EH&S Director

About the Job

UC Merced is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all students, staff, faculty members and visitors. The Director of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining environmental, health and safety programs and ensuring all operations are conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Works with individuals at all levels within the UC System, the general public, and regulatory agencies, in the development of strategies, policies, and tools to implement EH&S programs. Manages multiple EH&S programs within multiple disciplines, and through subordinate managers and/or supervisors, manages the professional staff responsible for implementing these programs. Develops new programs in response to changing regulations and ensures awareness of and compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, etc. Oversees specialized technical programs and serves as a organization expert within these fields.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Plans, directs, implements and manages a broad range of EH&S programs within multiple disciplines. Assists campus management in the development of internal strategies, policies, and tools to implement health and safety programs. Meets and collaborates with campus management, committees, and groups to discuss the effectiveness and implementation of EH&S programs.
2. Provides comprehensive personnel administration including selection, training, evaluation, and as required corrective action for multiple staff levels. Mentors and motivates staff to achieve the highest level productivity and creativity in furthering EH&S programs and the University mission.
3. Administers and monitors budgets and expenses, ensuring compliance with budgetary allocations and University policies and procedures.
4. Oversees EH&S programs to monitor and prevent chemical and biological exposures, prevent accidents, and ensure a healthy and safe environment at all UCM facilities. 
5. Reviews and analyzes federal and state regulatory proposal to assess their impact on the University, and works with campus management to develop policies and procedures for new regulatory requirements.
6. Monitors and assesses campus EH&S programs for effectiveness on an ongoing basis and makes adjustments to such programs as required to maintain the highest level of health and safety programs for the University. Oversee and manage campus inspection programs to ensure these programs are being successfully implemented. Develops metrics and reports to campus management as necessary.
7. Acts as University liaison with Federal, State and Local regulatory agencies, ensures that campus maintains all required permits and meets all regulatory reporting requirements.
8. Develops, implements and promotes communication and outreach programs to enhance, encourage and ensure awareness of and compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, policies, et cetera in order to prevent environmental health emergencies and unsafe conditions and ensure the highest level of safe operations.
9. Works with other UC EH&S Directors and UCOP staff on system wide health and safety related programs.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in an EH&S technical field or related degree and extensive experience managing EH&S programs; and
• 6 years of related experience of similar scope and complexity (required).
• Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), (preferred).
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), (preferred)
• Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), (preferred)
• Comprehensive and thorough knowledge and understanding of EH&S principals and procedures, best practices, technical requirements, logistics, materials and operations, rules, regulations, laws, et cetera.
• Excellent management skills to effectively recruit, train, evaluate, motivate, lead and direct subordinate staff to build an effective service-oriented team.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills, including advanced political acumen and skill to effectively communicate with diverse constituencies in a highly political environment. Ability to effectively work with regulatory agencies on behalf of the University to resolve problems and regulatory issues.
• Demonstrated skills at developing, implementing, and managing EH&S programs at a major research university or comparable organization. Includes experience conducting institutional and program analyses, identifying compliance problems, and developing appropriate strategies to address them.
• Excellent skills to appropriately and efficiently respond to and direct the response to emergencies and critical situations, including follow-up evaluation and critique of response efficacy; recommend, develop and implement changes to emergency response as required.           
• Skills and experience in financial planning and budget implementation.
• Excellent word processing and spreadsheet skills; the ability to utilize and implement new and emerging software tools and technology.