Building Safety Manager

About the Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY

The Building Safety Manager (BSM) manages buildingwide 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. Establishes close collaboration and coordination with key individuals performing safety functions in assigned buildings including PIs Lab Group Compliance Liaisons Department Safety Officers College Safety Officers facilities personnel and others.

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 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 buildinglevel 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 oncall 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.

As an embedded safety staff member the BSM may manage focused aspects of OARS programs and the implementation of special projects and initiatives in assigned laboratory buildings according to the direction of OARS programarea leaders. May supervise support staff contractors coop student workers or other help when made available for assigned projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge and skills required for this position are normally obtained through a Bachelors 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 Masters 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 decisionmaking 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 buildingwide 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 buildingwide 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 oncall 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 noncompliance as outlined in the Northeastern Academic and Research Safety Assurance Program. Assists with startup 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

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience education and skills when extending an offer.

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.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type: