Fabrication Safety & Operations Director

Yale Corporation; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale School of Architecture in New Haven seeks a Fabrication Safety & Operations Director to lead safety, training, and operations across all fabrication spaces, galleries, and labs. You will establish standards, coordinate with EHS, Facilities, and Risk Management, and support teaching, research, exhibitions, and projects.

Responsibilities include risk assessments, safety orientations, inspections, and lifecycle planning for equipment, with oversight of staff and student monitors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Radiation Safety/Health Physics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field and four years of work experience.
• OSHA 10-Hour certification.
• Experience in fabrication, workshop or laboratory operations, EH&S, or related technical environment.
• Experience developing safety procedures, training programs, or compliance systems.
• Experience coordinating facilities, staff, and multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain safety policies and operational standards for fabrication shops and labs.
• Ensure compliance with Yale policies and health, safety, environmental requirements.
• Serve as liaison to EHS and other offices on safety, facilities, risk management.
• Perform job-hazard analyses and risk assessments.
• Coordinate safety inspections, certifications, incident reporting, and corrective actions.
• Advise faculty and project teams on safety, fabrication processes, and materials.

Skills

OSHA 10-Hour certification

Fabrication/workshop operations

Safety procedures development

Facilities coordination

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community, eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative, or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!

Overview

Reporting to the Lead Administrator at the Yale School of Architecture (YSoA) and working closely with the School’s Faculty Director of Fabrication, the Fabrication Safety & Operations Director providesSchool-wide leadership for safety, compliance, training, and operationsacross YSoA’s fabrication-related facilities, equipment, and activities. The position establishes and maintains consistent safety and operational standards for all School shops and fabrication-related activities, including the fabrication shops, Yale Center for Ecosystems in Architecture (CEA), Gallery, Building Project, and other research, exhibition, and project-based environments.

The Director serves as the primary liaison between YSoA and University offices including Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), Facilities, Risk Management, and Procurement. The position develops and administers safety policies, training and certification programs, equipment-use protocols, inspection and documentation systems, and incident-reporting and remediation procedures. Working in partnership with the Faculty Director of Fabrication, the Director supports the School’s teaching, research exhibitions, digital fabrication, material experimentation, and design-build activities. The Faculty Director provides academic and strategic leadership for fabrication, while the Fabrication Safety & Operations Director providesSchool-wide operational, safety, training, and compliance leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain School-wide safety policies, procedures, and operational standards for fabrication shops, laboratories, galleries, project sites, and related activities.
• Ensure compliance with Yale University policies and applicable local, state, and federal health, safety, environmental, and reporting requirements.
• Serve as the primary School liaison to Yale EHS and other University offices on fabrication safety, compliance, facilities, and risk management.
• Perform job-hazard analyses and risk assessments for equipment, materials, and fabrication processes.
• Develop and administer user safety orientations, equipment training, certification, and authorization programs; maintain appropriate training and certification records.
• Coordinate safety inspections, equipment certifications, incident reporting, corrective actions, and follow-up.
• Enforce site-specific safety plans and institutional safety requirements.
• Exercise stop-work authority when an immediate hazard exists.
• Establish standards for safe machine operation, hazardous materials, PPE, ventilation, emergency procedures, housekeeping, waste disposal, lockout/tagout, hot work, fall protection, and material handling.
• Provide operational oversight and coordination across YSoA shops, CEA laboratories, Gallery production and installation activities, and the Building Project.
• Work with shop managers, faculty, staff, researchers, and project leaders to coordinate access, scheduling, maintenance, staffing, and safe use of facilities and equipment.
• Advise faculty, students, researchers, and project teams on safety, fabrication processes, materials, equipment, and project planning.
• Review faculty, student, and researcher’s projects for unusual fabrication hazards.
• Coordinate with Facilities, vendors, technicians, and EHS on equipment installation, maintenance, repair, facility modifications, and capital improvements.
• Develop and maintain systems for equipment inventories, preventive maintenance, inspections, and lifecycle planning.
• Oversee protocols for the safe procurement, storage, handling, and disposal of fabrication and laboratory materials.
• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise student shop monitors, assistants, technicians, and other personnel as assigned.
• Communicate safety requirements, operational policies, and compliance expectations clearly across the School and promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Radiation Safety/Health Physics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field and four years of work experience in a safety-related field or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

2. OSHA 10-Hour certification.

3. Significant experience in fabrication, workshop or laboratory operations, environmental health and safety, or a related technical environment.

4. Experience developing or administering safety procedures, training programs, equipment certifications, or compliance systems.

5. Experience coordinating facilities, equipment, staff, and multiple stakeholders.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Master’s degree in Architecture, Design, Engineering, Environmental Health & Safety, or a related field.

2. OSHA 30-Hour certification.

3. Experience in an academic fabrication shop, makerspace, research laboratory, architecture school, gallery, or design-build environment.

4. Strong knowledge of construction methods