EH&S Director - Chemical, Environmental & Lab Safety (CELS)

Position Summary

The EH&S Director of Chemical, Environmental Management & Lab Safety (CELS) is responsible for leading all aspects of UMass Chan Medical Schools Chemical & Lab Safety, and Environmental Management Programs including development, management, and implementation of programs, regulatory compliance, and providing hands on support as well as strong leadership and mentoring in the EH&S CELS Team.

The primary purpose of this position is to oversee and direct the CELS Team in providing services directly to research and clinical laboratories through field consultations, technical guidance, inspections, training, data collection and analysis. This includes administering continual design, development, management, and improvement of chemical & lab safety programs, and environmental management programs for all research and clinical laboratories at UMass Chan, managing complex assessments of risks pertaining to people, property, and the environment to protect from potentially detrimental exposures and releases to a broad range of hazardous chemicals, hazardous materials, and hazardous wastes, and actively promoting a culture of safety to minimize risk while enhancing compliance.

The EH&S Director of Chemical, Environmental Management & Lab Safety provides technical, regulatory, and administrative support to UMass Chans research and clinical laboratory community and Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC). The incumbent ensures ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements and sets the CELS Teams strategic direction to meet emerging chemical, environmental management & lab Safety needs while maintaining close and productive relationships with principal investigators (PIs), researchers and regulators.

The incumbent is part of a multidisciplinary EH&S Management Team acting as the leading subject matter expert within Chemical, Environmental Management and Lab Safety, by coordinating closely with staff to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, enhance the culture of safety, and reduce risk in research settings.

Essential Functions

Programmatic

• Define the overall activities of the EH&S Chemical, Environmental Management & Laboratory Safety Team to achieve objectives including development and direction of related policies guidelines, processes, and procedures
• Design, develop, oversee, and direct programs and services that relate to the implementation of handling, storage and disposal of complex chemical, hazardous materials and laboratory safety programs, laboratory safety, hazardous materials, chemical waste, chemical safety, chemical management and inventories, environmental compliance, wastewater management, storm water management, environmental contingency planning, spill preventions.
• Serve as the primary CELS liaison for plans review, construction and commissioning of laboratory research facilities
• Serve as the primary liaison for compliance with operation and development of facilities and waste storage rooms
• Develop, manage and maintain Laboratory & Facility Safety training programs to ensure compliance for staff education and new hire orientation regarding hazardous materials and waste handling, storage and disposal, lab safety, hazardous communication, Right to Know and Controlled Substances information and communications so that training program requirements are met
• Develop, direct and manage the dissemination of program content and strategies to stakeholders and researchers to ensure plans (e.g., Chemical Hygiene Plan, Integrated Contingency Plan) are current, comprehensive, and accessible
• Manage and direct emergency response support and investigation of research-related incidents, exposures and spills
• Conduct comprehensive reviews of chemical, environmental and laboratory programs to implement continuous improvements in processes, design, procedures, and operating equipment to minimize exposure to chemicals
• Review Principal Investigator grant/funding applications for compliance with regulatory agencies requirements for hazardous material use or certifications of environmental compliance including IACUC protocols and USAMRDC Environmental Compliance Assurance
• Direct and manage the review and approval of purchasing requisitions for chemical containers in laboratories through UMass Chans purchasing system to maintain building code compliance with storage of hazardous materials.
• Use data and formulate metrics to recommend corrective and preventative practices and procedures related to chemical and laboratory safety, measure program value and performance, and develop and implement plans to drive program improvement
• Responds to urgent and emergent calls, including as a member of the EH&S off hour, night, weekend and holiday on-call system
  
  

Regulatory Compliance

• Represent UMass Chan as the Responsible Official and primary liaison with regulatory agencies having jurisdiction as related to environmental management and health & safety requirements, including DEP, EPA, DHS, MDLS, and others for all areas of chemical, hazardous materials and laboratory activities, including inspections, maintenance of regulatory submittals including permits, and inspection documents
• Act as the primary UMass Chan liaison during inspections by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Maintains compliance with all applicable environmental permits, licenses, and reports including; waste neutralization systems, hazardous materials permit, general laboratory permits, Hazardous waste Generator fee, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Tier II reports, Emergency Action Plans, Hazardous Material Contingency Plan, and compliance with Department of Homeland Security regulations related to hazardous materials or chemicals of interest.
• Participates in, and is an active member of the Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC), as appropriate
• Interpret and apply regulatory requirements to set institutional standards for work with chemicals and hazardous materials, alert EH&S leadership and customers of regulatory changes and develop strategies to address
• May represent UMass Chan as the designated EH&S representative of the organization or specialization when mandated by regulatory requirements
  
  

Managing & Mentoring

• Provide leadership direction and mentorship to the EH&S Chemical, Environmental Management & Laboratory Team
• Plans, develops, directs, and evaluates the personnel within the Chemical, Environmental Management & Lab Safety Team and provides leadership direction to management.
• Promotes and encourages professional development and continuing education/training opportunities for team members to support personal skill growth and to remain current in chemical, lab safety and environmental management programs, topics and developments
  
  

Required Qualifications

Performs other applicable duties as required.

Education

• Bachelors Level Degree, or equivalent, in: environmental science/health, environmental engineering, safety, natural sciences, chemistry, environmental health and safety, or related field
  
  

Experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant job experience, or equivalent
• Previous managerial or supervisory experience
• Substantial experience with academic research and clinical laboratories, and/or chemical, environmental and laboratory safety programs encompassing wide range and depth
• Experience developing effective working relationships with governmental/regulatory agencies and demonstrated ability to partner with internal administrators to implement effective hazard mitigation programs
• Comprehensive knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local regulations with the ability to interpret and apply regulations
• Ability to manage large Programs, prioritize multiple tasks and manage time effectively to complete assigned projects and tasks.
• Ability to evaluate worksites for potential hazards, conducts necessary monitoring, write reports, relate information clearly and effectively, and evaluate and develop alternatives to address problems and issues
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to cultivate strong and collaborative relationships inside and outside the organization, and to lead professionally in emergency situations.
• Ability to develop and mentor other Chemical, Environmental & Lab Team members
• Ability to communicate complex technical issues to diverse customers
• Demonstrate attention to detail
  
  

Certifications

• Ability to become certified as OSHA 40-hour Hazwoper Emergency Responder and wear a full-face respirator
  
  

Drivers License

• Must have a valid drivers license and a vehicle or the ability to travel to off-site locations.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
• Certified Hazardous Materials Professional (CHMP)
• Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA)
• Certified Dangerous Goods Professional (CDGP)
• Advanced degree, such as a Masters degree preferred in environmental science/health, environmental engineering, safety, natural sciences, chemistry, environmental health and safety, or related field
• Previous similar experience working with a healthcare/hospital facility, and/or an academic institution such as a university or college.
  
  

The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.