Director, Global EHS Audits & Assurance

Role Purpose & Context

Role Summary

The Director, Global EHS Audits & Assurance, is responsible for designing, leading, and continually improving our entire enterprise-wide environmental, health, and safety (EHS) audit programme. This isn't a hands-on auditing role day-to-day, but rather about setting the strategy, ensuring quality, and providing strategic insights to the very top of the organisation. You'll sit at the intersection of operational reality and board-level governance, translating complex compliance issues into clear, actionable risks for executive decision-making. When this role is done well, we'll have a robust defence against regulatory fines, reputational damage, and operational disruptions, ensuring our 'licence to operate' remains solid. You'll help us proactively identify and mitigate risks before they become front-page news. When it's not, we face significant legal liabilities, financial penalties, and a damaged brand, which, frankly, nobody wants. The challenge? Navigating complex global regulations, managing a diverse international team, and sometimes, pushing back on senior leaders who might not like what the audits uncover. The reward? Seeing your strategic vision directly protect the company's future and genuinely make a difference to our environmental footprint.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: VP, Global EHS & Sustainability
• Direct reports: Roughly 3-8 Lead International Environmental Auditors, who in turn manage their own teams. Expect to oversee a total organisation of 25-100+ audit professionals.
• Matrix relationships: VP, Environmental Compliance, Head of Global Environmental Governance, Chief Audit Executive (EHS Focus), Global Head of EHS Risk Assurance,

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

• C-Suite (CEO, COO, CFO)
• Board Audit Committee
• Regional Operations VPs and Plant Managers
• Legal Counsel (Environmental & Regulatory)
• Finance Director
• Head of Risk Management
• Corporate Communications

External:

• Environmental Regulators (e.g., Environment Agency, EPA equivalents globally)
• External Financial Auditors (for ESG reporting assurance)
• Industry Associations and Peer Groups
• Investors and ESG Rating Agencies
• Key Suppliers and Joint Venture Partners

Organisational Impact

Scope: This role directly shapes our business strategy and market position by identifying and mitigating enterprise-level environmental risks. Your work protects our brand reputation, ensures our continued legal and social licence to operate, and provides critical assurance to the Board and investors regarding our EHS performance and governance. Frankly, you're a key part of keeping us out of trouble and building trust.

Performance Metrics

Quantitative Metrics

1. Metric: Enterprise Environmental Risk Reduction
2. Desc: The year-over-year reduction in the total number and severity of Major Non-conformances (NCs) identified across the global enterprise, particularly repeat NCs at re-audited sites.
3. Target: Reduce enterprise-wide total Major NCs by 15% year-over-year, and repeat Major NCs by 25%.
4. Freq: Annually, reviewed quarterly by the Board Audit Committee.
5. Example: If we had 100 Major NCs last year, we'd aim for no more than 85 this year, with a significant drop in recurring issues at previously audited facilities. This shows we're fixing systemic problems, not just patching holes.
6. Metric: Audit Programme Coverage & Effectiveness
7. Desc: The percentage of high-risk facilities and critical environmental programmes (e.g., waste management, air emissions) that are audited according to the defined schedule and scope, with a focus on audit quality.
8. Target: Achieve 95% completion of the annual global audit plan for high-risk sites; maintain an average audit quality score of 4.5/5 from internal stakeholders.
9. Freq: Quarterly for completion, annually for quality review.
10. Example: All 20 identified 'Tier 1' manufacturing sites completed their full EHS audits within the financial year, and feedback from regional VPs confirms the audit findings were relevant and actionable. This isn't just about hitting a number, it's about hitting the *right* number of audits in the *right* places.
11. Metric: Regulatory Fines & Penalties Avoidance
12. Desc: The reduction in monetary value and frequency of environmental regulatory fines, penalties, and significant enforcement actions across the global operations.
13. Target: Zero 'material' environmental fines (e.g., over £100,000) and a 20% reduction in total minor fines year-over-year.
14. Freq: Annually, with quarterly reviews of any incidents.
15. Example: In Q3, a potential £250,000 fine for a wastewater discharge violation was averted because an internal audit, driven by your programme, identified the issue and prompted corrective action before regulators intervened. That's real money saved.
16. Metric: Global Audit Budget Management
17. Desc: Managing the allocated budget for the global EHS audit function, including travel, external resources, and technology, to ensure efficient use of company funds.
18. Target: Maintain the global audit programme budget within +/- 5% variance.
19. Freq: Monthly, with quarterly reviews.
20. Example: Despite unexpected travel cost increases in Q2, you managed to reallocate resources and negotiate better rates with external audit support, keeping the overall annual spend within 3% of the approved £5M budget. It's about being a good steward of company money.

