Director, Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) - Kairos Power

Job Summary

Kairos Power is seeking a Director of Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) to provide strategic leadership and management of the EH&S function. You will champion the support, planning, implementation, and maintenance of the company’s EH&S program and be an integral part of the development of Kairos Power’s safety strategy. The successful candidate will manage an established EH&S program and team, providing strategic guidance and oversight to ensure organizational compliance with local, state, and federal EH&S regulations. This is a leadership position that will drive safety innovation across multiple locations and will manage the safety and risk associated with several construction projects and laboratory activities and ensure compliance with all applicable safety regulations. Additionally, you will be responsible for the development and maintenance of a growth roadmap that captures the vision of the company’s expansion goals. This position will work with established leadership on Kairos sites and in Kairos laboratories to provide recommendations and negotiate strategies to ensure personnel safety and environmental compliance in a wide range of R&D facilities encompassing a variety of issues. This position requires someone who is adaptable, flexible in a fast-paced environment and committed to working with our engineering teams and technicians in creating and maintaining an injury free workplace with the highest safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Leads the vision, strategy and direction of the EH&S function
• Provide strategic leadership and support necessary to ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and standards to meet or exceed relevant internal and external safety and environmental standards in a manner consistent with sound business practice  
• Develop strategic roadmaps in partnership with key stakeholders to ensure compliance at multiple locations
• Builds, develops, and manages a team in developing, implementing, administering, and scaling company-wide EH&S programs to support and align business operations
• Forecast anticipated EH&S policies and programs that may be necessary in alignment with the growth of the company and in anticipation of upcoming projects
• Oversee the implementation of various chemical hazard safety programs in compliance requirements for all OSHA and EPA standards
• Work with site leadership and laboratory leadership to use skills to identify risks associated with hazardous conditions, process design deficiencies and poor safety practices. Design and implement risk reduction tactics to minimize risk. Lead risk assessments and job hazard analysis reviews to ensure risks are identified and mitigated before new processes, equipment, and/or materials are released
• Work with site and laboratory directors to manage and oversee systems implementation, policies, procedures, and processes assuring compliance to regulatory requirements
• Align the organization, leadership, and new employees on a company-wide common safety vision and ensure proper engagement across all aspects of the organization
• Consult senior-level stakeholders across the entire organization to identify safety needs and optimize programs and procedures to support
• Provide expertise and strategic advice to members of the leadership team on all safety matters affecting the Company
• Act as primary contact for all regulatory agency/EHS correspondence including inspections, requests for records, or surveys
• Establish KPIs to track performance and identify areas of opportunity
• Oversees vendor relationship management, operations support, and cost and budgeting of existing and new EH&S programs
• Ensure compliance is met to the highest degree on safety as we prepare to scale and bring on new facilities
• Drives safety transformation to ensure that all solutions are aligned with company objectives

Qualifications

• 10 years+ of experience in EH&S in a leadership position with experience in mechanical, manufacturing, chemical or nuclear engineering related environment
• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Chemical, Engineering, or related technical field
• Demonstrates strong leadership, listening, communication, and analytical skills with an affinity for mentoring and developing others, and for change-management
• Proven track record of developing or revamping EH&S programs relating to chemical hazards, nuclear waste, illness and injury prevention, building safety and other EH&S related programs
• Knowledgeable with hands on experience with electrical and high temperature material safety, radiological safety, nuclear operations, and chemical hazard is preferred
• Experience with handling of Beryllium (Be) or other highly toxic chemicals would be a plus
• Fully versed in compliance requirements for all OSHA, EPA, ISO 41000, DOT, and other EH&S related regulatory requirements
• Experience overseeing multiple sites and establish consistent safety protocols and guidelines across all locations
• Coaches, mentors, and develops a team of diverse and experienced EHS professionals and leaders
• Proficient with Microsoft suite, EHS management software, and various communication software tools (e.g. slack, zoom, teams, etc.)
• Ability to adjust to business objectives while ensuring compliance
• Detailed oriented, effectively handle multiple priorities, have a strong quality mindset and have the ability to meet tight deadlines
• Active member in EHS professional associations and/or active licenses/certifications in EHS programs preferred
• Meet project deadlines; manage Objective Key Results (OKRs) for EH&S department on a quarterly and yearly basis
• Ability to work with highly collaborative team
• Ability to solve problems and quickly and efficiently 
• Prioritizes and ensures safety to one self and others 
• Ability to proactively collect, manage, and transfer knowledge 
• Ability to seek different and novel ways to create efficiencies when working on problems, challenges and issues 

Physical Conditions

• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another
• Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 50 pounds in all directions

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• Low temperatures
• High temperatures
• Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind 
• Noisy environments
• Small and/or enclosed spaces
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions
• Evaluated heights
• Accessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
• Manipulating, cleaning and disposal of hazardous materials
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes

Travel

• 35% travel required to Kairos locations and work-related events or conferences

Additional Requirements

• Occasionally requires working weekends
• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility 
• Occasionally requires non-standard work-week hours
• Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

The salary range for this position is $195,500 to $244,400 for employees working onsite at our Alameda, CA headquarters. The range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired in California. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role.

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