Building Safety Manager
About the Opportunity
JOB SUMMARY
The Building Safety Manager (BSM) manages building-wide compliance with applicable regulatory standards associated with laboratory operations in support of academic and research safety in assigned laboratory buildings on the Boston Campus. The BSM facilitates, assesses, and promotes an enhanced culture of safety and healthy work environment in assigned buildings with research and teaching labs, makerspaces, and shops.
Assists principal investigators (PIs) and lab personnel with risk assessments, hazard analysis, safety inspections, and promotes safe work practices for lab processes, working closely with other subject matter experts as needed. Helps stakeholders develop and implement procedures and strategies to mitigate laboratory safety hazards in assigned buildings during normal operations, shutdown conditions, and emergencies. Maintains an active presence in labs, shops, and makerspaces in assigned buildings by visiting, assisting, and inspecting on a regular basis to be familiar with lab operations in each area and to provide effective implementation and oversight of safety and compliance requirements.
The BSM is a critical team member in the implementation of building wide compliance initiatives to include, but not limited to, maintaining resilient Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ) compliance defined in fire/building code, leading building-level inspection initiatives and tracking corrective actions, contributing to lab design and construction/renovation projects, and supporting ongoing lab registrations with the City of Boston. The BSM will serve as the focal point for implementation and compliance with Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for laboratory emergencies, serving as the emergency coordinator and contact in assigned buildings and a member of the OARS emergency response team through the on-call program. The BSM will serve as the laboratory shutdown coordinator in assigned buildings, working closely with labs, facilities, OARS, and other stakeholders to ensure laboratory risks are minimized during the shutdown of building systems.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge and skills required for this position are normally obtained through a Bachelor's degree required in one of the physical sciences, materials science, life sciences, environmental science, engineering, process safety engineering, occupational safety, or other applicable degree with a minimum of five years of demonstrated work experience in meeting EHS requirements in a laboratory setting.
- Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree in one of the above and a background and experience in laboratory research and environmental health and safety compliance in research laboratories.
- Preferred experience includes employment within higher education, hazardous materials management, emergency planning and/or response, laboratory process safety, and high hazard environments or processes.
- Skills include a working knowledge of federal, state, and local regulatory standards that apply to laboratory operations.
- Proficiency in use of a personal computer and current software applications including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Smartsheets.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal skills to effectively coordinate and adapt for various audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse population and foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
- Effective problem solving and organizational skills, time and project management skills, including planning, prioritizing, and scheduling multiple ongoing projects.
- Ability to understand and interpret complex written regulations and technical reports, and to seek understanding and decision-making in a data driven manner.
- Experience conducting inspections and interpreting and applying technical regulations and standards.
- Experience identifying hazards, assessing risk, and recommending safety controls and corrective actions for experiments, equipment, and processes using appropriate methodology.
- Experience assisting with laboratory emergencies, including gas releases and spill remediation.
- Demonstrated ability to recognize unsafe conditions or dangerous situations and respond appropriately.
Physical requirements include being medically qualified to wear respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment. Lifting up to 50 lbs and moving up to 500 lbs of materials using rolling carts or drum carts. Work areas include a variety of physical environments including weather extremes, mechanical spaces, potential confined spaces, elevated locations, and where the use of hazardous materials (chem, rad, bio) or equipment is in storage or use.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES
Hazardous Materials Management (40%)
Leader for executing processes to support building-wide hazardous material management plans to achieve compliance with Massachusetts and Boston Fire Code requirements based on defined controls areas within assigned buildings. Closely coordinates with laboratories for the purchase, storage, use, and disposal of hazardous materials within each control area. Monitors chemical inventories to understand hazardous materials use and storage in each control area. In collaboration with Northeastern safety professionals, facilities personnel, and laboratory supervisors, ensures hazardous material quantities and classifications for all materials used and stored in assigned buildings is accurate and in compliance with applicable codes and standards. Maintains the baseline maximum allowable quantities (MAQ) for each control area; tracks data and monitor for potential exceedances of MAQ thresholds; communicates to laboratory stakeholders; communicates potential problems to leadership and collaborates on a plan to address compliance. Assist with the compliant management of regulated waste generated in assigned buildings.
Laboratory Emergency Planning and Response (35%)
Assists in the development of Emergency Action Plans (EAP) and a key contributor in the implementation, maintenance, and compliance with EAPs for laboratories in assigned buildings. Ensures emergency equipment for laboratories in assigned buildings are maintained, inspected, and certified. Collaborates with safety professionals, emergency management professionals, laboratory supervisors, and other stakeholders to develop and participate in training and exercises according to defined EAPs and procedures. Gathers and maintains information pertaining to laboratory hazards and other information that allows emergency responders to make informed decisions during emergent events. Assists with maintaining applicable building-wide data for emergency response and as required by applicable codes and standards. Serves as the emergency coordinator and emergency contact for assigned buildings. Participates in the OARS on-call program and emergency response team in the event of laboratory or facility incident with hazardous materials. Assists Northeastern safety and environmental compliance professionals with the reporting of required information on hazardous materials releases to applicable federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.
Other Duties and Responsibilities (25%)
As an embedded safety professional, provides safety subject matter expertise, compliance support, and referrals. Addresses non-compliance as outlined in the Northeastern Academic and Research Safety Assurance Program. Assists with start-up, commissioning, and decommissioning of laboratory operations. Assists with lab design and construction/renovation projects in assigned buildings, in coordination with other OARS programs. Disseminates and provides training on safety resources, regulatory information, compliance requirements, and best practices to laboratory stakeholders. Investigates laboratory incidents, documents findings, tracks corrective actions, and assists lab personnel to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents. Serves as the laboratory shutdown coordinator in assigned buildings, working closely with labs, facilities, OARS, and other stakeholders to ensure risks are minimized during the shutdown of building systems serving lab areas. Performs other technical and administrative responsibilities as directed.
Position Type
Legal and Regulatory Administration
Additional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
To learn more about Northeastern University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.
To apply, visit https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Boston-MA-Main-Campus/Building-Safety-Manager_R126914
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