Assistant Director

The Assistant Director is part of the Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability (EHSS) organization at Vanderbilt University. The Assistant Director is a key leader responsible for managing the radiation and laser safety programs in EHSS. The Assistant Director will act as the university’s Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) to fulfill regulatory obligations and will report directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability. The Assistant Director will be responsible for providing innovative, strategic, and tactical leadership for a comprehensive laboratory program providing a safe work environment for all VU research community members, preventing loss of life and injury to faculty, staff, students, and visitors, protecting the environment, and protecting VU property. The program impacts the teaching and research mission of the university and the university community. The Assistant Director has oversight and lead responsibility for university compliance to applicable laws and regulations, including transitioning the activities of VUMC’s Office of Clinical and Research Safety. The Assistant Director might serve on multiple committees such as the Radiation Safety Committee, workplace safety committee, emergency management operations, risk management committee, etc. The Assistant Director maintains extensive and frequent 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.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 instructional technology.

About the Work Unit:

Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability is part of the Facilities division 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 Office on VU's Broadscope License.

• Act as lead in compliance- related regulatory inspections.

• Collaboratively develop vision, mission, budget, polices , procedures and key performance indicators for their area of EHSS at Vanderbilt.

• Establish relationship with VUMC OCRS to continue the transition to VU management

• Lead the implementation and adoption of 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

• Ensure effective training modules are assigned to appropriate VU faculty, staff, and students in Oracle Learn. Provide in-person training sessions when requested, 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 the laboratory safety that 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

• Serves as an emergency responder participating in the on-call schedule and provide leadership in any incidents or exposures in the 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  

As a leader in the Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability Team, the Assistant Director develops and maintains strong, collaborative, and communicative relationships with Vanderbilt’s research and administrative community and identifies additional ways to be of service and ensure customer satisfaction. This position supports the success of a high-performing organization by championing and driving efficiency and effectiveness through the use of safety informatics, databases, software, and instructional technology.

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. Certifications that are relevant include 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 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 a plus.

• Experience with EHS Assist software 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. Exhibit sensitivity, tact, inclusion and respect for diversity. 

• 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.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:

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, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.