Associate Director/Director of Environment, Health, & Safety

Position Overview

Neurona Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company based in South San Francisco focused on the development of neuronal cell-based therapies for intractable neurological diseases. We are seeking a dynamic, strategic, and forward-thinking Director of Environment, Health, & Safety (EHS) to lead our comprehensive health & safety, compliance, and environmental stewardship programs.

The EHS Director will set the strategic vision for workplace health and safety while driving comprehensive environmental sustainability initiatives. This role requires a visible, field-oriented leader who can balance rigorous regulatory oversight (OSHA, EPA, DOT) with a prevention-led Health & Safety strategy and credible environmental programs.

Strategic Leadership & Program Governance

• Define and deliver short- and long-term EHS roadmaps aligned with business priorities, client expectations, regulatory requirements, and environmental commitments; establish clear accountabilities, standards, assurance processes, and performance reviews.
• Act as the primary EHS advisor to senior leaders, translating risk and compliance information into decisions, setting meaningful leading and lagging indicators, and ensuring timely escalation of material risks and overdue actions.
• Build a proactive, just, and learning-focused culture through visible field engagement, leader coaching, employee participation, effective training, and recognition of safe behaviors and risk reduction.

Environmental Sustainability Initiatives

• Lead the design and execution of environmental stewardship programs, focusing on carbon reduction, water conservation, energy efficiency, and waste minimization and zero-waste to landfill.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track, measure, and report on environmental impact metrics (GHG emissions, resource consumption, chemical waste reduction, water), including need of external reporting.
• Collaborate with procurement and operations teams to integrate green technologies, sustainable materials, and non-toxic chemical alternatives into daily workflows.

Occupational Health, Safety & Risk Mitigation

• Lead the identification, assessment, and control of risks with serious-injury or fatality potential and oversee industrial hygiene, ergonomics, machine safety, ventilation, and exposure-control programs for biological, chemical, physical, and process hazards.
• Ensure prompt reporting and robust investigation of incidents, occupational illnesses, high-potential near misses, and environmental releases; identify systemic causes, share learning, and verify the effectiveness and timely closure of corrective and preventive actions.
• Maintain compliance with applicable OSHA, EPA, Cal/OSHA, DOT, DTSC, and IATA requirements, and embed EHS controls into contractor activities, permit-to-work, maintenance, projects, management of change, and pre-startup reviews. Maintain effective emergency-response plans, drills, and coordination with client teams and public authorities.

Team Management

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing EHS team; clarify roles and accountabilities; strengthen technical capability and succession plans; and coach operational leaders to own EHS performance.
• Build high-trust relationships with executives, operational leaders, employees, client representatives, regulators, emergency responders, and industry partners, constructively challenging decisions when health or safety may be compromised.