This position is responsible for the leadership, management, development, coordination, implementation, maintenance, and oversight of an integrated Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) program, comprising safety programs in the following areas: healthcare, radiation, chemical, laboratory, biosafety, environmental, air quality, emergency management, and occupational safety. Activities and programs focus on support of OHSU’s mission, balancing risk assessment and mitigation, safety excellence, and exceptional customer service within a diverse and complex academic medical center.

 

In fulfilling the responsibilities of this position, the EHS Director will collaborate with a broad spectrum of organizational partners, including but not limited to: healthcare, research, academic, and central services administration; faculty, students, staff, volunteers, patients and visitors; Legal; Integrity; Risk Management; Human Resources; various committees; and various integrity programs throughout OHSU. This position facilitates safety, compliance and health at OHSU by providing leadership related to EHS and related areas as follows:

• Implementing, revising, and maintaining applicable policies and procedures (program-specific and OHSU-wide) to maximize safety, integrity, compliance, effectiveness, efficiency, and reflect current trends;
• Developing, implementing, and maintaining training and communication programs for the OHSU community;
• Serving as an expert resource for EHS issues to the OHSU community;
• Continuous process improvement related to EHS; and,
• Serving as a management representative on assignments for both internal and external constituencies

Specific areas of responsibility include:

• Responsible for the direction and oversight of the OHSU EHS programs.
• Monitors the effectiveness of the OHSU EHS programs, using a risk-based methodology.
• Periodically revises the EHS programs due to changes in federal/state regulations and the needs of OHSU.
• Collaborates with OHSU leadership to effectively incorporate the EHS programs within OHSU operations.
• Oversees the development and implementation of audit, monitoring, and training processes to ensure that areas of risk are routinely identified and effectively addressed.
• Actively manages appropriate aspects of the relationships with regulating agencies such as Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services, DEQ, Oregon OSHA, Portland and Oregon State Fire Marshals, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS-Approved Accrediting Organization), and others.
• Ensures timely and appropriate corrective action is taken when necessary.

Candidates who will succeed in this position will exemplify the following leadership attributes:

• An engaging manager with exceptional interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, who manages work groups by inspiring and advising team members, facilitating goal accomplishment and role modeling OHSU’s core competencies. Has effective time management skills, the ability to prioritize projects for self and teams, evaluates performance of self and others to ensure success.
• A strategic leader, with the ability to prioritize needs and assign limited resources (people and funding) effectively.
• An empathetic collaborator and consensus builder capable of maintaining and cultivating successful working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. A person who proactively establishes/develops strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization.
• A resourceful professional who stays current with information, technology, trends, and developments in the field and implements applicable and reasonable policy and process changes as a result of industry trends.
• A well-organized leader with the ability to manage a variety of complex projects while charting a course of action that effectively and efficiently assists the organization and department in fulfilling goals and objectives.

As a senior leader in Campus Services, the Director of Environmental Health & Safety is responsible for managing multiple competing priorities in order to best serve the institutional missions of healthcare, education and research, and helping define and exemplify the culture of the department.

 

1. Policies and procedures*: Ensure that requirements (e.g., local, state, and federal regulations and guidance; and other OHSU policies and procedures related to EHS and related areas) are correctly applied and appropriately described in OHSU policies and procedures.

• Develop and participate in development of policies and procedures with organizational partners and applicable committees, as needed.
• Identify deficiencies and advise on how to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements in an effective, efficient manner.
• Conduct ongoing review of policies and procedures, collaborating with departments to ensure correction and re-education as necessary.
• Maintain and update departmental policies and procedures.
• Bring new developments to the attention of operations and leadership, as appropriate.

2. Department leadership and management*: Using accurate knowledge of federal, state, local, and institutional regulations, guidance, and policies and procedures:

• Hire, train, manage, and evaluate EHS team.
• Direct team activities to ensure department objectives are met. Develop and implement a risk-based work plan related to EHS and the identification of appropriate mitigation of risks, working collaboratively with organizational partners throughout the process. On an ongoing basis, identify and manage risks to the organization.
• Perform quality control reviews of work performed, ensuring that final work product accurately reflect the findings, recommendations, and planned corrective actions using a risk-based methodology. Ensure that final work product is delivered such that clients understand and can act on findings.
• Work with team to ensure appropriate and timely close-out of issues and reviews.
• Collaborate with leadership of areas being reviewed; follow-up on the status of recommendations and determine whether appropriate corrective action has been taken.
• Manage departmental budget.
• Serve on various institutional committees related to EHS.
• Internal marketing and program promotion.

