EH&S Manager

General Description

Experienced environmental health and safety (EH&S) professional who works in close association with, and reports to, the Director of Environmental Affairs. Provides technical and management assistance in leading the implementation of the department's operational portfolio and keeping it continually aligned with the hospital's operational needs and priorities. Must possess and maintain a strong technical knowledge base and remain current regarding pertinent regulatory requirements. Must develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with administrators, managers, engineers, consultants, technicians and other internal and external staff (including staff under this position's management) to achieve organization-level and unit-specific EH&S goals and objectives. Makes independent decisions relative to implementing operational and practice options. Represents hospital interests with regulatory agencies. Is a key lead in the EH&S quality assurance and performance improvement efforts.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Organizes and leads fire and life safety programming at the organizational and unit-specific levels under authority of the department director to ensure that: (1) fire risks are minimized through proactive fire prevention programming, (2) maintains continual unit-based preparedness, (3) ensures timely and effective response to all fire and smoke incidents regardless of location and (4) sustains continual compliance with all applicable regulations, codes and standards.

o Develops policies and procedures for general and specific applications
o Ensures fire and life safety is a primary consideration at the design stage of all facilities projects
o Promotes program visibility and effectiveness through activities that include department-specific and unit-specific training, safety auditing and fire planning
o Manages the code red drill program throughout the organization; ensures timely completion on established schedules with special emphasis on response effectiveness in areas where patients are served
o Investigates all actual fire alarm activations and conducts appropriate follow up to all fire/smoke incidents
o Acts as primary interface with local fire departments for all BWH locations and accompanies fire officials during facility inspections; manages the satisfactory resolution of all findings and deficiencies
o Maintains all fire program related licenses and permits; arranges timely inspections and fee processing
o Serves as a primary lead in achieving and maintaining compliance with Joint Commission Environment of Care standards; is a lead interface with the Joint Commission during hospital accreditation surveys
o Prepares and presents annual reports to the BWH Safety Committee in partnership with Director
o Maintains professional competency in fire protection management and relevant codes and standards
o Maintains experience-based data tracking and provides current and high-quality informational input into safety, compliance assurance and quality improvement activities
o Files regulatory reports and maintains permits as instructed by department Director

* Manages the daily operations of the chemical waste collection and disposal system, including universal waste and selected recycling, covering all BWH facilities as instructed by department Director.

o Oversees operations of approximately400 individual chemical waste generation locations and five-seven main accumulation areas
o Responsible for program budgeting and expense control through continuous volume and billing oversight and broadly applied waste minimization practices
o Ensures the safety, efficiency and regulatory compliance of all collection, transport, processing, packing and shipment activities.

* Manages day-to-day EH&S operations at BWH-licensed offsite locations and off-site research locations. Consults as requested for assisting affiliated Brigham and Women's facilities under the instruction of the department Director.

Collaborates with managers at each BWH site and owner-designated individuals at leased spaces to define and implement site-specific EH&S programming
* Ensures EH&S plans for leased spaces align with Brigham Health and facility owner's plans and procedures
* Maintains communication with site managers at leased facilities to monitor construction and other operational matters affecting EH&S programming
o Ensures Environmental Affairs representation on offsite facility surveillance teams to continually assess and address program needs
o Utilizes assigned Environmental Affairs staff and third party vendors to support site-specific safety programs and ensure that each location is in compliance with applicable regulations and standards
o Assists as needed in all site-specific EH&S-related matters (e.g. licensing and permitting processes, indoor air quality investigations, hazardous chemical management...)

* Manages EH&S relative to construction activity at all BWH-occupied locations.

o Consults with project planners, architects, engineers, and other specialists to ensure comprehensive proactive pre-construction risk assessment of all facilities projects and recommends appropriate risk avoidance measures as necessary
o Supports regular safety auditing of active work sites to ensure continual compliance with safety and regulatory requirements
Collaborates with other BWH facilities management leaders in development and maintenance of master construction safety documents required by the Boston Fire Department's "NFPA 241" construction permit program
o Represents Environmental Affairs at various BWH/Brigham Health design meetings and project planning committees to continually monitor status of all construction activities through their completion

