Program Manager, Research Chemical Safety and Assistant CHO

The Program Manager for Research Chemical Safety and Assistant Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) is part of the Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability (EHSS) organization at Vanderbilt University. The individual will collaborate with a broad range of research stakeholders including staff, faculty, students, postdocs, leadership, external regulators, and other stakeholders in furthering environmental health and safety goals and initiatives for the VU community. They will support the development and implementation of EHSS goals, requirements, expectations, and strategic initiatives for research chemical and physical safety. This work directly impacts the teaching and research mission and vision of the university. Additionally, the Program Manager will support compliance with all applicable safety and environmentally related laws, regulations, and granting agency expectations. The individual also supports the activities of university safety governance committees and might serve on multiple committees in the university as a representative of EHSS. They will suggest best practices gathered from peer institutions, stay abreast of safety and compliance developments related to their expertise, and continuously improve EHSS support to the university community with evidence-based research. They will support the success of a high-performing organization by championing and driving efficiency and effectiveness using safety informatics and metrics, databases, software, and technology.

 

About the Work Unit:

Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability is part of the Facilities organization and consists of research-centric safety services and university sustainability and resiliency leadership. EHSS is a 20-member team that supports a top-13 world-class research university with a community of 27,000 faculty, staff and students on 12 million square feet of academic, administrative, residential, and recreational space on 330 acres in downtown Nashville, TN. 

 

Duties and Responsibilties:

• Collaborate with EHSS leadership and a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to implement and continuously improve goals and initiatives in furthering research environmental health and safety. Engage and collaborate to provide support, education and outreach, while building productive relationships across the organization.
• Lead the research chemical and physical safety team as well as various projects and initiatives. Ensure initiatives are grounded in areas of expertise, best practices, technical feasibility, and evidence-based research. 
• Develop and report on key performance indicators and progress dashboards.
• Support the university community with compliance with all applicable safety and environmentally related laws, regulations, and granting agency expectations. Continuously review and maintain comprehensive knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and expectations. Stay abreast of and adopt best practices of peer institutions.
• Contribute to development of policy and procedural documents intended to address existing and emerging EHSS needs.
• Design, implement, and manage outreach, educational, and training materials for EHSS areas of expertise.
• Possibly serve as a representative of EHSS or assist with the management of multiple committees, presentations, panels and other engagement activities. 
• Provide technical expert guidance to researchers on EHSS focus areas and support emergency response needs as appropriate.
• Drive efficiency and effectiveness using safety informatics, metrics, databases, software and technology. 
• Adhere to EHSS standards to meet customer and administrative expectations.
• Provide leadership and management of work planning and completion for chemical and physical safety staff.
• Additional job responsibilities as needed and specific to area of expertise and focus in EHSS.

 

Supervisory Relationships:

This position will report to the Associate Director for Chemical Safety. This position will initially supervise three staff members and serve in a lead role on projects and activities carried out to support EHSS service efforts.   

 

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field and/or other related technical specialty is strongly preferred; a baccalaureate degree is required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience with a master’s degree in a role with principal responsibility in a research safety environment, minimum 8 years’ experience with a bachelor’s degree. 
• Certification as a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is required. Other certifications preferred, such as Certified Hazardous