Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Director

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) DirectorLocation: Greater Twin Cities Area (Onsite)About the RoleGardner Standard is seeking an Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Director to lead EHS performance at one of our portfolio companies, Otter Lake Technologies, a high-volume metal casting operation in the Greater Twin Cities area.This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for environmental compliance (with a strong emphasis on air permitting) and building a proactive, accountable safety culture across the facility. The role partners closely with operations to reduce risk, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive measurable performance improvement.What You'll Be Responsible ForLeadership & CultureLead and develop a team of EHS professionals across environmental compliance, safety, industrial hygiene, and trainingDrive a behavior-based safety culture across the facilityPartner closely with Operations and Maintenance to embed EHS into day-to-day executionEnvironmental Compliance (Air Permit Focus)Own and manage the facility's air permit, including emissions tracking and complianceEnsure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and state-level environmental regulationsOversee environmental reporting (air emissions, Tier II, TRI, hazardous waste)Manage key programs including hazardous waste, stormwater, and wastewaterHealth & Safety ProgramsOversee core safety programs (LOTO, confined space, respiratory protection, machine guarding)Lead incident investigations using structured root cause methodologiesConduct risk assessments, JHAs, and industrial hygiene monitoring (silica, noise, heat, etc.)Systems & Continuous ImprovementEstablish and track EHS KPIs and drive performance using data and root cause analysisSupport or implement EHS management systems (ISO 14001 / 45001 or equivalent)Lead initiatives to reduce incidents, emissions, and environmental impactManage third-party consultants, testing firms, and related budgetsWhat We're Looking For6-12+ years of EHS experience in manufacturing or heavy industryDirect experience managing air permits and environmental compliance programsFoundry, metal casting, or similar industrial experience strongly preferredProven leadership experience with the ability to influence plant operationsStrong analytical mindset with experience using data-driven problem solvingEducationBachelor's degree in Environmental, Safety, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, or related fieldPreferredAdvanced degree (M.S.)Certifications such as CSP, CIH, CHMM, or PEWhat Success Looks LikeStrong compliance performance and audit readinessReduction in incidents and improvement in safety metrics (TRIR, etc.)Effective ownership of air permit and environmental programsIncreased engagement across the facilityCompensation$125,000 - $165,000 base salary + bonusFull benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO)Support for continued development and certificationsBenefits:401(k)Dental insuranceHealth insuranceVision insuranceWork Location: In person

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