Environmental Social Governance Senior Director

Join the world's largest HVAC company!

Daikin Applied is seeking a Senior Director of Environmental Social Governance! In this position, you are responsible for leading the strategic direction and execution of Daikin Applied Americas’ corporate EHS and ESG programs. This role partners with executive leadership, site and district operations, and global EHS/ESG stakeholders to ensure compliance with all applicable local, regional, and federal regulations, while embedding a culture of safety and environmental stewardship across the organization. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: Hybrid - Plymouth, MN

What you will do: 

• Strategic Leadership & Integration: Lead the development and execution of enterprise-wide ESG strategies aligned with Daikin Applied Americas’ long-term business goals. Integrate safety, environmental, and sustainability considerations into strategic planning, operations, and risk management practices.
• Enterprise Sustainability Leadership: Champion corporate sustainability initiatives and environmental stewardship. Guide sites in developing and achieving sustainability goals, ensuring alignment with Daikin Industries Limited environmental and ESG commitments.
• Policies and Procedures: Develop and implement corporate ESG policy and procedures. Assist business leadership with the development, monitoring and enforcing of specific written environmental, health and safety policies and/or practices to augment legal requirements and corporate policies and practices.
• Leadership: Lead other ESG professional/s of the organization. This individual must deliver feedback, provide guidance, and assist leadership in creation of plans for their team.
• Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Direct the ESG components of due diligence, integration, and post-merger alignment for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Manage legacy environmental risks and ensure full compliance of acquired entities with Daikin’s ESG standards.
• ESG Governance & Reporting: Support enterprise wide ESG governance, strategy, and data transparency. Align environmental, social, and governance initiatives with global frameworks such as DIL Sustainability Goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Lead ESG materiality assessments and reporting processes following GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Sustainability Program.
• Executive and Board Reporting: Present ESG metrics, risk trends, and strategic updates to Daikin Applied Americas Executive Safety and Environmental Committee and executive leadership. Represent corporate ESG in cross-functional leadership meetings and strategic planning sessions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate across departments such as Legal, HR, Real Estate, Engineering, Finance, Compliance, Sales & Marketing, and Operations to embed EHS and ESG principles into business practices, including capital project reviews, product design, facility upgrades, and workforce planning.
• External Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a senior corporate liaison with industry organizations, regulators, and third-party stakeholders to promote best practices, influence ESG regulations, and enhance Daikin’s external ESG profile.
• Enterprise Risk Management: Support enterprise risk identification and mitigation by contributing EHS and ESG insights to company-wide risk assessments. Proactively identify emerging risks and lead cross-functional mitigation planning.
• Auditing & Assurance: Design and implement internal EHS/ESG auditing frameworks. Oversee third-party audits and support corrective action programs across all business functions, including manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, sales, quality, marketing, finance, and compliance.
• Incident Investigation: Lead the review and performance of severe incident investigations to ensure prompt corrective action is taken to minimize company exposure to future incidents and provide a legal record when needed.
• Industrial Hygiene Program: Sets strategy for and leads development of an industrial hygiene program to monitor and control personal and general work area exposures at sites / districts. Examples include noise, heat stress, ergonomics, chemical exposure and radiation.
• Inspection and Control: Monitor, review and evaluate sites / districts exposure to risk of injury and loss. Inform and assist executive management in taking action as necessary towards prevention and control.
• Training: Sets strategy for and develops effective EH&S training Programs for all DAA corporate and factory sites. As needed, leads delivery of training to employees of all required environmental, health and safety programs.
• Knowledge of Regulations: Maintain knowledge of local, state and federal environmental, health and safety laws and regulations by attending seminars classes and training annually.
• Development of Metrics: Develop and implement a program/system to track required metrics for reporting and monitor performance for continuous improvement.
• Daikin Industries Limited ESG Liaison: Work with DIL in the implementation and tracking of ESG items including corporate metrics, programs, policies, and procedures.
• Address IDLH (immediate danger to life and health) by protecting employees by implementing immediate fixes including, but not limited to, removing equipment from service, stopping production and work stoppage.
• Governmental Liaison: Serves as the secondary contact between local government agencies for ESG concerns. This includes, but not limited to permitting, tracking, inspections, and reporting.
• Organizational Culture & Change Management: Drive continuous improvement in ESG culture through effective change management, employee engagement, and communication strategies that reinforce safety, ethical governance, and environmental stewardship as core organizational values.
• Other Tasks: Perform other assigned tasks associated with environmental, health and safety activities

What’s in it for you:  

• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our best

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 4 Year Bachelor's Degree in or Equivalent in Engineering, Environmental, Safety, or Industrial Hygiene discipline undergrad degree
• Certificate CSP, CHMM, Certified Sustainability Professional or equivalent
• 12+ years related experience; including 8+ years people leadership experience
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Environmental, Safety, or Industrial Hygiene discipline undergrad degree
• 15+ years related experience; including 10+ years people leadership experience

Benefits:

• Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: 
• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance  
• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions
• Company provided life insurance + optional employee paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage and voluntary accident coverage
• Short term and long term disability
• 3 weeks of paid time off for new employees + 11 company paid holidays
• Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state and local law requires a faster accrual
• Paid sick time in accordance of the federal, state and local law
• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $142,600.00 - $250,900.00 + 30% bonus in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements, including verification of employment history, education, background screening, and drug testing where permitted by law. Safety-sensitive positions may require cannabis (marijuana) testing. All testing and employment decisions will comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied!