Director of Combustible Dust Safety Management, Environmental, Health and Safety

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

 

Summary

The Director, Combustible Dust Safety Management and Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS), Live Operations will lead strategy, implementation, and ongoing compliance for combustible dust safety programs. The role requires expert-level technical knowledge of NFPA 660, the Standard for Combustible Dusts and Particle Solids and lead culture change which establishes the critical importance of combustible dusk compliance and housekeeping at every level. The director will implement world-class NFPA 660 and EHS business practices, engineered solutions, risk mitigation processes, and compliance efforts which ensure compliance with other OSHA and EPA requirements across all live operations. This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, drives an initiative-taking culture, and regularly provides project management ownership, while minimizing operational risk, protecting employees, contractors, communities, and assets.

The director will manage organizational dust testing, coordinate dust Hazard Analyses (DHAs), oversee technical training and ensure that all engineering controls, explosion protections, and management systems meet applicable regulatory and corporate standards. The director will partner with senior live operations and engineering leadership to integrate EHS standards into day-to-day activities, continuously improve safety and environmental performance, and support business continuity in dynamic, real-time operational environments.

The salary range for this position is $146,000 - $220,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance). 

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

 

Schedule :

Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm

 

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of process safety management principles applicable to combustible dust hazards.
• Establish mechanical integrity programs for critical combustible dust protection systems.
• Develop enterprise standards for inspection, testing, and maintenance of dust collectors, rotary valves, isolation devices, explosion venting systems, and explosion suppression systems.
• Manage and maintain all Dust Hazard Analysis documentation and ensure 5-year updates and reviews are completed on schedule.
• Serve as the principal subject matter expert for NFPA 660 and direct gap assessments, testing, and hazard mitigation activities across all sites.
• Ensure effectiveness verification through audits and field assessments.
• Interface directly with Authorities Having Jurisdiction, insurance providers, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors during facility audits.
• Serve as the corporate technical authority for combustible dust safety, explosion prevention, and combustible particle solids management.
• Advise executive leadership on NFPA 660 combustible dust risks, compliance, and performance.
• Lead selection, contracting, and management of external NFPA 660 technical experts to accelerate program deployment and risk reduction.
• Benchmark company programs against industry-leading practices and emerging regulatory expectations.
• Establish technical standards, approve risk mitigation strategies, and provide final technical guidance regarding NFPA 660 integration and implementation.
• Support engineering and maintenance teams in designing compliant facility layouts, including proper electrical area classifications and bonding and grounding protocols.
• Lead Management of Change reviews and Pre-Startup Safety Reviews for modifications to dust-handling equipment.
• Support maintenance reliability and planning activities related to equipment testing and regulatory compliance.
• Establish and maintain an enterprise combustible dust management system aligned with business objectives to reduce high-hazard combustible dust exposures and environmental impacts.
• Establish and maintain governance frameworks, policies, and standards across all live operational sites.
• Must effectively drive cultural change by leading transformation initiatives which embed combustible dusk safety and environmental stewardship throughout live operations. Will work closely with mill managers and senior leaders to drive culture change and be able to amplify the importance of dust control efforts at all levels.
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to develop and execute a prioritized NFPA 660 combustible dust safety capital improvement plan.
• Develop capabilities that leverage technology, data, and reporting to mitigate risk, maintain compliance, and identify opportunities to improve.
• Ensure effective incident prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with combustible dust subject matter experts, engineering consultants, testing laboratories, equipment manufacturers, and insurance engineering resources.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate workplace hazards and environmental risks.
• Conduct regular facility and equipment evaluations.
• Lead root cause analyses of incidents and near misses.
• Develop corrective and preventive action plans to reduce risk and build resilience.
• Track and analyze leading and lagging indicators to drive continuous improvement.
• Design and implement NFPA 660 combustible dust safety and EHS training programs tailored to live operations environments.
• Establish foundational and advanced training programs for production and maintenance staff.
• Promote a strong safety and environmental compliance culture through engagement, communication, and leadership visibility.
• Champion human operational performance initiatives and employee involvement programs.
• Track and document compliance metrics, emergency response activities, inspection records, and housekeeping plans.
• Lead environmental combustible dust compliance activities in partnership with the Environmental Department.
• Build and manage a high-performing combustible dust safety team aligned with company goals.
• Allocate resources effectively across multiple operational locations.

 

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical). Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S) is acceptable if the candidate possesses expert level, combustible dust & NFPA knowledge.
• 10+ years of progressive process safety or EHS experience with significant emphasis on enterprise-wide combustible dust safety leadership.
• Project management implementation experience leading NFPA 660 combustible dust projects across multiple locations.
• Expert-level proficiency in NFPA 660 and previous standards including NFPA 61, NFPA 484, NFPA 652, NFPA 654, and NFPA 664.
• Experience supporting real-time production, grain, dust, or other high-risk operational environments.
• Proven experience supporting environmental and/or safety programs of scale.
• Strong experience with Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Fire Protection Association regulatory compliance.

 

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master of Science in Engineering (Mechanical of Chemical).
• Certified Dust Safety Professional certification (CDSP), or
• Certified DHA Leader (CDHA) certification, or
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) certification.

 

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Travel to live operational and grain sites.
• Ability to access upper levels of feed mills and work on elevated work surfaces.
• Exposure to active feed mill, outdoor, and industrial environments.
• Ability to respond to incidents outside of normal working hours as needed.

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Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.