Director, Health, Safety and Environment - Health Safety and Environment

Competition Number: 26.10.242
Category: Full-Time Continuing (35 hours per week)
Salary: $117,979 to $159,492 per annum
Closing Date: October 25, 2026

MacEwan University is seeking a Director, Health, Safety and Environment for a full-time continuing opportunity with our Health, Safety and Environment department.

Are you a visionary health, safety, and environmental leader who is passionate about building a culture where people can learn, work, and thrive safely? We are seeking a strategic and collaborative Director, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) to provide institution-wide leadership for health, safety, environmental, and biosafety programs.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Campus Safety and Security, you will shape and advance the University's vision for health, safety, and environmental stewardship by strengthening governance, accountability, compliance, and risk management frameworks across a diverse and dynamic academic environment. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, guiding the institution through emerging risks, regulatory requirements, and opportunities to enhance organizational performance and sustainability.

In this influential role, you will lead a multidisciplinary HSE team and drive initiatives that foster shared responsibility, leadership accountability, and the integration of HSE principles into strategic planning, operations, research, and decision-making. Through strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, you will champion a proactive, risk-informed approach that supports the University's commitment to safe, healthy, compliant, and sustainable learning and working environments.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership for the University’s health, safety, environmental, and biosafety (HSE) programs, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, divisional goals, and the University’s strategic direction;
• Championing a culture of health, safety, environmental stewardship, and shared accountability by embedding HSE principles into academic, research, administrative, and operational activities across the University;
• Establishing and maintaining governance frameworks, policies, standards, controls, and performance measures that promote accountability, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement;
• Providing expert strategic advice and recommendations to senior leadership on emerging risks, legislative and regulatory developments, institutional priorities, and opportunities to strengthen HSE performance and risk management practices;
• Overseeing institutional compliance with applicable federal and provincial legislation, regulations, permits, licenses, standards, and reporting requirements, ensuring effective systems, processes, controls, and assurance mechanisms are in place;
• Serving as the University’s designated authority for regulated biosafety and pathogen-related activities, ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, permits, licenses, and regulatory reporting requirements;
• Leading the identification, assessment, mitigation, monitoring, and reporting of health, safety, environmental, and biosafety risks to protect people, property, research activities, and the environment;
• Overseeing significant incidents, investigations, inspections, audits, regulatory matters, and corrective action programs, ensuring root causes are addressed and organizational learning is achieved;
• Monitoring HSE performance by analyzing key performance indicators, incident trends, audit findings, compliance outcomes, stakeholder feedback, organizational risk data, and other relevant insights;
• Leveraging data, technology, and continuous improvement methodologies to strengthen HSE programs, optimize service delivery, enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of HSE services, and drive strategic improvements;
• Representing the University with regulatory agencies, government bodies, auditors, professional associations, and external stakeholders, fostering positive relationships and supporting organizational credibility and compliance;
• Overseeing institutional HSE communications and engagement strategies to ensure messaging is clear, consistent, timely, and aligned with regulatory requirements and organizational priorities;
• Providing regular reports and strategic recommendations to senior leadership regarding HSE risks, compliance status, program effectiveness, and progress toward departmental and institutional objectives; and
• Exercising delegated authority to address serious or imminent HSE risks, including directing corrective actions, restricting activities, or recommending the suspension of work to protect the health and safety of the University community and the environment.

Skills

You will have:

• Advanced knowledge and expertise in occupational health and safety, environmental, biosafety, fire and life safety programs, including applicable legislation, regulations, standards, and compliance requirements;
• The proven ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements, assess institutional risk, and provide practical, risk-informed advice to senior leaders;
• Strong knowledge of HSE management systems, governance frameworks, incident management, corrective actions, and continuous improvement practices;
• Demonstrated leadership experience building and managing high-performing HSE teams, setting priorities, shared accountability, allocating resources, and delivering service excellence;
• Recognized for developing trusted partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups and positioning HSE as a strategic advisor to the organization;
• Exceptional communication and influencing capabilities, with a talent for translating technical and regulatory information into clear, actionable guidance;
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate trends, compliance data, audits, incidents, and emerging risks to inform decision-making;
• Judicious decision-making and professional credibility in managing sensitive, complex, and high-risk issues with operational, regulatory, and reputational implications;
• The ability to manage competing priorities, respond effectively to emerging challenges, and make timely, risk-based decisions in a dynamic environment;
• Well-developed project and change management skills, including leading organization-wide initiatives, program enhancements, and process improvements;
• Expertise in risk assessment, hazard identification, root cause analysis, program evaluation, compliance monitoring, and corrective action planning; and
• The confidence to represent University before regulators, auditors, professional organizations, and external partners, while maintaining credibility and advancing organizational objectives.

Qualifications

• A minimum of a degree in occupational or environmental health and safety, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in health, safety, and environment, including experience with and responsibility for institutional HSE programs, regulatory compliance, risk management, incident response, and service delivery, ideally within a university, public sector, or similarly complex institution.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a health and safety leadership role, including responsibility for leading staff, programs, service delivery, and institution-wide HSE initiatives.
• Experience fostering a strong safety culture through education, engagement, accountability, and leadership development.
• Previous experience working in a post-secondary or other public sector environment would be considered a strong asset.
• A relevant professional designation from the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals, Board of Certified Safety Professionals, or Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists would be considered a strong asset.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Benefits

When you become part of the MacEwan University team, you will enjoy a competitive salary. Our total compensation package includes:

• Competitive base pay
• Generous vacation time
• Secure pension plan
• Flexible benefits package
• Continuous learning culture
• Opportunities for career growth

How to Apply

To apply, please head to our MacEwan University Opportunities Page, select the job opportunity and click Apply Now. If you require assistance, please contact us at careers@macewan.ca.

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This position is included under the Out-of-Scope employee policy (D1015). Applications sourced through this process may be considered for similar opportunities within MacEwan University.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.