Qualitative Metrics

1. Metric: Board & Executive Confidence
2. Desc: The extent to which the Board Audit Committee and C-Suite proactively seek your advice on environmental risk, compliance strategy, and emerging EHS challenges, indicating high trust in your expertise and the audit programme's insights.
3. Evidence: You're regularly invited to contribute to strategic risk discussions, not just present audit results. Your recommendations are consistently adopted by the Board. Executive leaders refer to your audit insights in public statements or investor calls. They'll ask you for your opinion, not just the data.
4. Metric: Audit Programme Maturity & Innovation
5. Desc: The successful implementation of advancements in the global audit programme, such as predictive auditing techniques, advanced data analytics for risk scoring, and the integration of AI tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
6. Evidence: Demonstrable improvements in audit planning through risk-based targeting using data. Successful deployment of new audit technologies that reduce manual effort and improve insight. Positive feedback from audit teams on the value and efficiency of new methodologies or tools. We're not just doing the same thing every year; we're getting smarter.
7. Metric: Global Team Leadership & Development
8. Desc: The effectiveness of your leadership in building, developing, and retaining a high-performing and culturally diverse global audit team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional excellence.
9. Evidence: High retention rates for Lead Auditors and senior audit staff. Clear succession plans for key roles. Positive feedback in 360-degree reviews regarding your leadership, mentorship, and support. Your team feels empowered and sees a clear path for growth. They'll want to work for you.
10. Metric: Strategic Influence on EHS Policy
11. Desc: Your ability to influence and shape the company's overall EHS policies, standards, and strategic objectives based on the insights and trends identified through the global audit programme.
12. Evidence: Audit findings directly lead to changes in corporate EHS standards or investment decisions. You're a key voice in the development of new sustainability initiatives. Your input is sought when major operational changes or acquisitions are being considered due to your understanding of the risks. You're not just reporting problems; you're helping solve them at a strategic level.

Primary Traits

• Trait: Strategic Foresight with a Grounded View
• Manifestation: You're the person who can see the big picture of environmental risk and compliance five years down the line, anticipating regulatory shifts and market pressures. But crucially, you also understand what's actually happening on the factory floor in Shenzhen or a remote mining site in Chile. You can connect a minor operational non-conformance to a potential enterprise-level risk, and you can explain that connection clearly to both a plant manager and the CEO.
• Benefit: At this level, it's not enough to just report what happened. You need to predict what *could* happen and advise on how to prevent it. If you're too theoretical, you'll lose credibility with operations. Too focused on the weeds, and you'll miss the strategic threats. We need someone who can bridge that gap, because the stakes are too high for surprises.
• Trait: Unwavering Integrity under Pressure
• Manifestation: You stand firm on audit findings even when facing C-Suite pushback, or when a 'Major NC' could significantly impact a business unit's performance metrics or an executive's bonus. You present the objective evidence, explain the potential consequences, and don't back down from difficult conversations. You're respected for your honesty, even when the news isn't good. You'll deliver the truth, even if it's uncomfortable.
• Benefit: The audit function's credibility is its most valuable asset. If audit findings can be 'negotiated away' or watered down by political pressure, the entire assurance system collapses. We need a Director who is a true guardian of integrity, because without it, we're flying blind on risk. Your independence is paramount.
• Trait: Influential Communicator & Translator
• Manifestation: You can simplify complex audit findings and regulatory nuances into clear, concise, and actionable insights for the Board, who might not have an EHS background. You're equally adept at motivating a global team of auditors, explaining the 'why' behind strategic shifts, and engaging with regional VPs to ensure their buy-in. You're a master at tailoring your message to your audience, whether it's a formal board presentation or an informal chat over coffee. You make complex stuff sound simple.
• Benefit: You'll be presenting to the Board, influencing executive decisions, and leading a diverse global team. If you can't communicate effectively—if you can't get people to understand and act on your insights—then even the best audit programme is useless. You need to be able to 'sell' the importance of compliance and risk mitigation, not just report on it.

Supporting Traits

• Trait: Culturally Astute
• Desc: Given the global nature of this role, you'll need to understand and adapt to different cultural norms and communication styles. What works in London might not work in Tokyo or São Paulo. It's about building trust and respect across borders, not just enforcing rules.
• Trait: Decisive Under Ambiguity
• Desc: You'll often face novel problems or ambiguous situations where there's no clear playbook. You need to be able to weigh complex risks, make tough decisions with incomplete information, and stand by them. Indecision at this level can be costly.
• Trait: Mentorship-Driven
• Desc: You're not just managing; you're developing the next generation of audit leaders. You'll take genuine satisfaction in coaching your direct reports, helping them grow their skills, and building a strong succession pipeline within the team. Your legacy will be your team.

