Department: Chemistry

Position: Safety Manager

Payroll Title: Environmental Health and Safety Specialist 3

Salary Grade: PSS22

Salary: $60,800 - $122,100 annually

Appointment Type: Career

Appointment Description: 100% Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm

Position Details: Working under the general direction of the Chief Administrative Officer of Chemistry and in coordination with the faculty Chair of the Safety Committee, serve as the department's Safety Manager and Chemical Hygiene Officer for the largest teaching and research department within the College of Letters and Science. The primary emphasis of this position is the prevention and mitigation of occupational injuries or illnesses from chemical and other risk factors in the laboratory environment. Develop and maintain a comprehensive chemical safety program and provide technical guidance to faculty, researchers, lecturers, staff, and students in the development and implementation of the laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plans.

Job Summary: As department Safety Manager and Chemical Hygiene Officer, monitor department research and teaching activities for compliance with state and federal health and safety regulations as well as UC Davis and UCOP policies on health, safety and fire prevention. Assume on-site command of emergency situations and direct response. Function as primary after hours emergency contact and departmental liaison with Police, Fire, EH&S and county, state and federal agencies. Represent the department in building safety, security, fire, police and EH&S matters as well as ADA accommodations and other campus and system-wide planning groups and committees.

As a key member of the department's management team, provide input and support for strategic academic and administrative planning decisions in relation to the department's mission. Anticipate and act to remove obstacles to the execution of the strategic plan at all levels. Work with the Chair, Vice Chairs, and CAO to resolve sensitive and confidential issues. Directly supervise laboratory and dispensary staff. Hire, train, and evaluate direct reports on an annual basis. Work with the Chair and Vice Chair to respond to frequent program and curriculum changes, and enrollment issues. Work with the Chair, Vice Chairs, and investigators to support and facilitate safe and compliant discovery research in the department.

Department Specific Job Scope: The Chemistry Department is a large and complex academic and research department located in the College of Letters and Science. The department has state and extramural funds with expenditures of approximately $33M annually including $13M in organized research. The department class enrollment is approximately 22,000 students per year. There are 32 staff members, 42 senate faculty, 3 continuing lecturers, many Federation appointees, Emeritus Faculty, Postdocs, Pre-Six Lecturers, 250 graduate students and 800 undergraduate majors.

Positions Supervised: 8

• 4 Staff Research Associate 2’s
• 4 Laboratory Assistants 3’s

Essential Responsibilities:

DEPARTMENT CHEMICAL HYGIENE OFFICER 50%

Manage the department's Chemical Hygiene Program to ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate hazards. Design, develop, and implement chemical hygiene policies and practices to ensure laboratory compliance. Develop and maintain written standard operating procedures (SOPs) to those working with hazardous chemicals in a safe and healthy manner. Support laboratories to understand and comply with the campus Laboratory Safety Program as managed by EH&S. Maintain expertise on all regulations; interpret and apply relevant laws, regulations, codes and standards, including making recommendations for work environment changes based on interpretations and principles of professional practices. Design or recommends improvements to existing processes and procedures using professional techniques to solve complex problems with multiple variables. In close coordination with UCD Environmental Health and Safety liaise with regulatory agencies.

Write and update safety manuals and procedures. Assume initial on-site command of emergency situations and direct response until control is relinquished to others, such as the UC Davis Fire Department, whereby the Safety Manager will assume a support and liaison role. Function as primary after hours emergency contact and departmental liaison with Police, Fire, EH&S and county, state and federal agencies. Represent the department in building safety and security issues, fire and police issues, EH&S matters, ADA accommodations and other campus and system-wide planning groups and committees. Investigate incidents and complaints, and recommend corrective action. Prepare reports and other documentation using relevant scientific data. Provide expertise and support to investigators as needed.

Attend EH&S and Emergency Preparedness seminars and advise department personnel on new regulations and establishments of new safety procedures.

TEACHING LABORATORY AND DISPENSARY SUPERVISION 30%

Directly supervise laboratory and dispensary staff. Hire, train, and evaluate direct reports. Work with the Chair and Vice Chair to respond to frequent program and curriculum changes, enrollment issues and support needs. Help problem-solve, prioritize, and support the SRA’s and LA’s through team-building, coordination and troubleshooting issues that arise from teaching and students.

BUILDING SAFETY OVERSIGHT 20%

Coordinate with the building manager to ensure that all renovations to Chemistry buildings meet safety standards. Perform and supervise safety inspections and initiate corrective actions when deficiencies are discovered. From a safety perspective, analyze space and facilities needs of incoming faculty members, new courses and support facilities. Work with Building Manager to provide comprehensive use and safety planning to Department Chair and Vice Chair of Infrastructure for optimal use of space.

Maintain building and equipment security for two campus buildings and portions of two others where student labs occur with 152,000 total assignable square feet. In conjunction with the Vice Chair for Safety, lead and direct the department safety committee.

Physical Demands: Be able to safely move boxes weighing up to 50 lbs. Bend and stoop in confined spaces. Wear personal protective equipment when required. Occasionally work in laboratory space. Sit at computer and use mouse and keyboard for long periods of time and also move about building. Employee is personally responsible for own health and safety.

Work Environment: Work with or be in areas where hazardous materials, radioactive materials and/or infection diseases are present. Work flexible and overtime during evenings, weekends and holidays to meet operational needs. Restricted use of vacation during peak periods. UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any UC Davis owned or leased property, indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Chemistry or equivalent with professional, broad-based laboratory experience in a University research environment.
• Experience with safe handling and management of hazardous materials and waste storage of laboratory chemicals, reagents, radioisotopes and miscellaneous and supplies.
• Knowledge of and experience applying EH&S state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to the management and disposal of hazardous chemicals, radioisotopes and waste as well as personnel and workplace safety.
• Organizational skills to plan, organize, and implement safety programs and meet deadlines.
• Supervisory experience including hiring, training, and evaluating direct reports.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively with students, staff, and faculty.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification (CCHO) or specialized educational level to perform job tasks.
• Experience as Safety Officer, Compliance or EH&S Manager at a university or similar organization to educate others regarding safety issues; to solve safety-related problems; and to interact with personnel to achieve regulatory compliance.
• Skills to maintain clear, accurate, and organized records.
• Experience conducting and coordinating audits, investigations and evaluations and the demonstrated ability achieve necessary corrective action in a timely manner.