Research Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator

Under the direction of the Research Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Manager, the Research EHS Coordinator will provide front line day to day support to the CNRI research faculty and staff. The individual will provide customer service to 450+ personnel and support approximately 200,000 square feet of research space. The individual will assist in supporting a comprehensive laboratory safety program throughout the research enterprise and affiliate initiatives. The individual will support and advance a positive, proactive laboratory safety program in a complex environment, working as a member of the organizational safety team and collaborating with departmental designated coordinators hospital safety program colleagues and program leaders. The individual will support the EH&S manager to promote safety policies and procedures to ensure the campuses are compliant with pertinent local, state, and federal codes and regulations. The individual will assist with coordinating the activities of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) program.

The individual will work with the Research Center staff, CNMC facility/engineering department, EVS, the safety office, as well as outside vendors. The individual will work closely with the Research Biomed Ops staff.

Minimum Education
Associate's Degree or equivalent experience (Required)
Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree in environmental health & safety or basic sciences (Biology/Chemistry) field (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience
1 year 1-2 years of applicable work or internship experience. A BS degree may be substituted for work experience (Preferred)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Knowledge of federal, state and city regulations pertaining to health and safety.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, as a member of a team; ability to facilitate effective operational integration, collaboration and teamwork.
Ability to prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously and exercise good judgment in managing time, including maintaining a flexible presence at multiple campus locations.
Ability to establish and maintain professional, collaborative, service-oriented, cooperative and effective working relationships with faculty, staff, trainees, customers, the public, regulatory agencies and co-workers through practical and positive communication.
Ability to simplify guidance for faculty and staff, and to prepare thoroughly documented technical reports, excellent oral communication and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare professional-quality presentations and reports and communicate risks effectively.
Ability to perform safety investigations, operations surveys, decommissioning or emergency response; ability to wear a respirator and other personal protective equipment.
Knowledge of environmental health and occupational safety principles as well as ability to understand and interpret complex written regulations, technical reports, and research protocols.
Experience with OSHA requirements and best management practices for training employees and students on safe work practices when andling hazardous materials or equipment.
Excellent coordination and communication skills to effectively negotiate and appropriately influence the safety behavior of lab workers, facilities trade groups, and construction project managers towards best procedures to implement best safety management practices.

Functional Accountabilities
Responsible Conduct of Research & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with standards for the responsible conduct of research and organizational policies and procedures

• Assist faculty in the planning, conducting, and management of research projects within the federal and institutional regulations and policies under the direction of the principal investigator

• Responsible for appropriate use of research funds and resources

• Ensure institute wide compliance with annual training requirements

Program and Service Administration and Implementation

• Assist in the implementation of the CNRI laboratory safety plan including short-term and long-term objectives through management of day-to-day operations.

• Utilize advance knowledge of safety training requirements and familiarity of academic teaching/research programs to maintain a progressive safety training program for laboratory workers utilizing hazardous materials.

• Assist with development of training programs and other informative materials to promote safe work practices and environmental conscientiousness for working with biohazardous materials.

• Serve on institutional safety committees and strategic inanities

Biosafety Program Safety Management

• Ensure technical evaluations of use, storage, and transportation of biohazardous materials are correctly interpreted in light of regulatory compliance goals and best management practices outlined in the Biosafety Manual to conform to NIH guidelines.

• Conduct risk assessments; investigate exposure incidents; maintain record keeping systems to advance the safe storage, use, and disposal practices for working with biohazardous materials.

• Conduct audits in laboratories specifically on the safe use and storage of biohazardous materials, management of biohazardous waste, and general biosafety.

• Audit are scheduled on a routine basis, interpretations of audit criteria and reporting of findings are consistent and timely.

• Develop emergency plans for handling accidental spills and personnel contamination

• Serve as Coordinator to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) that proves institutional oversight as required by the NIH for research involving recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules.

• Preliminary consultation and review of applications by principal investigators to use or store biohazardous materials in preparation for presentation of research protocols to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

• Coordinate acquiring ad hoc consultants as needed to advise the IBC on research activities not covered by current expertise of IBC membership.

• Maintain registrations and reports as required by regulatory authorities

• Liaison for safety review information sharing to enhance interaction of the IBC with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Management of Human Capital and Organizational Relationships

• Manage safety issues related to the on-boarding and off-boarding of faculty, staff and trainees according to established guidelines and policies and procedures
• Stay informed as to relevant skill, training and qualifications levels required by staff for effective performance, and circulate requirements and relevant information to the center as appropriate
• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance