Assistant Vice President for Health and Safety position (Now filled)

The job posting for the Assistant Vice President for Health and Safety at the University of Minnesota is now open.

Minimum Qualifications:

The Assistant Vice President for University Health & Safety will possess solid credentials in public health and safety administration and should be recognized as an expert in their field. 

Minimum qualifications include: 
* A master's degree from an accredited institution; 
* At least 7 years of experience leading chemical hygiene, biosafety, radiation safety, occupational health & safety, environmental protection, research safety, emergency management, or other health & safety activities, of which 3 years must have been at an upper management level in a large complex organization. 
* Successful experience in supervising professional managers and technical staff. 
* Possession of one or more of the following professional certifications is preferred: 
* Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) - American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) 
* Certified Safety Professional (CSP) - Board of Certified Safety Professionals 
* Certified Health Physicist (CHP) - American Board of Health Physics 
* Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) - Institute of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers 
* Certified Emergency Manager 
* Successful candidates must be eligible to successfully complete a security risk assessment conducted by the U.S. Attorney General/FBI in accordance with CDC/USDA Select Agent Regulations. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 
* Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated record of establishing effective working relationships with diverse populations and functions, both internal and external to the organization. A demonstrated ability to work with campus stakeholders to create a culture of safety while accomplishing academic, research, and outreach missions is preferred. 
* Demonstrated ability to work closely with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies, in addition to advisory boards, committees, and other policy formulating or recommending groups; evidence of positive performance with regard to responses to inquiries from these agencies. 
* Strategic management skills with demonstrated experience formulating and implementing preventative and remedial strategies for a variety of safety, health, and environmental issues as well as emergency management. 
* Ability to communicate effectively and articulately in both oral and written communication and have command of enough logic to be able to effectively form a position on an issue, while taking into account multiple perspectives and competing interests. 
* Ability to develop professional skills of staff. 
* Ability to work cooperatively with faculty, academic administrators and staff to develop new programs consistent with the needs of the institution, including education, record keeping, public relations, and related functions. 
* Strong problem solving, analytical, and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize in a rapidly changing environment. 
* Demonstrated understanding of the nature and purpose of health and safety functions within a higher education institution, including building code compliance, occupational health and emergency management, and the inter-relationship of the environment, safety and health in the workplace, laboratories and general campus environment. 
* Demonstrated leadership in implementing technology to support organizational strategies within a large and complex organization. 
* Personal characteristics which distinguish the incumbent as being an effective leader: team builder, customer-oriented, decisive and result-oriented, and committed to improvement. A management style that entrusts decision-making into the organization with minimal intervention. Possesses both the wisdom and the political savvy to determine which initiatives are important enough to champion and which ones to relinquish.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

This position reports to the Vice President for University Services and works collaboratively with faculty, academic administrators, and staff to support excellence while developing and sustaining a culture of safety in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations/ordinances. The position is responsible for the development, implementation, administration, facilitation, and monitoring of health, safety, and preparedness policies and programs for the University of Minnesota system. It oversees Environmental Health and Safety, Building Code Division, Office of Occupational Health and Safety, Emergency Management.

Responsibilities: 
*Directs department resources to mitigate risks and serve the critical safety interests of the University of Minnesota. Has fiscal responsibility for program operating budgets of approximately $10 million dollars and leadership responsibility for 70 positions. In partnership with University administrators and their departments, develops a customer-focused service environment. 

*Directs and supports a high-impact and metric-based environmental health and safety program and ensure that it is communicated, embraced, and enforced. Develops and maintains active partnerships with academic and administrative departments across the University system to ensure that the institution's safety and regulatory compliance requirements are met. Ensures access to health and safety resources, timely consultative assistance, management of hazardous substances, and facilitation of prevention efforts. 

*Directs and supports the work of the University Building Official and the Building Code Division office. Ensures the administration of the Minnesota State Building Code (MSBC) is integrated with University design and construction standards and the operation and maintenance of University facilities and physical assets in the built environment. Promote the Building Code Division in the delivery of inspection services and business processes on all University campuses. 

*Directs and supports the work of the Department of Emergency Management in the development and implementation of emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts. Evaluates and ensures an All-Hazards 24/7 response to emergencies and large scale events between emergency management, environmental health and safety and public safety partners. Ensures system-wide support for emergency management and advises University leadership on emergency preparedness, crisis management, and business continuity and safety. 

*Directs and supports the work of the Office of Occupational Health and Safety to promote and protect the health and safety of all employees, students, volunteers, and visitors who participate in activities related to the University's missions of teaching, research, and service. Provides leadership to align the goals and objectives of the Office of Occupational Health and Safety with University policies and procedures in support of University Services strategic plan and the University's mission. 

*Serves as the University's responsible official and primary interface with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. 

*Creates a positive work environment, incorporating the University's commitment to equal opportunity and diversity recruitment, retention and promotion of employees, empowering employees to use their full range of talents and abilities. Ensures that annual performance appraisals are completed for all staff in University Health & Safety. 

*Serves as a member of the University Services Leadership Team. Contributes to the overall strategic direction of University Services and advises on University-wide strategy as necessary. Leads the formulation and execution of the Department of University Health & Safety strategic work plan in coordination with other University Services units.