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ASSISTANT VP, OCC & ENV SAFETY

Job Title: ASSISTANT VP, OCC & ENV SAFETY
Job Code: 5604
FLSA: E
Job Level: K1
Revised Date: 11/18/2019
Supervisory Responsibility: Yes

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General Description of the Job Class

Reporting to Executive Vice President of Duke University and the Vice President for Administration, DUHS, the Director of OESO will provide strategic direction for and leadership of a comprehensive environmental health and safety program at Duke University. The Director will work with the University leadership to assure that environmental health and safety risks are rigorously monitored and addressed. Duties include program planning, policy development and review, operations improvement, effectiveness monitoring, and incident reporting and monitoring. This position is responsible for all aspects of safety at Duke University and the Duke University Health System including industrial hygiene, general safety, biological safety, environmental programs, hazardous waste management, ergonomics, radiation safety, and fire safety. The position carries an expectation of an academic appointment and is expected to participate in teaching and research in addition to administrative duties.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

Accountable for developing and directing a responsible institution-wide program with respect to preserving the environment and protecting the health and safety of faculty, staff, patients, visitors, and students.

Maintain a current and comprehensive knowledge of regulatory and safety standards and requirements; engage OESO and related units in regular self-audits and enterprise-wide risk assessments; keep University leadership apprised of regulatory issues and environmental health and safety risks and engage University leadership in decisions to address issues and risks in an effective and timely manner.

Balance the financial goals of the institution with the external regulations by providing oversight and control of the OESO annual budget, including: expenditures, staff salaries, staff development, purchases, equipment purchases, and OESO facilities maintenance.

Use the best available scientific evidence and judgment to develop, implement, and promote policies, procedures, and practices necessary to maintain a safe and healthy environment for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the surrounding community and ensure that University operations are in compliance with relevant local, federal, and state environmental health and safety codes and regulations.

Develop and/or implement programs which deal with the investigation and prevention of accidents; risk management and loss control; driving safety; emergency preparedness; identification, analysis and correction of safety hazards and/or safety code deficiencies; design of hazard control measures such as machine guards and use of protective equipment as well as training programs specifically related to these areas.

Advise the Architect Offices and Maintenance functions on the design, construction and maintenance of structures and infrastructure systems as they relate to environmental, health and safety issues.

Serve as a key liaison between the University and the Durham community with regard to environmental health and safety issues; coordinate reviews, inquiries, and audits by external agencies and oversee the University???s response to findings of reviews, inquiries, and audits; represent the University, as appropriate, in communications and interactions with federal and state regulatory agencies.

Serve on and/or provides guidance and administrative assistance to the following Institute committees: Duke University Safety Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Institutional Biosafety Research Committee, Radiation Safety Committees, Compliance Coordinating Committee, and the Institute Animal Care & Use Committee. Serve as the Safety Officer for Duke University Hospital and coordinate the Joint Commission Environment of Care compliance programs for Duke University Health System.

Collaborate with other university departments and units to ensure that policies and procedures are disseminated and understood, that roles and responsibilities are appropriately delegated and executed, and that health and safety initiatives are aligned with the University???s missions and goals and coordinated with University activities.

Establish programs to preserve and protect the environment and the health of employees by correcting and improving various areas of environmental concerns. Conduct independent research on the organization???s environmental problems to establish a basis for program changes and improvement.

Establish prevention programs to identify and reduce risk from potential hazards in the workplace.

Ensure compliance with all standards promulgated by all Federal, State and local agencies through developing and implementing on-site inspection and monitoring programs at all appropriate work-site locations.

Keep abreast of pending regulatory development through reference sources and participation in the development or refinement of these regulations as a representative of the University or national professional organizations.

Develop a consensus position within an organization climate of diverse operational activities and often conflicting regulations proposed by agencies with regulatory jurisdiction.

Ensure that the OESO staff are appropriately prepared and organized to participate emergency response situations.

Provide leadership direction to the OESO Senior Management team. Ensure appropriate supervision and professional development of a staff and ensure appropriate delegation of OESO assignments and responsibilities.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

Doctoral degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering or other physical science.

Experience

7 years of progressive experience in an environmental health and safety field.

Advanced knowledge and experience in managing safety programs in an academic medical center, health system, and academic campus.

Extensive knowledge of regulations, guidance, and standards related to all aspects of Environmental Health and Safety.

Demonstrated experience in conducting compliance reviews, documenting and analyzing results to provide recommendations for improvements.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

N/A

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Exemplary written and verbal communication skills, the ability to analyze and address complex issues and exercise sound judgment, and the ability to independently draft and prepare advanced level technical reports and presentations.

Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the abilities to create a productive and positive team environment, to effectively address and resolve conflicts, and to create and communicate a strategic direction.

Distinguishing Characteristics of this Level

N/A


The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.


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Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.