Primary Motivators

1. Motivator: Shaping Enterprise-Level Risk Strategy
2. Daily: You'll thrive on the opportunity to influence the company's overall approach to environmental and safety risk, seeing your insights directly inform strategic investments, policy changes, and business decisions. This means less hands-on auditing and more strategic planning and executive engagement.
3. Motivator: Protecting the Company's Licence to Operate and Reputation
4. Daily: The idea of safeguarding the company from significant regulatory penalties, legal liabilities, and reputational damage is a core driver. You'll feel a deep sense of responsibility for ensuring the business operates ethically and compliantly, knowing your work directly prevents major crises.
5. Motivator: Building and Leading a High-Performing Global Team
6. Daily: You'll get immense satisfaction from recruiting, developing, and empowering a diverse international team of audit professionals. Seeing your team members grow, take on more responsibility, and deliver exceptional results will be a significant source of motivation.

Potential Demotivators

Honestly, this role isn't for everyone. If you need constant hands-on involvement in every audit, you'll feel frustrated. You're setting the direction, not doing the fieldwork. If you struggle with ambiguity or need clear, prescriptive answers for every problem, you'll find it tough—many decisions at this level involve weighing imperfect information and making calls that will be scrutinised. If you're easily discouraged by political pushback or resistance to change from other departments, you might find the constant need for influence and negotiation draining. We won't pretend it's always smooth sailing.

Common Frustrations

1. Dealing with executive-level resistance to audit findings that have significant financial implications.
2. Navigating complex, sometimes conflicting, regulatory requirements across numerous international jurisdictions.
3. The challenge of ensuring consistent audit quality and adherence to standards across a geographically dispersed team.
4. The sheer volume of information and data you'll need to synthesise for executive reporting.
5. The constant pressure to do more with less, optimising resources while expanding audit scope.

What Role Doesn't Offer

1. Daily, hands-on environmental auditing fieldwork.
2. A purely technical role without significant people management or strategic influence.
3. A predictable, unchanging work environment; expect constant evolution in regulations and business needs.
4. A role where all decisions are clear-cut and universally popular.

ADHD Positives

1. The strategic, high-level nature of the role, with its focus on problem-solving and big-picture thinking, can be highly engaging for those with ADHD.
2. The need to quickly synthesise complex information and identify patterns across diverse datasets can be a strength.
3. The variety of challenges—from board presentations to team development to strategic planning—can prevent boredom and maintain focus.
4. The autonomy to define your own approach to achieving strategic objectives can be very empowering.

ADHD Challenges and Accommodations

1. Managing a large, dispersed team and multiple strategic initiatives requires strong organisational skills; we can support with executive coaching and project management tools.
2. The detail-oriented nature of audit governance and reporting can be challenging; we encourage the use of AI tools for initial drafting and structured templates.
3. Long, formal meetings, especially board presentations, require sustained focus; we can help with strategies for engagement and pre-meeting preparation to ensure clarity.

Dyslexia Positives

1. The strategic thinking and ability to see connections that others miss are significant assets in this role, often associated with dyslexic strengths.
2. Strong verbal communication and presentation skills, crucial for executive engagement, are often highly developed in individuals with dyslexia.
3. The focus on conceptual understanding and problem-solving over meticulous text production is a good fit.
4. We value diverse perspectives in understanding complex global risks.

Dyslexia Challenges and Accommodations

1. The extensive written reporting, especially for board-level documents, might be challenging; we provide advanced proofreading software, access to editorial support, and encourage the use of AI for initial drafting.
2. Ensuring accuracy in regulatory interpretation and policy documentation is critical; we offer structured templates, peer review processes, and access to specialised software with grammar and spelling checks.
3. Managing large volumes of written information; we use visual dashboards and summary tools to condense key data.

Autism Positives

1. The systematic rigor required for designing and overseeing a global audit programme aligns well with strengths in logical thinking and pattern recognition.
2. A strong focus on facts, data, and objective evidence is fundamental to audit leadership and highly valued.
3. The ability to identify inconsistencies and ensure adherence to standards across complex systems is a significant asset.
4. We appreciate direct, clear communication and a focus on outcomes.

Autism Challenges and Accommodations

1. Navigating complex organisational politics and unspoken social cues at the executive level can be challenging; we can provide coaching on stakeholder management and offer clear communication guidelines.
2. The need for frequent international travel and adaptation to new environments might be demanding; we offer detailed itineraries, support for travel arrangements, and flexibility where possible.
3. Dealing with unexpected changes or highly ambiguous situations; we aim to provide clear strategic frameworks and support for decision-making processes.

