Director of Research Safety

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Job Summary

Responsible for leading the implementation, optimization, and monitoring of the Institute’s research safety programs. Program areas include chemical, biological, radiological, and laser safety as they apply to research activities on campus. 

Identifies research laboratory safety issues and formulates measures and procedures for addressing research project and laboratory workplace hazards. Develops comprehensive data-driven processes to ensure the laboratory safety programs are implemented and address the safety needs of the campus. Serves as subject matter expert on general laboratory safety for the campus by providing consultations, evaluations, and inspections, to reduce or eliminate workplace conditions that may lead to injury or loss of Institute resources. Serves as Institute liaison with regulatory agencies and interprets new and changing regulatory issues.

This role may also serve as one of the Institute Safety Officers (Chemical Hygiene Officer, Biosafety Officer, Laser Safety Officer, Radiation Safety Officer) and reports directly to the Senior Director for EH&S. With a relevant background in chemistry (including knowledge in synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry) and/or biology or engineering, including bench experience, assist the Institute research community by providing consultation, evaluations, and hazard assessments.

This is a Campus Critical position. An employee designated as campus critical is expected to be aware of the campus emergency management plan and to report to Campus as soon as possible in the event of an emergency to assist in campus wide response and recovery efforts.

Essential Job Duties

• Direct and oversee the overall activities of research safety (which includes Biosafety & Security, Chemical Hygiene, Laser Safety, and Radiation Safety Programs).
• Manages EH&S staff including Chemical Hygiene Officer, Radiation Safety Officer, Laser Safety Officer, and/or Biosafety Officer.
• Identify and execute strategic research safety initiatives and manage enhancements to existing research safety programs to improve their effectiveness.
• Lead and manage the day-to-day operational activities for research safety in cooperation with the Senior Director for EH&S.
• Collaborate closely with program managers, staff, and the academic community to assess and control radiological, biological, chemical, and physical hazards; manage or oversee projects related to the implementation of controls for higher hazard processes. Ensure a high level of interaction and collaboration between the campus community and research safety staff is fostered and maintained.
• Oversee and evaluate laboratory safety inspection processes, and laboratory incident investigations and use root cause data analysis to identify enhancements, improvements and/or solutions.
• Direct the creation and delivery of training materials for laboratory-related safety topics.
• Advise campus leadership on potential research impact upon legislative and regulatory changes; develop appropriate strategy to address changes to the research safety programs. Develop procedures to report significant laboratory investigation and lessons learned metrics to campus leadership.
• Direct and conduct technical briefings related to research safety, create reports and share insights with campus leadership.
• Evaluate operational needs and industry EH&S standards to construct and launch programs that complement the Institute’s operational framework and mission.
• Oversee investigative/technical work in research safety issues to affect and maintain Institute compliance with all internal and external EH&S protocols and requirements.
• Collaborate with campus Planning, Design, and Construction team on laboratory design and renovation requirements.
• Supervise various lab safety engineers to provide operational direction, expectations, mentorship, and advise on professional development of staff.
• Lead research safety staff in the execution of their respective programs (Biosafety & Security, Chemical Hygiene, Laser Safety, and Radiation Safety Programs). Develop capabilities of research safety staff and ensure strong leadership within subprograms. 
• Manage and mentor less experienced staff working with research related hazards; support consulting efforts to various division/department committees on EH&S matters related to laboratory safety.
• Maintain accountability of assigned areas and provide functional direction and/or training in application of occupational health and safety programs.
• Serve as subject matter expert in one or more safety related operations such as chemical safety, biological safety, radiation safety or laser safety. Through regular facility inspections and/or injury-site investigations, identify occupational health issues and formulate measures for mitigating workplace hazards.
• Provide hazard and risk assessments in research laboratory settings and evaluate standard operating procedures involving hazardous material use as needed. May serve as an Institute liaison to OSHA, EPA, AQMD, etc. and support various designated divisions/departments and their respective safety committees as assigned.
• Keep current with EH&S practitioners and/or organizations to ensure regulatory interpretation, technical advice, and Institute polices are in compliance.
• Serve as a first responder to Institute incidents.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD degree in relevant scientific subjects (biology, chemistry, engineering, physics or related field) with 5 years of laboratory safety experience in a university setting and within a comprehensive environmental health and safety program.
• Experience supervising, leading, or mentoring research safety staff.
• Experience in leading a laboratory safety program in terms of evaluating program effectiveness, upskilling laboratory safety staff, developing laboratory safety resources, and laboratory design requirements. 
• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills and organizational skills. Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with research investigators, administrators, leadership and staff at all levels, to foster a culture of safety and collaboration between the research investigators and safety staff. Experience developing and delivering safety training and evaluating the effectiveness of such training.
• Physical Demands: The selected candidate will be required to stand and walk for moderate periods of time; lift and carry up to 30 lbs. of tools and equipment; needs to have the ability to wear protective equipment including gloves, respirators, lab coat, enclosed footwear, safety eyewear, and coveralls when working under or responding to hazardous conditions.
• Environmental Conditions: The selected candidate will enter laboratories that use chemicals, biohazardous materials, radioactive materials, and lasers.
• The selected candidate will be required to stand and walk for moderate periods of time during the workday.
• Working knowledge of OSHA, Cal/OSHA, and other relevant standards, laws, regulations, and best practices that relate to research safety.
• Previous experience managing Cal/OSHA’s laboratory safety related programs and plans (Chemical Hygiene Plan, Exposure Control Plans, etc.) in an academic setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 2 years of experience supervising safety engineers.
• Experience in the design and assessment of reactive materials experiments.
• Experience in the development and use of data analysis, monitoring and data modeling tools and processes.
• Experience in the commissioning and decommissioning of laboratory space.
• Experience in business intelligence analysis, database management, data visualization and/or project management (BBA or MBA, PMP).

Required Documents

• Resume