustible dust hazards and incident rates
• Timely closure of corrective actions
• Continuous improvement of safety culture and environmental performance