Key Responsibilities

Experience Levels Responsibilities

1. Level: Director, Global EHS Audits & Assurance
2. Responsibilities: **Define and evolve the Global EHS Audit Strategy:** You'll set the multi-year vision and strategic objectives for the entire EHS assurance function, ensuring it aligns with enterprise risk management and sustainability goals. This means looking ahead, not just reacting.
3. **Lead and Develop a World-Class Global Audit Team:** You'll be accountable for recruiting, mentoring, and developing a high-performing team of Lead Auditors and their teams (25-100+ professionals). This includes setting performance standards, fostering a culture of excellence, and ensuring robust succession planning. Frankly, your team's success is your success.
4. **Present to the Board and C-Suite:** You'll regularly prepare and present high-level reports on environmental risk, compliance status, and audit outcomes to the Board Audit Committee and executive leadership. They'll ask hard questions, and you'll need to provide clear, concise answers that drive action.
5. **Oversee Enterprise-Wide EHS Risk Assessment:** You'll guide the identification and prioritisation of significant EHS risks across all global operations, ensuring the audit programme is strategically targeted to the areas of highest exposure. Get this wrong, and we're exposed.
6. **Manage the Global Audit Programme Budget & Resources:** You'll define and manage the annual budget for the global EHS audit function, typically in the multi-million-pound range. This involves optimising resource allocation (internal vs. external, technology investments) to maximise impact and efficiency.
7. **Drive M&A Environmental Due Diligence and Integration:** You'll lead the EHS audit aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, assessing environmental liabilities pre-deal and ensuring smooth compliance integration post-deal. This is high-stakes work, with significant financial implications.
8. **Champion Continuous Improvement and Innovation:** You'll foster a culture of innovation within the audit function, exploring and implementing new technologies (like AI for predictive auditing) and methodologies to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our assurance processes. We want to be at the forefront, not playing catch-up.
9. Supervision: At this level, you're largely autonomous. Your supervision involves strategic alignment with the VP, Global EHS & Sustainability, and direct accountability to the Board Audit Committee. You'll set your own priorities within the agreed strategic framework, and your performance will be judged on enterprise-level outcomes.
10. Decision: You'll have full strategic authority within your domain, including P&L responsibility for the global audit function (typically £2M-£10M+). This includes significant budget allocation, hiring and firing decisions for your direct reports, and setting the global audit schedule and scope. Decisions impacting major capital expenditure or enterprise-level policy require alignment with the C-Suite and Board, but your recommendations will carry significant weight.
11. Success: Success means a demonstrable reduction in enterprise environmental risk, a robust and respected global audit programme, strong confidence from the Board and C-Suite in our compliance posture, and a highly engaged, high-performing audit team. Ultimately, you'll be measured on how well you protect the company from significant EHS failures and enhance our reputation for responsible operations.

Decision-Making Authority

• Type: Global Audit Programme Strategy & Scope
• Entry: N/A
• Mid: N/A
• Senior: N/A
• Type: Budget Allocation (Global Audit Function)
• Entry: N/A
• Mid: N/A
• Senior: N/A
• Type: Team Hiring, Performance & Development
• Entry: N/A
• Mid: N/A
• Senior: N/A
• Type: Significant Audit Finding Escalation & Remediation
• Entry: N/A
• Mid: N/A
• Senior: N/A
• Type: Technology & Tool Selection (Audit Function)
• Entry: N/A
• Mid: N/A
• Senior: N/A

Competency Requirements

Foundation Skills (Transferable)

At this level, your foundation skills are about strategic leadership, executive communication, and driving organisational change. You're not just solving problems; you're defining them and building the capabilities to address them across the enterprise. These are the bedrock for leading a global function.

