Senior Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety

Job description

About the role The Senior Vice President of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) provides executive leadership across a rapidly expanding global footprint of AI and hyperscale data center construction and operations. This role is responsible for building and scaling an EHS strategy that protects people, infrastructure, and communities while enabling fast, disciplined growth. This leader will focus heavily on mitigating high-consequence electrical risks associated with high-voltage substation grid connections, low-voltage server infrastructure, critical infrastructure commissioning, and rapid capacity deployment. The role requires deep technical credibility in electrical safety and the ability to lead in environments where uptime, commissioning schedules, and construction execution are all mission critical. This leader will partner closely with Engineering, Design, Project Execution, Operations, and executive leadership to embed safety into the full lifecycle of development and operations. This includes concurrent operations where major construction activity overlaps with live, energized data center environments, as well as environmental compliance obligations tied to power generation, water use, refrigerants, and acoustics. Success in this role requires a highly strategic and hands-on leader who can govern large contractor populations, deploy predictive analytics, lead crisis response, and drive root cause discipline across a global infrastructure platform. The VP of EHS will ensure regulatory compliance and operational rigor without creating bottlenecks to speed-to-market objectives. This position will be based in our Austin, Castle Rock or Denver office. Relocation assistance is available for non-local candidates. What you'll do Establish and lead enterprise EHS strategy, standards, and governance for AI, hyperscale data center, and crypto mining construction and operations across a growing footprint. Set world-class electrical safety standards covering NFPA 70E, arc flash mitigation, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), energized work controls, and high-voltage/low-voltage switching procedures to reduce high-consequence risk. Oversee EHS governance for high-voltage utility substations, generator yards, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and specialized AI server environments that include high-density liquid cooling systems and chemical refrigerants. Direct EHS frameworks for concurrent operations where heavy civil construction overlaps with live, energized facilities, ensuring compliance across both construction and general industry environments. Lead contractor qualification, onboarding, auditing, incident tracking, and corrective action management for thousands of third-party general contractors and trade partners supporting rapid capacity deployment. Partner with Engineering and Design teams to embed design-for-safety principles and automated safety controls into modular, repeatable data center blueprints, commissioning plans, and deployment workflows. Drive environmental permitting and compliance for diesel backup generator emissions, large-scale water utilization, refrigerant and chemical management, and acoustic dampening requirements across applicable jurisdictions. Deploy predictive analytics and EHS technology platforms to monitor leading indicators, present TRIR, DART, and high-potential near-miss trends to executive leadership, and lead crisis response, root cause investigations, and prevention plans for critical incidents. What you'll bring Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Safety Engineering, Occupational Health & Safety, or a related technical field required . Master’s degree (MS or MBA) preferred. Certified Safety Professional (CSP) required. Professional electrical engineering licensure or deep technical training in NFPA 70E and OSHA electrical standards preferred. 18+ years of progressive EHS leadership experience in high-risk, asset-heavy technical environments. At least 5 years leading global EHS programs within hyperscale data centers, semiconductor fabrication plants, critical energy infrastructure, or similarly complex technical environments. Demonstrated experience managing EHS programs for multi-gigawatt, multi-billion-dollar global construction portfolios. Strong technical authority and the ability to credibly audit, challenge, and collaborate with electrical engineers, commissioning teams, utility partners, and operations leaders. Exceptional leadership, communication, and crisis management skills, with experience presenting metrics and risk insights to executive leadership and driving cross-functional accountability. Ability to thrive in hyper-growth, high-pressure environments with evolving AI technologies, changing design standards, and travel requirements of up to 40%. Compensation and Benefits Competitive Salary: $300,000 - $350,000 base (commensurate with experience) + bonus + sign-on equity grant. Long-Term Growth: Eligible to participate in Riot’s equity incentive programs and share in the success you help build. 401(k) Retirement Plan: Incudes a generous company match. Comprehensive Health Coverage: Multiple medical plan options, including 100% company-paid plans. Wellness & Lifestyle Perks: Enjoy free gym memberships, pet insurance, childcare discounts, and more to support your life both in and out of work. Riot is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. #LI-YT1 About Riot Platforms Riot’s (NASDAQ: RIOT) vision is to be the world’s most trusted platform for powering and building digital infrastructure. Riot’s mission is to empower the future of digital infrastructure by positively impacting the sectors, networks, and communities that we touch. We believe that the combination of an innovative spirit and strong community partnership allows us to achieve best-in-class execution and create successful outcomes. Who we are At Riot, we’re building the future of digital infrastructure. Our team members have unparalleled opportunities to work on groundbreaking initiatives. Through technical excellence and strategic execution, Riot has positioned itself as a leader in the industry driving advancements that continue to set new benchmarks in digital infrastructure. We are trailblazers. Problem solvers. People who thrive in fast paced environments, communicate clearly, and bring relentless focus to efficiency and execution.