Director, Environmental Health & Safety

At Caris, we understand that cancer is an ugly word—a word no one wants to hear, but one that connects us all. That’s why we’re not just transforming cancer care—we’re changing lives.

We introduced precision medicine to the world and built an industry around the idea that every patient deserves answers as unique as their DNA. Backed by cutting-edge molecular science and AI, we ask ourselves every day: “What would I do if this patient were my mom?” That question drives everything we do.

But our mission doesn’t stop with cancer. We're pushing the frontiers of medicine and leading a revolution in healthcare—driven by innovation, compassion, and purpose.

Join us in our mission to improve the human condition across multiple diseases. If you're passionate about meaningful work and want to be part of something bigger than yourself, Caris is where your impact begins.

Position Summary
The Director, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) is responsible for developing, implementing, and leading a comprehensive EHS strategy across Caris Life Sciences' laboratory, clinical, and operational environments. This role ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations while fostering a culture of safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement. The Director partners cross-functionally with laboratory operations, facilities, HR, and executive leadership to ensure a culture of safety throughout Caris in an effort to mitigate risk, enhance safety performance, and support business growth.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all EHS programs, policies, and procedures across multiple sites, including laboratories, offices, and support functions.

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements to include but not limited to; OSHA, NFPA, ADEQ, EPA, CDC, CAP, CLIA, and FDA.

• Develop and implement biosafety, chemical safety, hazardous waste, and occupational health programs to include a comprehensive software tool to ensure continuous compliance, areas of opportunity to improve, and EHS analytics.

• Serve as the subject matter expert on EHS regulations, risk management, and incident prevention.

• Lead and be the ultimate owner of EHS incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action planning.

• Establish and track EHS metrics, KPIs, and reporting for leadership and regulatory agencies.

• Partner with laboratory and facilities teams to ensure safe design, operation, and maintenance of environments handling biological and chemical materials as well as base safety requirements such as OSHA and NFPA.

• Oversee emergency preparedness and response programs, including drills and business continuity planning.

• Manage environmental compliance programs, including waste disposal, air/water permits, and sustainability initiatives.

• Lead internal audits to drive an "always ready" mindset and support external inspections and regulatory inquiries.

• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing EHS team.

• Drive a culture of safety through training, communication, and leadership engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Biology, Chemistry, or related field.

• 10+ years of progressive EHS experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.

• Demonstrated experience building and managing EHS programs in laboratory, biotechnology, healthcare, or regulated environments that solve for Regulatory Compliance, Incident Investigation, and Environmental Sustainability.

• Strong knowledge of OSHA, NFPA, EPA, biosafety standards (BSL-2/BSL-3), hazardous materials, and laboratory safety practices.

• Experience supporting audits, inspections, and regulatory compliance activities (e.g., CAP, CLIA, FDA).

• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive organizational change.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, Outlook, and general working knowledge of Internet for business use.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, or related field.

• Professional certifications such as CSP (Certified Safety Professional), CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist), or CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager).

• Experience in high-complexity clinical or molecular laboratory environments.

• Familiarity with quality systems and regulated environments (e.g. GxP).

• Experience scaling EHS programs in a fast-growing organization.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in laboratory and operational environments that may involve exposure to biological and chemical hazards with appropriate protective equipment.

• Ability to stand, walk, and move between facilities for extended periods.

• Ability to lift and carry materials up to 25 pounds, as needed.

• Ability to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including lab coats, gloves, eye protection, and respirators as required.

Training

• All job specific, safety, and compliance training are assigned based on the job functions associated with this employee.

Other

• This position requires periodic travel and may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.

• Job may require after-hours response to emergency or safety-related issues.

Conditions of Employment:  Individual must successfully complete pre-employment process, which includes criminal background check, drug screening, credit check ( applicable for certain positions) and reference verification.

This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Caris Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.