The purpose of the Environmental Health and Safety Office is to provide a variety of related services to the University’s administrative and academic departments, student programs, and facilities. These services include risk assessment (e.g., hazard analysis, risk identification, loss control safety measures, etc.) to prevent and/or reduce the loss of lives, resources, and property.

The primary purpose of the position is to serve as the Director of Environmental Health and Safety for North Carolina Central University in order to provide operational management of the University’s environmental health & safety program. Responsibilities include development, implementation and maintenance of the program’s strategies and initiatives; serving as a liaison with University departments and committees regarding environmental health and safety concerns; conducting university-wide risk management assessment; and supervising the department’s employees and and related program activities. The position will report to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management.

• Broad and significant technical knowledge of the principles of EHS program management to assess, interpret and coordinate the University’s administration and application of relevant policies, regulations and laws promulgated from oversight agencies (e.g., OSHA, EPA, NIMS, etc.) requirements.
• Thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of analytical, technical and professional knowledge as applied to environmental health and safety situations that may occur in a University setting.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures, industry standards, trends, and best practices.
• Knowledge of the principles of industrial hygiene including recognition, evaluation and control of recognized hazards to assess hazardous chemical, biological, and radiological situations.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and management; incident investigation and loss prevention.
• Knowledge of continuous quality improvement and/or Six Sigma modeling to effectively administer EHS projects and programs.
• Knowledge and ability to communicate effectively with an educationally and culturally diverse community of individuals and groups in a variety of settings to explain and convey program and technical information in accordance with the audience’s capability to understand; including the ability to provide technically accurate and succinct briefings in oral, written, or presentation formats.
• Knowledge and ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with state agencies, local municipalities; and University leadership, employees, and constituents.
• Capable of supervising professional employees in the administration of EHS program objectives based upon such factors as need for immediate action, work objectives schedules, available resources, knowledge of trends and future needs, etc.
• Knowledge and ability to comprehend and make inferences from a broad range of technical material.
• Able to conduct regular inspections of facilities, equipment, and hazardous work materials (e.g., solvents, pesticides, chemicals, etc.) to make recommendations for remediation and/or change management to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Bachelor’s degree and two years of related experience; or Master’s Degree in a Physical Science, Biological Science, Environmental Science/Engineering, Occupational Safety, Industrial Technology or related discipline; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Some positions may require additional training or licensure. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

N/A

North Carolina Central University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

Program Planning, Organizing, and Management
The position provides operational management and oversight of the University’s environmental health and safety program including subprograms of Industrial Hygiene, Lab Safety, Fire Protection, Occupational Safety, Biological Safety, Hazardous Materials and Radiation Safety. Responsibilities entail management of all EHS operations with managerial oversight that includes:
• Assessment of programs coordinated by subordinate employees to ensure appropriate and expedient response to all EHS related incidents and emergencies on campus (e.g., chemical spills, hazardous materials, etc.) as well as prevention and mitigation efforts.
• Development of policies, consultation, inspection, and representing the University in matters related to environmental health and safety.
• Developing and analyzing safety metrics to review weekly and monthly incident reports in conjunction with policy compliance to identify trends that may necessitate modification of procedures or policies and/or the allocation of appropriate resources to areas where risk is highest. This requires that the employee implement a detailed understanding of applicable EHS protocols, best practices and legal implications technical expertise, and regulatory knowledge (e.g., codes and industry standards).
• Develops impact analyses to assess how indicators such as the growth of the University population, increased number of labs, workforce availability, etc., correlate to future EHS goals and objectives for effective long-range planning.
• Directs the inspection and auditing of chemical storage areas to ensure the safe operation of University lab facilities.
• Consults and coordinates with the Director of Physical Plant and the Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management to implement activities relating to green initiatives that measure environmental impact and/or reduce the University’s carbon footprint.
• Documents and develops corresponding reports regarding all environmental health and safety activities, incidents and responses for audit purposes.
• Identifies gaps in EHS subprograms and related campus programs in other departments (e.g., emergency management) to develop solutions and ensure seamless integration of environmental health and safety planning and implementation efforts.
• Assists in ensuring the successful implementation and maintenance of the University’s risk management program including input regarding insurance, workers’ compensation, and claims administration (e.g., Responds to Police and Public Safety reports, injuries, accidents, and /or near misses; completes investigative report; initiates corrective actions to prevent future incidents; coordinates actions, as needed, with other University departments (e.g., Legal Counsel); and ensures all related documents and follow-up involving environmental health and safety are completed.

Application of Professional Knowledge
Duties Professional knowledge is incurred by and incorporated with the administrative and supervisory responsibilities for all EHS program management actvities. The position’s duties and responsibilities require broad and significant knowledge to interpret, apply, and execute environmental health and safety regulatory responsibilities for the University in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, best practices, and legal precedence as promulgated and mandated by the federal, state, and local governing agencies (e.g., NIMS, FEMA, EPA, Homeland Security, etc.). Responsibilities require in-depth knowledge to develop and integrate University policies and procedures for all EHS programs but especially those which utilize biological, chemical, and radioactive materials. Additionally, the position serves as a consultant on all matters for risk assessment and loss control pertaining to employee safety and University liability (e.g., conducts risk analyses; develops and makes recommendations regarding corrective methods, controls, and procedures to improve work environment; etc.). In an effort to ensure a safe and productive work environment and reduce the University’s liability, the position will use the requisite technical knowledge of environmental health and safety to integrate standard operating procedures with continuous quality improvement and Six Sigma modeling.

Communication
• Develops EHS communication to outline the methods used to inform affected University personnel and stakeholders of regulatory requirements and changes to processes and procedures.
• Advises the appropriate personnel (e.g., principal investigators, research staff, Human Resources, etc.) of new or revised federal, state or local regulations that may impact the University.
• As necessary and applicable, engages University leadership in proactive discussion to ensure that EHS policies, goals and objectives are successfully initiated, implemented and integrated in the University’s long-range planning and development. (e.g., Consults and confers with University leadership and managers to identify existing or potential environmental health and safety issues in order to develop improvements, create and maintain quality standards, and ensure consistent application of regulations for all aspects of future growth, expansion, and project implementation).
• Works and coordinates with University department representatives from standing committees, to facilitate regulatory compliance, best practice development and practical measures that ensure health and safety in various University environments.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and liaison with state agencies and related University committees and departments (e.g., Police and Public Safety, NCDENR, DOL, OSHA, etc.)
• Explains University EHS activities to and coordinates with professional outside consultants and contractors in the areas of toxic waste disposal and laboratory analysis.

Supervision/Leadership
• Supervises EHS professional positions (e.g., hires, trains, oversees career development and performance management, etc.)
• Develop onboarding process and training materials designed specifically for EHS team members.
• Manages the budget and provides financial planning for long-term budget development to implement EHS strategies.
• Provides leadership and direction in policy development, implementation and attainment of EHS goals and objectives.

Change Management
• Identifies environmental health and safety trends, initiatives that may benefit or impact the University by keeping current on new ideas and techniques in the field through reading governmental and professional publications, attending seminars and discussing related issues with other safety professionals and consultants.
• Develops, implements, and executes change management processes related to EHS policies and procedures by assessing changes to process chemicals, technology, equipment, procedures, and modifications to facilities or organizational design that affect an established process. This position will be accountable for ensuring that environmental health and safety considerations and issues are addressed prior to any change with regard to the technical basis for the proposed change; scope and impact of the change on health, safety and the environment; revisions to operating procedures; timely notification to and training of affected employees; necessary time period for the change; procurement and allocation of requisite resources; and authorization requirements for the proposed change.