• Category: Strategic Leadership & Vision
• Skills: Organisational Vision Setting: The ability to articulate a compelling long-term vision for the global EHS audit function that aligns with broader business objectives and sustainability goals.
• Change Leadership: Guiding the organisation through significant shifts in audit methodology, technology adoption, and risk management approaches, often against resistance.
• Executive Presence: Projecting confidence, credibility, and authority when interacting with the C-Suite, Board, and external stakeholders. This isn't just about what you say, but how you say it.
• Talent Strategy & Development: Building and nurturing a high-performing global team, including succession planning, mentorship, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Category: Executive Communication & Influence
• Skills: Board-Level Reporting & Presentation: Crafting and delivering clear, concise, and impactful presentations to the Board Audit Committee and C-Suite, translating complex technical information into strategic insights.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Persuading and gaining buy-in from senior leaders across various departments (Operations, Legal, Finance) for audit findings and recommended actions, even when they're unpopular.
• Crisis Communication (EHS): Leading communication strategies during significant environmental incidents or regulatory actions, ensuring transparent and accurate messaging to internal and external parties.
• Negotiation & Conflict Resolution: Skillfully navigating disagreements and conflicts with senior stakeholders regarding audit findings, remediation plans, or resource allocation, aiming for constructive outcomes.
• Category: Enterprise Risk Management & Governance
• Skills: Enterprise Risk Framework Integration: Understanding and integrating the EHS audit programme within the broader enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, ensuring alignment with overall company risk appetite.
• Governance & Compliance Assurance: Establishing and maintaining robust governance structures that provide assurance to the Board on the effectiveness of EHS compliance and risk controls.
• Strategic Decision-Making: Making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information, weighing complex trade-offs, and understanding the long-term implications for the business.
• Ethical Leadership: Consistently demonstrating integrity and ethical behaviour, especially when faced with pressure to compromise audit findings or compliance standards.

Functional Skills (Role-Specific Technical)

Your functional skills at this level are about the strategic application of EHS audit principles, not just the execution. You'll be designing programmes, setting standards, and providing expert guidance, rather than conducting routine audits yourself. It's about leveraging your deep knowledge to drive enterprise-wide change.

Technical Competencies

• Skill: Strategic EHS Programme Design & Optimisation
• Desc: Designing, implementing, and continuously optimising a multi-year global EHS audit programme that is risk-based, efficient, and provides comprehensive assurance across diverse operations and regulatory landscapes. This includes defining audit methodologies, protocols, and quality standards.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Integration
• Desc: Integrating EHS audit findings and insights into the company's broader ERM framework. This means understanding how environmental and safety risks interrelate with financial, operational, and reputational risks, and ensuring EHS is appropriately represented in executive risk discussions.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Board-Level EHS Reporting & Assurance
• Desc: Developing and presenting high-impact reports and dashboards to the Board Audit Committee and C-Suite on critical environmental risks, compliance performance, and the effectiveness of the EHS audit programme. You'll need to distil complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: M&A Environmental Due Diligence (EDD) Leadership
• Desc: Leading and overseeing the EHS audit aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including assessing significant environmental liabilities, estimating remediation costs, and developing post-acquisition compliance integration plans. This is high-stakes work with significant financial implications.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Global Regulatory Foresight & Impact Assessment
• Desc: Anticipating future environmental regulatory trends and policy shifts across key operating jurisdictions. You'll assess their potential impact on the business and proactively adjust the audit programme and corporate EHS strategy to mitigate emerging risks.
• Level: Advanced

Digital Tools

• Tool: EHS Management Platforms (e.g., Enablon, Intelex, Cority, Sphera)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Leading the strategic selection, implementation, and ongoing optimisation of enterprise-wide EHS platforms. You'll define data governance standards, ensure integration with other business systems, and use the platform for high-level programme oversight and reporting.
• Tool: Regulatory Intelligence Platforms (e.g., Enhesa, RegScan, Bloomberg Law: Environment)
• Level: Architect
• Usage: Setting the strategy for global regulatory monitoring. You'll use these platforms to advise leadership on emerging risks, anticipate future compliance challenges, and ensure audit protocols are proactively updated. You're not just looking up rules, you're shaping our response to them.
• Tool: Data Analysis & Visualisation (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Advanced Excel)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: Defining KPIs for the global audit programme and designing executive dashboards for board-level risk reporting. You'll use these tools to interpret enterprise-wide EHS data, identify systemic trends, and communicate insights effectively to non-technical audiences.
• Tool: GRC / Risk Platforms (e.g., ServiceNow GRC, Archer GRC, OneTrust)
• Level: Architect
• Usage: Integrating the EHS audit module with the enterprise GRC framework, ensuring a single source of truth for compliance risk across the organisation. You'll define the architecture for how EHS risks are managed and reported within the broader risk landscape.
• Tool: Board Reporting & Collaboration Tools (e.g., Diligent, BoardVantage, MS SharePoint, MS Teams)
• Level: Advanced
• Usage: Preparing and presenting summary reports and dashboards on critical environmental risks and audit outcomes for Audit Committee and Board meetings. You'll also establish enterprise-wide policies for audit record retention and legal hold procedures using collaboration platforms.