3. Training, communication, and advisory services*: Identify, develop, and implement training and communication outreach to the OHSU community regarding EHS.

• Serve as an expert resource for EHS issues to the OHSU community.
• Provide effective and timely reporting on EHS activities to senior leadership, various safety/integrity committees, and the OHSU Board of Directors and its subcommittees.

4. Continuous Quality Improvement*:

• Develop and implement a program of continuous quality improvement for the EHS team/department.
• Identify weaknesses and deficiencies, and implement solutions to enhance departmental effectiveness to improve support to the OHSU community.
• Develop and monitor program metrics to improve program effectiveness.

5. Other duties as assigned*:

• Including investigations and other special projects. Serve and/or chair various committees related to EHS. Assist with or manage audits and reviews conducted by external agencies/organizations

*PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
Successful performance in this position includes:

• Ability to chart a course of action that effectively and efficiently assists the OHSU community in fulfilling goals and objectives related to EHS.
• Ability to work independently and to make autonomous decisions on inspections, reviews, inquiries, and issues without additional oversight in an efficient manner without compromising accuracy or adherence to regulations, policies and procedures, while also maintaining engagement with a team.
• Ability to accurately and independently understand, digest, and communicate complicated regulations and requirements to individuals at all levels of the institution. Ability to provide guidance, direction, and alternatives to customers while maintaining compliance with all applicable requirements.
• Provide superior customer service to leadership, providers, researchers, faculty, employees, students, and volunteers at all times. Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately to all levels of the organization.
• Ability to understand medical and scientific terminology and procedures in order to accurately review audits, reviews, inquiries, and issues in accordance with applicable requirements. Ability to research and/or seek consultation on medical and scientific terminology as needed.
• Excellent organizational skills with an ability to effectively and independently prioritize a variety of complex tasks/projects and to work calmly under pressure with tight deadlines while maintaining superior customer service and quality/accuracy standards.
• Exceptional analytical, critical thinking, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to autonomously and thoroughly research, interpret, and implement/apply federal, state, and local regulations, and institutional policies and procedures.
• A resourceful and self-sufficient professional who stays current with information, technology, trends, and developments in the field and recommends applicable and reasonable process changes as a result of industry trends.
• Maintains applicable professional certifications.
• Exceptional professionalism in all interactions and commitment to confidentiality, when appropriate or required.
• Engaged team player with a positive “can-do”, problem-solving, and enthusiastic attitude.
• Driver of projects that are assigned such that they are accomplished in a timely, complete and high quality fashion.

• Advanced degree in Business Administration or Scientific field
• Ten years management experience in an EHS or related function.
• OR Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required equivalent qualifications.
• Exceptional people skills. Ability to interact in a positive, productive manner with providers, administrators and leadership (demonstrating sensitivity, tact, and professionalism).
• Ability to create a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.
• Extensive knowledge of best practices for EHS and understanding of risk assessment methodologies and systems thinking.
• Expert knowledge in federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance relating to EHS.
• Ability to see ahead to future possibilities and translate them into breakthrough strategies.
• Ability to deal effectively with difficult situations.
• Ability to make sense of complex, high quantity and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and work both independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to build formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.
• Ability to build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions.
• Ability to anticipate and balance the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Ability to plan and prioritize work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Advanced proficiency with electronic systems and software. 
  
• Compliance with Code of Conduct, Respect in the workplace and Applicable policies, procedures and agreements related to position, department or OHSU as a whole
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

• Advanced degree or additional emphasis/training/education in related field, such as industrial hygiene, occupational safety, environmental engineering, public health, chemistry, biology, physics, or related field.

• EHS management experience within both healthcare and research industries.

• Application of risk-based decision making in furtherance of organizational efficiency and compliance.

• Demonstrated leadership and formal/informal influence skills.

• Familiarity with best practices in environmental sustainability.

• Familiarity with management of an emergency preparedness and continuity of operations programs.

• Certified Safety Professional, Certified Industrial Hygienist, or Healthcare Environmental Manager Certification.

• Typical office environment. Travel to OHSU committee meetings at various OHSU locations on a regular basis. Chemical, biological, and physical hazards may be encountered, and the employee must be able to safely evaluate the exposure potential to ensure health and safety.

• Ability to sit for long periods of time in an office environment or meeting setting, either in-person or virtually, as appropriate. Ability to be move about between meetings and across campus. Ability to traverse a variety of physical terrains including construction sites.

• Equipment used includes typical computer and business office equipment. Knowledge of computer programs (Microsoft Suite, Oracle, and other databases) and OHSU-specific applications is essential.

• Appropriate use of all necessary safety and personal protective equipment, as necessary, required.

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.