What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Director, Radiation and Laser Safety and University Radiation Safety Officer position at Vanderbilt University?
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Assistant Director is part of the Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability organization at Vanderbilt University. This key leader is responsible for managing the radiation and laser safety programs in EHSS. The Assistant Director will act as the university's Radiation Safety Officer to fulfill regulatory obligations and report directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability.
As a strategic leader, the Assistant Director will provide innovative leadership for a comprehensive laboratory program providing a safe work environment for all VU research community members. This includes preventing loss of life and injury to faculty, staff, students, and visitors, protecting the environment, and safeguarding VU property. The program impacts the teaching and research mission of the university and the university community.
This position has oversight and lead responsibility for university compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This includes transitioning the activities of VUMC's Office of Clinical and Research Safety. The Assistant Director may serve on multiple committees such as the Radiation Safety Committee, workplace safety committee, emergency management operations, risk management committee, etc. They maintain extensive interaction with university research faculty, staff, and students; representatives of federal, State, and local agencies who have a vested interest in EHSS or environmental protection issues; and the university community.
About the Work Unit:
Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability is part of the Division of Administration and consists of research-centric safety services and university sustainability leadership. EHSS is an 19-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.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Supervisory Relationships:
This position supervises 3-5 professional staff, student interns, and may take lead with a team of peers both within and across functions on specific projects. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of EHSS.
Experience and Education:
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.
Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.
#VUCLO
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
The Assistant Director is part of the Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability organization at Vanderbilt University. This key leader is responsible for managing the radiation and laser safety programs in EHSS. The Assistant Director will act as the university's Radiation Safety Officer to fulfill regulatory obligations and report directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability.
As a strategic leader, the Assistant Director will provide innovative leadership for a comprehensive laboratory program providing a safe work environment for all VU research community members. This includes preventing loss of life and injury to faculty, staff, students, and visitors, protecting the environment, and safeguarding VU property. The program impacts the teaching and research mission of the university and the university community.
This position has oversight and lead responsibility for university compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This includes transitioning the activities of VUMC's Office of Clinical and Research Safety. The Assistant Director may serve on multiple committees such as the Radiation Safety Committee, workplace safety committee, emergency management operations, risk management committee, etc. They maintain extensive interaction with university research faculty, staff, and students; representatives of federal, State, and local agencies who have a vested interest in EHSS or environmental protection issues; and the university community.
About the Work Unit:
Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability is part of the Division of Administration and consists of research-centric safety services and university sustainability leadership. EHSS is an 19-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.
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Act as the university's subject matter expert in radiation and laser safety and as the university's Radiation Safety Officer on VU's Broadscope License.
- Lead compliance-related regulatory inspections.
- Develop vision, mission, budget, policies, procedures, and key performance indicators for EHSS at Vanderbilt.
- Establish relationships with VUMC OCRS to continue the transition to VU management.
- Implement and adopt EHS Assist software system related to their area of EHSS.
- Ensure regulatory and audit findings are timely and effectively addressed.
- Develop opportunities for improvement in current services, faculty support processes, training, and information systems.
- Provide effective training modules assigned to appropriate VU faculty, staff, and students in Oracle Learn, and ensure regulatory-required completion data is tracked and reported appropriately.
- Support VU Facilities projects impacting laboratories.
- Set EHSS standards to meet customer and administrative expectations.
- Identify and implement best practices and corrective actions across laboratory safety to assure high quality, improve systems and services, meet needs, and ensure compliance with complex and rapidly changing federal, state, regional, and local laws and accreditation requirements.
- Manage and develop standard operating procedures and protocols for laboratory operations to manage high-hazard operations.
- Serve as an emergency responder participating in the on-call schedule and provide leadership in any incidents or exposures in their area of EHSS.
- Ensure EHSS staff have appropriate technical and required training.
- Collaborate with VUMC, Vanderbilt University Public Safety, and VU Facilities to develop effective emergency response plans for VU laboratories.
Supervisory Relationships:
This position supervises 3-5 professional staff, student interns, and may take lead with a team of peers both within and across functions on specific projects. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Vice Chancellor of EHSS.
Experience and Education:
- A master's degree is required.
- Certification is required, including Certified Health Physicist (CHP) and Certified Laser Safety Officer (CLSO).
- 8 years related experience with at least 2 years in a supervisory role is required. 10 years experience including some portion in the university research/laboratory environment is strongly preferred.
- Expert knowledge in radiation and laser safety concepts, standards of performance, best practices, granting requirements, licensing, and regulations.
- Ability to quickly and effectively respond to emergencies is required.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft and Adobe products such as TEAMS, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word are necessary. Articulate, Oracle, or database skills are a plus.
- Experience with EHS Assist software is preferred.
- Advanced data management, analytical, quantitative, technical, and problem-solving skills are required.
- Ability to quickly learn and adapt is required.
- Ability to successfully plan and execute multi-task and multi-project requirements and deliverables to meet objectives and deadlines is 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.
- Exhibit sensitivity, tact, inclusion, and respect for diversity.
- Ability to work effectively with others as a team as opposed to working separately or competitively.
- Ability to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue is required.
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.
Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.
#VUCLO
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
