The Chemical Safety Assistant Director is part of the Environmental Health and Safety Department within the Facilities organization at Vanderbilt University and is a key leader responsible for developing, launching and managing a new research chemical safety and hazardous waste management program for the VU research enterprise. The Chemical Safety Assistant Director will act as the university’s Chemical Hygiene Officer and will report directly to the Environmental Health and Safety director.
The Chemical Safety Assistant Director will be responsible for providing innovative, strategic, and tactical leadership for a comprehensive laboratory chemical safety, industrial hygiene, and hazardous waste management program providing a safe work environment for all VU research community members who use hazardous chemicals, preventing loss of life and injury to faculty, staff, students, and visitors, protecting the environment, and protecting VU property. The program impacts the teaching and research mission of the university, the university community, and the operations of Facilities. The Chemical Safety Assistant Director has oversight and lead responsibility for university compliance to applicable laws and regulations and key hazardous waste, chemical safety and industrial hygiene implementation programs with a laboratory focus, including transitioning the activities of VUMC’s Office of Clinical and Research Safety which currently manages the chemical safety and hazardous waste management functions in support of VU activities. The Chemical Safety Assistant Director also supports the activities of the Chemical Safety Committee and might serve on multiple other committees such as workplace safety committee, risk management committee, etc. The Chemical Safety Assistant Director maintains extensive and frequent interaction with university research faculty, staff and students, members of the national chemical safety and industrial hygiene community; representatives of federal, State, and local agencies who have a vested interest in chemical safety issues; and the university community.
Facilities provides facilities support for all construction, renovation, and routine maintenance of University space and facilities; housekeeping services for approximately 5.8 million square feet of academic, administrative, residential, and recreational space; grounds care for 330 acres that are a registered arboretum; turf care for athletic fields; and utilities for the University Central and the Medical Center.
Facilities annual budget exceeds $100 million in operating expenses and includes over 400 employees. It manages major capital project expenditures totaling ~$125 million annually and facility renewal, replacement and large maintenance project expenditures totaling ~$20 million annually. The Facilities Business Operations Center provides support to the entire department, specifically regarding the areas of Finance, Employee Relations, Systems, Contracts and General Administration.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Act as the university’s subject matter expert in relation to hazardous chemical materials. Collaboratively develop vision, mission, budget, policies, procedures and key performance indicators for laboratory chemical safety and hazardous waste management at Vanderbilt. Establish relationship with VUMC OCRS to transition chemical safety and hazardous waste management functions to VU management including chemical safety committee support, chemical inventories, space tracking, user group training and management, inspections, medical surveillance tracking, hazardous waste collection and packaging program, and collaborates on any emergency response needs. Manages external relationships with the Environmental Protection Agency, TN Department of Environment and Conservation, TN Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration, etc. Ensure regulatory and audit findings are timely and effectively addressed. Develop opportunities for improvement in current chemical safety and hazardous waste services, faculty support processes, training, and information systems. Ensure effective and effective chemical safety and hazardous waste training modules are assigned to appropriate VU faculty, staff and students in Oracle Learn and regulatory-required completion data is tracked and reported appropriately . Support VU Facilities projects which require chemical safety, hazardous waste, toxic gas management, and industrial hygiene guidance. Set chemical safety and hazardous waste management service standards to meet customer and administrative expectations. Identify and implement best practices and corrective actions across the laboratory biological safety continuum that develop and support a safety culture, continuously improve systems and services, support the needs of VU researchers, and ensure compliance with complex and rapidly changing federal, state, regional, and local laws and accreditation requirements. Support laboratory staff in assessment and selection of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. Develop standard operating procedures for laboratory operations to manage high hazard operations that might include toxic gases, explosives, select carcinogens, highly reactive materials, and other particularly hazardous substances. Serves as a technical expert to support any emergency response needs. Participate in the on-call schedule. Collaborate with VUMC, Vanderbilt University Public Safety, and VU Facilities to develop effective emergency response plans for VU laboratories.
Supervisory Relationships :
This position has supervisory responsibility which includes up to 4 VU staff as well as subcontractor management; this position reports administratively and functionally to EHS Director.
Qualifications:
A Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, environmental engineering or health, chemistry, industrial hygiene, safety or other related technical specialty is required, a master’s degree is preferred. 5 years experience in EHS functions including at least 2 years experience in a supervisory position is required, 8-10 years is preferred. Certification as a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) is preferred. Other certifications considered. Direct experience with toxic gases, toxic gas management, and nanoscience/nanotechnology research is preferred.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.
Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.