Industry Knowledge

• Area: ISO 14001 & ISO 45001 Global Programme Management
• Desc: Deep expertise in designing, implementing, and overseeing global audit programmes against ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems) standards. This includes ensuring consistent interpretation and application across diverse international sites.
• Area: International Environmental Law & Regulatory Regimes
• Desc: Comprehensive understanding of key international environmental laws and regional regulatory frameworks (e.g., EU environmental directives, US EPA regulations, national laws in APAC/LATAM). You'll need to interpret complex legal requirements and translate them into auditable criteria for a global programme.
• Area: GHG Accounting & Verification (ISO 14064, GHG Protocol)
• Desc: Expert knowledge of greenhouse gas accounting principles, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and the processes for verifying inventory data. This is critical for ensuring the integrity of our sustainability reporting and responding to investor scrutiny.
• Area: Environmental Due Diligence (EDD) Standards (e.g., ASTM E1527-13)
• Desc: In-depth knowledge of standards for Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) to identify potential environmental liabilities during mergers, acquisitions, and property transactions. You'll be leading the strategic oversight of these assessments.
• Area: Materiality Assessment & ESG Reporting Frameworks
• Desc: The ability to lead and oversee materiality assessments to identify and prioritise the organisation's most significant environmental impacts and stakeholder concerns. This also includes understanding and contributing to ESG reporting frameworks (e.g., GRI, SASB, TCFD, CSRD).

Regulatory Compliance Regulations

• Reg: Global Environmental Permitting & Licensing Regimes
• Usage: You'll oversee the audit programme's review of compliance with complex, multi-jurisdictional environmental permits and operating licences, ensuring that our sites globally are operating within legal boundaries and that any non-compliances are identified and remediated promptly. This is fundamental to our 'licence to operate'.
• Reg: International Waste Management & Circular Economy Regulations
• Usage: You'll direct the audit focus on compliance with diverse international waste management regulations (hazardous, non-hazardous, WEEE, packaging waste) and emerging circular economy principles. This includes ensuring proper waste classification, storage, transport, and disposal across all operations.
• Reg: Chemical Management & Product Compliance (e.g., REACH, RoHS, TSCA equivalents)
• Usage: You'll ensure the audit programme assesses compliance with global chemical management regulations (e.g., REACH, RoHS, TSCA, GHS) related to the use, storage, and handling of chemicals in our operations and products. This is crucial for product safety and market access.
• Reg: Water & Wastewater Discharge Regulations (Global)
• Usage: You'll oversee the audit programme's review of compliance with local and international regulations governing water abstraction, wastewater discharge, and storm water management. This includes ensuring proper monitoring, treatment, and reporting to prevent pollution incidents and fines.
• Reg: Air Emissions & Climate Change Regulations (Global)
• Usage: You'll direct the audit programme's assessment of compliance with air emissions permits, greenhouse gas reporting requirements, and other climate change-related regulations. This is increasingly critical for both compliance and our broader sustainability goals.

Essential Prerequisites

• Extensive experience (12+ years) leading and managing complex EHS audit programmes across multiple international jurisdictions.
• Demonstrable experience in managing and developing a team of senior audit professionals.
• Proven track record of presenting to and influencing executive leadership and Board-level committees.
• Deep expertise in ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 audit methodologies and programme management.
• Significant experience with enterprise-level EHS management platforms and GRC systems.
• A strong understanding of financial implications related to environmental liabilities and compliance costs.

Career Pathway Context

To step into this Director role, you'll typically have come from a Lead International Environmental Auditor or International Environmental Audit Manager position, or perhaps a senior EHS consultancy role with significant programme management experience. You'll have already proven your ability to manage complex audit programmes, lead teams, and engage with senior stakeholders. This isn't a first-time leadership role; it's about scaling your impact to an enterprise level.