-Ensures emergency preparedness and response is a primary consideration across all EH&S program activities

o Conducts proactive pre-incident risk assessments at the department and organization levels
o Conducts and/or participates in incident causal analysis and collaborative case reviews as deemed necessary by the department Director.
o Leads planning reviews to maximize risk-specific preparedness
o Oversees chemical exposure assessment program
o Serves as the emergency coordinator during hazardous material events per the hospital's chemical incident contingency plan
o Fulfills a key role in support of the Emergency Department by serving as decontamination unit leader or chemical safety officer during deployment of the BWH Chemical HAZMAT Response team; provides key command and control oversight of the team's operations during mass casualty hazardous chemical incident responses
* Represents Environmental Affairs on various committees (e.g. Safety Committee, Environment of Care, Interface, etc.) at the discretion of the department Director.
* Ensures effective EH&S representation on various environmental auditing teams (in-patient, construction, research)
* Manages and participates in special projects as made necessary by EH&S program demands.
* Collects and analyzes data in support of EH&S quality assurance and performance improvement activities.
o Responsible for assisting in maintenance of the Environment of Care dashboard

Represents Environmental Affairs on various committees (e.g. Safety Committee, Environment of Care, Emergency Preparedness, etc.) at the discretion of the department Director.

* Ensures effective EH&S representation on various environmental auditing teams (in-patient, perioperative, ambulatory, construction, research)
* Manages and participates in special projects as made necessary by EH&S program demands.
* Collects and analyzes data in support of EH&S quality assurance and performance improvement activities.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Effectively applies a comprehensive understanding of the technical and management aspects of environmental health and safety to the hospital, ambulatory settings and academic research settings at BWH.
* Will maintain competencies in key professional subject areas that will include fire and life safety programming, chemical and hazardous waste management, construction safety, emergency response operations and laboratory safety.
* Presentation skills; proficiency in verbal and written English language communication; ability to deliver training presentations to varied audiences of varied sizes and influence leaders on program development
* Demonstrates leadership.
* Assists Director in development and or tracking of key Environmental Affairs program and project performance metrics
* Provides leadership in reaching objectives tied to safety program goals
* Effectively communicates and interacts with people at all levels of the organization, both individually and in groups
* Abides by all Brigham Health expectations around diversity and inclusion in daily interactions, hiring, performance evaluations and progressive discipline
* Acts as a primary resource and mentor to subordinate Environmental Affairs staff members and contractors
* Interfaces regularly with internal clients and external regulators and service providers to build and maintain key relationships in order to ensure satisfactory safety and regulatory outcomes and effective business relationships.
* Participates in strategy discussions, decision making and defining objectives involving Environmental Affairs program direction
* Practices efficient resource management. Assists in budget preparations and cost control. Contributes to budget, staffing and performance decisions.
* Drives continuous program improvement to achieve critical measures of success.
* Negotiates constructive outcomes to significant EH&S issues

Certification Requirements

-Professional certifications (e,g. CSP, CIH, CHMM, HEM) preferred
-OSHA HAZWOPER Certification preferred
-RCRA/DOT Certification preferred

Education Requirements

* Master of Science degree in an Environmental Health & Safety or related (preferred)
* Bachelor of Science degree in EH&S or related field required (or equivalent) with 5-8 years of safety experience (preferably in a hospital, laboratory, or similar setting)

Experience Requirements

* Required work experience of at least 5 to 8 years must support a successful track record in achieving results through managing technical staff in EH&S program areas that include fire management, chemical safety, emergency operations, facilities and construction safety and environmental compliance that includes large and complex chemical waste operations.
* Experience with High Reliability Science preferred

Supervisory Requirements

Directly supervises 4-6 BWH Environmental Affairs staff and 1-2 FTEs dedicated to chemical waste operations through a vendor account. Manages ongoing departmental functions during times of senior management's absence.

Working Conditions

* Manages multiple and frequently shifting priorities and constant change in a fast-paced setting
* Works in close collaboration with the BWH Environmental Affairs Director to coordinate and coach department staff and vendors
* Maintains computer proficiency with general office software and specialized applications as required by duties
* Physically able to perform tasks such as walking, standing, climbing, lifting and carrying
* Occasional work in environments with biological, chemical, or physical hazards
* Able to wear respiratory and other personal protective equipment as necessary to perform safely
* Required occasionally to work off-hours and to respond to urgent matters with short notice on regular and off-hours; participates in the department's off-hours pager coverage rotation
* Handles hazardous chemical materials, including spills
* Provides consistent leadership, support and example to junior staff
* Responsible for building and maintaining his/her own competencies through continued education

Brigham & Women's Hospital is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.