Associate Safety Officer

Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN, seeks a Hazardous Waste Specialist to support compliance with radiation, chemical, and biological safety programs. You will apply regulatory guidelines, maintain SOPs, and assist in training staff across safety disciplines.

Responsibilities include developing schedules, documenting activities, and communicating with internal customers. A background in safety, strong writing skills, and data analysis are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a science or related field.
• Less than 1 year of relevant experience.
• Ability to interpret safety regulations and apply them in practice.

Responsibilities

• Understand applicable regulations and internal policies and assess compliance status.
• Assist in developing and editing SOPs; provide on‑the‑job training.
• Maintain task schedules; communicate delays to supervisor.
• Develop and implement safety skills in radiation, chemical, biological, or hospital safety.
• Support safety programs and assist with data entry, paperwork, or events as needed.
• Complete training and contribute to training content for the VUMC community.
• Communicate effectively with customers who interact with the program.
• Adhere to safety and regulatory requirements and participate in continuous improvement.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Safety procedures

Communication skills

Documentation writing

Data analysis

Problem solving

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization

OCRS - Hazardous Waste

Job Summary

Perform a wide variety of complex tasks requiring practical understanding and advanced knowledge of radioactive and chemical hazardous waste with minimal guidance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understand applicable external regulations and internal policies/SOP's and evaluate compliance status.
• Implement departmental SOP's and contribute to development and evaluation by providing feedback and edits and writing draft versions. Provide on-the-job training.
• Develop and maintain task schedule including completing assignments on time and communicating any issues or delays to supervisor.
• Develop and implement technical skills in either radiation safety, chemical safety, biological safety, hospital safety or a combination of multiple areas. Participate in scholastic study of technical area with potential for certification.
• Assist as needed (with or without technical expertise) in all safety programs where manual labor is required such as completing data entry, paperwork, or other tasks for large-scale events.
• Complete all training required for position and provide input into training content provided to VUMC community relative to field of work.
• Communicate effectively with customers with whom there is frequent direct interaction. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
• Computer/Electronic Knowledge (Intermediate): Knowledge of the use of applications and tasks on computers and other electronic devices as part of regular work responsibilities. It includes knowledge of software such as word processors, spreadsheets, text editors, and graphics.
• Safety (Novice): The knowledge of and attentiveness to safety as well as compliance with the rules regarding safety.
• Regulatory Compliance (Novice): Demonstrates knowledge of the appropriate rules and regulations and apply them in difficult, stressful and complex situations. Able to interpret and explain rules and regulations that are ambiguous or unclear. Directs others in interpreting rules and regulations on the job and trains others in them.
• Documentation & Writing Skills (Novice): Demonstrates knowledge, training, and experience in documentation and writing to provide high quality products that will engage an audience and speak for the organization. Delivers documentation services in a creative and imaginative manner while setting a standard for others.
• Communication (Intermediate): Clearly, effectively and respectfully communicates to employees or customers.
• Project Management (Fundamental Awareness): Planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific project goals and objectives.
• Data Analysis (Fundamental Awareness): The ability to analyze data in an accurate manner.

Our professional administrative functions include critical supporting roles in information technology and informatics, finance, administration, legal and community affairs, human resources, communications and marketing, development, facilities, and many more.

At our growing health system, we support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.

Core Accountabilities

Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement. Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements. Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/ work teams.

Core Capabilities

Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas. - Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. - Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department. Managing Resources Effectively :- Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.- Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications

Responsibilities

Certifications

Work Experience

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level

Less than 1 year

Education

Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.