Qualifications & Credentials

Emerging Foundation Skills

• Skill: ESG Reporting & Assurance Standards
• Why: Investors, regulators (e.g., CSRD in the EU), and customers are increasingly demanding robust, assured environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data. Our EHS audit programme needs to evolve to provide assurance not just on compliance, but on the integrity of our broader ESG disclosures. This isn't going away; it's becoming mandatory.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)', 'description': 'Understanding the requirements for double materiality assessments and detailed sustainability reporting under EU law, and how our audit function will verify this data.'}, {'concept_name': 'Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)', 'description': 'Knowledge of TCFD recommendations for reporting climate-related risks and opportunities, and how audits can assess the robustness of climate strategies.'}, {'concept_name': 'International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards', 'description': 'Familiarity with the emerging global baseline for sustainability disclosures and how they will impact our reporting and assurance needs.'}, {'concept_name': 'Assurance Standards for ESG Data (e.g., ISAE 3000)', 'description': 'Understanding the principles and requirements for providing independent assurance on non-financial information, which is different from traditional compliance auditing.'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Attend a webinar or workshop on CSRD and ISSB standards. Get a basic understanding.
• Next 3 months: Review our current ESG report and identify areas where EHS audit could provide greater assurance.
• Next 6 months: Engage with our Finance and Sustainability teams to understand their current ESG data collection and reporting processes.
• Next 12 months: Develop a strategic plan for integrating ESG assurance requirements into the global EHS audit programme, including training for your team.
• QuickWin: Start reading relevant industry publications on ESG trends and investor expectations. Have initial conversations with your Sustainability and Investor Relations counterparts to understand their biggest ESG data challenges today.
• Skill: Climate Risk & Adaptation Strategy Auditing
• Why: Climate change poses both physical risks (e.g., extreme weather impacting operations) and transitional risks (e.g., carbon pricing, supply chain shifts). Our audit programme needs to assess how well the business is identifying, managing, and adapting to these risks, ensuring our resilience and long-term viability. This is a critical area for board-level concern.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Physical Climate Risks', 'description': 'Understanding how to audit the assessment and mitigation of risks like floods, droughts, heatwaves, and sea-level rise on our facilities and supply chain.'}, {'concept_name': 'Transitional Climate Risks', 'description': 'Knowledge of how to audit the impact of policy changes (e.g., carbon taxes), technology shifts, and market changes related to decarbonisation on our business strategy.'}, {'concept_name': 'Climate Scenario Analysis', 'description': "Understanding how to audit the robustness of the company's climate scenario planning and its implications for long-term investments and operational resilience."}, {'concept_name': 'Nature-Based Solutions & Biodiversity Auditing', 'description': 'Emerging focus on auditing the effectiveness of nature-based solutions and biodiversity protection initiatives as part of climate adaptation and broader environmental stewardship.'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Review reports from the IPCC and relevant industry bodies on climate risk assessments for our sector.
• Next 3 months: Work with our Risk Management team to understand how climate risks are currently identified and assessed at an enterprise level.
• Next 6 months: Develop initial audit criteria for assessing climate risk management plans at our most vulnerable sites.
• Next 12 months: Pilot a 'climate resilience' audit at one or two key facilities, focusing on both physical and transitional risks.
• QuickWin: Identify 2-3 key operational sites that are most exposed to physical climate risks (e.g., coastal, water-stressed regions) and start thinking about what an audit of their climate adaptation plans might look like.

Advancing Technical Skills

• Skill: AI-Powered Predictive Auditing & Risk Scoring
• Why: The shift from reactive to proactive auditing is critical. AI allows us to move beyond scheduled audits to continuous monitoring and predictive risk identification. As Director, you'll need to understand how to design, implement, and govern these systems to maximise their impact and ensure data integrity.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Machine Learning Models for Anomaly Detection', 'description': 'Understanding the principles behind using ML to identify unusual patterns in EHS data that could indicate emerging risks or non-compliance.'}, {'concept_name': 'Risk Scoring Algorithms', 'description': 'Knowledge of how to design and validate algorithms that assign risk scores to sites, processes, or compliance areas, enabling dynamic audit scheduling.'}, {'concept_name': 'Data Governance for AI', 'description': 'Ensuring the quality, security, and ethical use of data fed into AI systems, and understanding the implications of algorithmic bias in audit findings.'}, {'concept_name': 'Integration with EHS & GRC Platforms', 'description': 'How to seamlessly integrate AI capabilities into existing EHS management and GRC systems to create a unified risk intelligence platform.'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Research leading vendors in AI for EHS and predictive analytics. Understand what's possible.
• Next 3 months: Work with your data science or IT teams to explore internal data sources that could be used for predictive risk scoring.
• Next 6 months: Develop a pilot project for AI-driven risk scoring for a specific region or EHS topic, defining clear success metrics.
• Next 12 months: Oversee the full-scale implementation of a predictive auditing module within your EHS management platform, ensuring robust governance.
• QuickWin: Identify one specific, high-volume EHS dataset (e.g., incident reports, emissions data) and explore how simple anomaly detection algorithms could flag unusual patterns. This is about starting small and learning.

Education Requirements

• Level: Minimum
• Req: A Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, or a closely related scientific or technical field.
• Alts: We're pragmatic. If you've got exceptional, demonstrable experience (20+ years) in leading global EHS audit programmes and a proven track record of executive-level influence, we'd consider an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Level: Preferred
• Req: A Master's degree (e.g., MBA, MSc in Environmental Management, LLM in Environmental Law) or a relevant professional doctorate.
• Alts: A Master's shows a dedication to advanced learning and strategic thinking, which is valuable here. However, practical, high-level experience often trumps a specific degree.

