Senior Manager, Building Safety Program

About the Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Manager for the Building Safety Program supervises and directs the Building Safety Program for laboratory buildings on the Northeastern Boston campus through oversight of building safety staff members embedded in laboratory buildings in support of academic and research safety. Facilitates, assesses, and promotes an enhanced culture of safety and healthy working environment in buildings with research and teaching labs, makerspaces, and shops on the Boston campus. Serves as the emergency action planning officer, providing guidance in the development and implementation of emergency action plans and emergency response at the building level, in coordination with emergency management leaders.

Oversees and contributes to the day-to-day activities assigned to the Safety Managers embedded in Boston campus laboratory buildings, who are responsible for facilitating building-wide compliance with applicable regulatory standards associated with laboratory operations. Serves as critical team member in the development and implementation of building wide compliance initiatives to include, maintaining resilient Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ) compliance defined in fire/building code, leading building-level inspection initiatives and tracking corrective actions, contributing to lab design and construction/renovation projects, and supporting ongoing lab registrations with the City of Boston. In coordination with the Assistant Director, this position will be a liaison for regulatory permitting and response actions associated with laboratory operations (e.g., Boston Fire Department, Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, Department of Environmental Protection, etc.).

Assists principal investigators and lab personnel with risk assessments, hazard analysis, safety inspections, and promotes safe work practices for lab processes in the areas of chemical, biological, radiation, and physical safety. Helps stakeholders develop procedures and strategies to mitigate laboratory safety hazards in assigned buildings during normal operations, shutdown conditions, and emergencies. Visit all laboratory buildings on a regular basis and be familiar with lab operations in each building to provide effective mentorship, oversight, and support across all areas of the Building Safety Program. 

The position will supervise support staff, contract vendors, co-op students, or other help when made available for assigned projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge and skills required for this position are normally obtained through a Bachelor’s degree required in one of the physical sciences, materials science, life sciences, environmental science, engineering, process safety engineering, occupational safety, or other applicable degree with 8-10 years’ demonstrated work experience in meeting EHS requirements in a laboratory setting.
• Preferred qualifications include a Master’s degree or higher in one of the above and a background in laboratory research and environmental health and safety (EHS) compliance in laboratories. 
• Demonstrated success in management of programs, projects, and people. Preferred experience includes employment within higher education, hazardous material management, emergency planning, laboratory process safety, and high hazard environments or processes.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local regulatory standards that apply to laboratory operations.
• Proficiency in use of a personal computer and current software applications.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal skills to effectively coordinate and adapt for various audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse population and foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Effective problem solving and organizational skills and time and project management skills, including planning, prioritizing, and scheduling multiple ongoing projects and team members to work independently or in coordination as needed.
• Ability to understand and interpret complex written regulations and technical reports.
• Experience conducting inspections and interpreting and applying technical regulations and standards.
• Experience identifying hazards, assessing risk, and recommending safety controls and corrective actions.
• Experience assisting with laboratory emergencies, including gas releases and spill remediation.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize unsafe conditions or dangerous situations and respond appropriately.
• Physical requirements include being medically qualified to wear respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment. Lifting up to 50 lbs and moving up to 500 lbs of materials using rolling carts or drum carts. Work areas include a variety of