Cornell University is widely admired as one of the world’s most respected research and teaching institutions. The Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) provides comprehensive programs and services to support our world-class researchers, staff, and university community. EHS assists the campus community with compliance and promotes health, safety, and environmental stewardship.

The Director of Research Safety serves as a critical member of Cornell University’s Environmental, Health and Safety leadership team and maintains its position as a leader in safe research. This position is a highly visible role at the university, serving as a key partner with and liaison to university committees and the research community. The director requires skills necessary for the development of institutional strategies that best serve research safety needs in a continuously changing environment.

The area of research safety at Cornell is responsible to model safety and health activities in the context of Cornell’s mission of “learning, discovery, and engagement.” Research and support takes place in locations, such as 3,300 labs, farms, greenhouses, etc., totaling 2.4 million sq. ft. of space. The research safety director will promote and support a comprehensive health and safety research program for the university to be utilized at these locations.

This individual must possess suitable health, safety, and research experience and leadership qualities to achieve programmatic successes that (1) support evolving research operations; and (2) contribute to the reduction and mitigation of injuries and other adverse incidences associated with the use of biological, chemical, physical and radioactive materials in scientific research and education. Additionally, this person must have the ability to interpret, explain, and advance the effective administration of research safety programs based upon a deep knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, balancing them with the operational necessities of the various programs and research at Cornell University.

Leadership will include mentoring a staff responsible for the execution of a complex spectrum of safety and health initiatives and developing strategic plans for the individual disciplines within the research safety organization.  This role directly supervises the university’s biosafety officer, chemical hygiene officer, and the radiation safety officer, and supports their teams.

All programs under this director’s responsibility must be conducted in a sustainable state of “in-control and capable” functionality.

This position takes a leading role in planning and participating in incident response and incident investigations.

While position responsibilities vary, all people leaders are expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by being trustworthy; respecting all individuals; being flexible; supporting work/life integration as well as healthy boundaries; inviting new ideas, alternatives, and perspectives; speaking up and taking action if others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and recognizing the contributions of others. 

We are a value–based organization where all employees are accountable for supporting the organization’s values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity. Facilities and Campus Services employees are required to attend staff development trainings and participate in the performance evaluation process.

We require these qualifications:

Must possess a Master’s Degree in chemical, biological, radiological sciences or related field with at least three to five years of demonstrated experience, or equivalent combination; validated experience in the management of comprehensive health and safety programs in a complex research organization.

Requirements consist of a background that includes: managing and leading professional staff in a health and safety-oriented organization, strong working relationships with researchers, leading the development of health and safety programs that promote scientific research.

Must also possess demonstrated experience:

• Strong EHS knowledge as it applies to research settings including laboratories, educational settings, farms, and animal research.

• Demonstrated experience with hazardous materials (i.e. bio/chem/rad) including response to spills and exposures.

• Capability to provide service, technical support, and guidance as an EHS liaison with the university research community.

• Thoughtful interpretation of applicable standards and regulations promulgated by various agencies, such as, but not limited to, CDC, OSHA, EPA, USDA, NYS DOH, NYS DEC, DEA, DOL, and NIH, and organizations, such as, AAALAC, and CSHEMA.

• Experience working with research-related committees: e.g., IBC, IACUC, radiation safety committee, etc.

• Experience with improving institutional processes while overseeing the monitoring and prevention of various hazards present in research spaces. Recommendations for improvements in complex designs, procedures, and operating equipment to minimize hazard potentials.

• Critical assessment of existing research safety programs, processes, and procedures coupled with the ability to pursue new initiatives. Experience overseeing a sustainable model of checks and balances in complex and numerous research and teaching spaces, with thoughtful metrics and other collected data, and improve training, processes, and programs for the continued improvements in health and safety.

• The ability to develop research safety strategy in a complex organization with proven communication processes, advanced political acumen, and demonstrated ability to lead effective changes in a diverse and decentralized research environment.

• A high degree of integrity; results orientations of personal and professional initiative; ability to effectively drive change. Proven track record of completing work on time and within budget: able to assure fiduciary duties of the office.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral with a variety of constituencies. The ability to work in a diverse culture.

• Active listening abilities and the ability to be a team leader: mentoring and growth of EHS staff, and address the concerns and needs of the research community.

• Proficient use of Microsoft Suite products, at a minimum: Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

• Must have a valid US Driver’s license and be able to pass background check, as required by Cornell University.

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.

• Proven experience connecting diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing practices to business goals.

You will be a top candidate with our preferred qualifications:

In addition to a Master of Science degree in a related field, the research director should have:

• Five years demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience of EHS professionals.

• More than five years of health and safety professional working experience with principal investigators and/or researchers.

• Additional work knowledge or experience in at least one of the following fields: research safety, radiation, biosafety, chemical safety, or industrial hygiene.

• Board certification in a recognized professional health and safety discipline such as a Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP), Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer (CCHO), Certified Health Physicist (CHP), or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).

• Noted achievements in developing health and safety programs and processes in support of conformance to standards, guidelines, and industry practices, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Actively use document management system(s) and cloud-based data systems.

No visa sponsorship provided for this position.

Rewards & Benefits:

Cornell provides great benefits that include educational benefits, access to a plethora of wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, health care options to choose from, generous paid leave provisions: 3 weeks of vacation leave, health and personal leave, 13 holidays (including end of year winter break through New Year’s Day) and superior retirement contributions.

Cornell has also been nationally recognized as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. For more information click here.