Experience Requirements

You'll need roughly 16-20 years of progressive experience in environmental, health, and safety roles, with a significant portion (at least 10 years) specifically focused on leading and managing global EHS audit and assurance programmes. This isn't a role for someone who hasn't already managed large teams and presented to executive-level stakeholders. We're looking for someone who has genuinely 'been there, done that' at a strategic level.

Preferred Certifications

• Cert: Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv)
• Prod: Society for the Environment (via various professional bodies)
• Usage: Demonstrates a high level of environmental expertise and commitment to professional standards, adding significant credibility in executive and external engagements.
• Cert: NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
• Prod: NEBOSH
• Usage: Provides a robust foundation in occupational health and safety management, crucial for overseeing a comprehensive EHS audit programme.
• Cert: Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Prod: The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
• Usage: Shows a deep understanding of general auditing principles, risk management, and governance, which is highly transferable to the EHS domain at a strategic level.
• Cert: Relevant GRC Platform Certifications (e.g., ServiceNow GRC, Archer GRC)
• Prod: Platform Vendors
• Usage: Demonstrates practical expertise in managing and integrating EHS audit data within enterprise-level Governance, Risk, and Compliance systems, which is increasingly important for strategic oversight.

Recommended Activities

• Regularly attending international EHS regulatory conferences and industry forums to stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices.
• Participating in executive leadership development programmes focused on strategic influence, change management, and global team leadership.
• Engaging with professional networks (e.g., IEMA, IIA) to share insights and learn from peers in similar global roles.
• Undertaking advanced training in ESG reporting standards (e.g., CSRD, ISSB) and climate risk assessment methodologies.
• Mentoring junior talent within the EHS and audit functions, contributing to the development of future leaders.

Career Progression Pathways

Entry Paths to This Role

• Path: Lead International Environmental Auditor / International Environmental Audit Manager
• Time: You'd typically spend 4-8 years in these roles, demonstrating exceptional leadership, programme management, and strategic influence across multiple regions.
• Path: Senior EHS Manager (Global/Regional)
• Time: Roughly 5-10 years in a senior operational EHS management role, with a strong emphasis on compliance assurance and risk mitigation across a large business unit.
• Path: EHS Consultancy Partner / Principal Consultant
• Time: Typically 8-15 years in a leading EHS consultancy, advising multinational clients on global EHS audit programmes, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Career Progression From This Role

• Pathway: VP, Global EHS & Sustainability (Level 7)
• Time: After 3-5 years as Director, Global EHS Audits & Assurance, assuming strong performance and a clear strategic impact.
• Pathway: Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
• Time: A longer-term aspiration, typically 5-8 years after this role, potentially with an interim step in a broader risk management leadership position.

Long Term Vision Potential Roles

• Title: Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
• Time: 7-10 years
• Title: Board Member (Non-Executive Director - EHS/Sustainability Focus)
• Time: 10-15 years
• Title: Independent EHS/ESG Consultant & Advisor
• Time: 5-10 years

How Zavmo Delivers This Role's Development

DISCOVER Phase: Skills Gap Analysis

Zavmo maps your current competencies against all requirements in this job description through conversational assessment. We evaluate your foundation skills (communication, strategic thinking), functional skills (CRM expertise, negotiation), and readiness for career progression.

Output: Personalised skills gap heat map showing strengths and priorities, estimated time to competency, neurodiversity accommodations.

DISCUSS Phase: Personalised Learning Pathway

Based on your DISCOVER results, Zavmo creates a personalised learning plan prioritised by impact: foundation skills first, then functional skills. We adapt to your learning style, pace, and neurodiversity needs (ADHD, dyslexia, autism).

Output: Week-by-week schedule, each module linked to specific job responsibilities, checkpoints and milestones.

DELIVER Phase: Conversational Learning

Learn through conversation, not boring modules. Zavmo uses 10 conversation types (Socratic dialogue, role-play, coaching, case studies) to build competence. Practice difficult QBR presentations, negotiate tough renewals, and handle churn conversations in a safe AI environment before facing real clients.

Example: "For 'Stakeholder Mapping', Zavmo will guide you through analysing a complex enterprise account, identifying key decision-makers, and building an engagement strategy."

DEMONSTRATE Phase: Competency Assessment

Zavmo automatically builds your evidence portfolio as you learn. Every conversation, practice scenario, and application example is captured and mapped to NOS performance criteria. When ready, your portfolio supports OFQUAL qualification claims and demonstrates competence to employers.

Output: Competency matrix, evidence portfolio (downloadable), qualification readiness, career progression score.