Job Details

Associate Director, Research, Laboratory, Chemical Safety and Biosafety Officer

Position Number: 6451621
Location: Kennesaw, GA
Position Type: Occupational and Environmental Safety

Associate Director, Research, Laboratory, Chemical Safety and Biosafety Officer

Job ID: 288706
Location: Kennesaw, Georgia
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

About Us

Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower our 47,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision. Come Take Flight at KSU!

Location

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Job Summary

Responsible for the strategic development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the University's Research Safety, Laboratory Safety, Chemical Safety, Biosafety and Industrial Hygiene team and programs to ensures the safety and well-being of faculty, staff, students, and visitors and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies. Operates as a senior member of a multidisciplinary EHS team, with a particular focus on research and teaching laboratory safety, encompassing chemical, biological, radiation, and laser safety. Requires proactive engagement with the campus community, including direct consultations, technical guidance, training sessions, risk assessments, and incident management to foster a culture of safety and compliance throughout the University. Provides critical emergency response support for laboratory-related incidents.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Oversees a team responsible for leading and managing comprehensive safety programs for research, laboratory, biosafety, radiation, and laser safety, ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local regulations and University policies
2. Leads and manages the industrial hygiene (IH) programs including, exposure assessment plans to evaluate exposure to noise, gases, vapors, dust, biological, and other workplace health hazards in various university-related activities
3. Partners with academic departments to assess and mitigate risks associated with chemical, biological, and radiological materials, including review and approval of high-risk materials and development of safe work practices
4. Provides expert advice and training to Principal Investigators (PIs), laboratory personnel, and students, promoting best practices in laboratory safety and risk reduction
5. Conducts routine inspections across various research and teaching laboratories, radiation areas, and laser work zones, providing actionable recommendations to address identified risks and improve safety standards
6. Conduct periodic review and audits of the safety programs, to ensure effectiveness of the hazard and risk measures, and regulatory compliance
7. Oversees the management, maintenance and calibration of portable and fixed monitoring equipment and systems, ensuring prompt resolution of any deficiencies
8. Supports University departments and PIs in implementing the Environmental and Occupational Safety Management System (EOSMS), advancing a proactive safety culture
9. Plays a key role in the University's emergency response, organizing and participating in drills, hands-on training, and real-time hazard mitigation exercises
10. Collaborates with PIs and lab supervisors, managers, supervisor, and other subject matter experts to investigate and resolve safety-related incidents, ensuring adherence to emergency protocols and mitigating future risks
11. Conducts investigations into accidents and incidents, identifying root causes to develop prevention strategies
12. Participates in and contributes to the planning and implementation of laboratory-related capital projects, and new equipment purchases to ensure that the environmental health and safety aspects and impacts are identified, evaluated, considered, and addressed
13. Participates in interdepartmental and cross-functional teams to promote and enhance University EHS initiatives and compliance efforts
14. Serves as a technical advisor to compliance committees including, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Radiological Safety Committee), providing expertise on safety and regulatory questions

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Safety Science, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, or related fields.

Other Required Qualifications
Current, valid, and unrestricted driver's license

Required Experience
Seven (7) years of relevant work experience, with demonstrated progressive management responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications
Relevant certifications e.g., Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH); Certified Safety Professionals (CSP); Certified Health Physicist (CHP); Professional Engineer (PE); Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP), Registered Biological Safety Professional (RBP)

Preferred Educational Qualifications
An advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Safety Science, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, or related field

Preferred Experience
Experience working in a higher education environment
Progressive work experience in laboratory, research, chemical or biological safety

Proposed Salary

The midpoint of the salary range is $96,000. Offers are based on relevant experience.

Comprehensive benefits to include Medical, Dental, Vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation, generous retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options, and much more! Visit hr.kennesaw.edu/benefits.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES
Able to build and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships with PIs, department heads, staff, students, state agencies, and other stakeholders
Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one time meeting assigned deadlines

KNOWLEDGE
In-depth understanding of relevant laws, regulations, policies, procedures, industry standards, and emerging trends in laboratory safety, biosafety, and chemical safety
Knowledge of health and safety principles, including hazard recognition, evaluation, and control, to accurately assess risks

SKILLS
Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management and presentation skills
Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite, EHS enterprise software)
Strong attention to detail and follow up skills
Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.

For additional information on this policy, or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, eeo@kennesaw.edu.

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time

Background Check

Standard Enhanced
Education
DMV

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening
results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility.

All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.

https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf

To apply, visit https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=43000&JobOpeningId=288706&PostingSeq=1