Program Manager, Research Chemical Safety and Assistant CHO

New Jersey Department of Children and Families; Falls Church (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Jersey Department of Children and Families is seeking a Program Manager for Research Chemical Safety to manage safety initiatives, oversee staff, and collaborate with various stakeholders to improve environmental health and safety practices. This role demands strong leadership and expertise in safety regulations, along with effective communication and training skills. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in research safety and a master's degree in a relevant field.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years research safety experience with a Master's; 8 years with a Bachelor's.
• Certification as Certified Industrial Hygienist or Certified Safety Professional required.

Responsibilities

• Lead research chemical and physical safety team and initiatives.
• Support compliance with safety-related laws and regulations.
• Develop and manage outreach and training materials.

Skills

Research chemical safety

Occupational safety

Communications

Problem-solving

Education

Master’s degree in chemistry or related field

Baccalaureate degree

Tools

Microsoft Products

Adobe Products

EHS Assistant software

Job description

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.

About Us
At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

• 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 Materials Manager (CHMM), Professional Engineer (PE) or other applicable certifications.
• Supervisory experience managing a team of 3 or more is highly preferred.
• Expert knowledge in research chemical safety, physical safety, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, research safety, electrical safety, hazardous waste, and environmental management theory, concepts, standards of performance, best practices, granting requirements, and regulations.
• Ability to quickly and effectively respond to emergencies is required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to develop engaging online and in-person training materials, presentations, programmatic documents, procedures, and reports. Strong ability to deliver training and program-specific presentations in an efficient, effective, engaging, and innovative manner.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft and Adobe products such as TEAMS, PowerPoint, excel, and Word are necessary. Articulate, Oracle, Tableau, web programming, social media, or database system skills a plus.
• Experience with EHS Assistant software from Onsite Systems preferred.
• Advanced data management, analytical, quantitative, technical, and problem-solving skills required.
• Ability to quickly learn and adapt required.
• Ability to successfully plan and execute multi-task and multi-project requirements and deliverables to meet objectives and deadlines strongly preferred.
• Must have strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective respectful and working relationships in a service-oriented environment with a diverse range of people and understand their needs and goals is required.
• Ability to work effectively with others as a team as opposed to working separately or competitively is necessary. Ability to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue is required.