Senior Safety Officer, Radiation Safety

Senior Safety Officer, Radiation Safety

Nashville, TN, United States

Address: 2301 Vanderbilt Place, Nashville, TN 37235

This position will be hybrid with most of each week spent working on campus and a smaller portion working remotely. Core work hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday with various alternative work hours and schedules available.

The Senior Safety Officer for Radiation Safety will support the VU research community regarding all existing and developing aspects of the comprehensive university-wide radiation safety and protection program to ensure the safe procurement, use, storage, control, and disposal of radioactive materials and radiation-producing equipment.

Under the direction of the Radiation Safety Assistant Director and as a member of the Radiation Safety Team, you will support the development and implementation of the VU Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability (EHSS) radiation safety program and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, as well as license and certification requirements. Act as the university’s assistant Radiation Safety Officer and lead the radiation safety team in the absence of the Radiation Safety Officer.

As a member of the EHSS team, you will assist in establishing and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with Vanderbilt’s faculty, staff, and students and will identify additional ways to be of service and ensure customer satisfaction. You’ll support the success of a high-performing organization by helping to champion and drive efficiency and effectiveness using safety informatics, databases, software, and instructional technology.

Workplace Highlights:
Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability is part of the Health and Wellness organization and consists of research-centric safety services, university sustainability leadership, and public health operations support, including COVID-19 response management. Health and Wellness is a new organization at the university that encompasses EHSS, along with wellness, employee, and student support programs. EHSS is an 18-member team that supports a top-13, world-class research university with a community of 27,000 faculty, staff, and students on 5.8 million square feet of academic, administrative, residential, and recreational space on 330 acres in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain training modules, educational materials, and job aids based on the latest radiation safety standards of practice endorsed by Vanderbilt University; deliver live training as needed. Contribute to the development of policy and procedural documents intended to address existing and emerging radiation and laser safety and security needs. Administer the radiation safety modules of the EHS software solution. Assist principal investigators and research staff/students in reviewing research protocols and risk/hazard assessments to determine procedures, policies, exposure monitoring, containment practice, and equipment needs. Coordinate and assist research staff/students with activity-specific/site-specific, hands-on training to support effective safety procedure implementation. Perform periodic lab safety audits, including review of lab space, radioactive material inventory, safe use practices and procedures, training, radioactive material and waste storage, and needed documentation to support compliance and Vanderbilt’s safety culture. Prepare and share findings with principal investigators, the RSC, and designated stakeholders and assist with, monitor, and document corrective actions. Perform effluent evaluations for sanitary sewer disposal and NESHAP compliance. Manage radiation dosimetry monitoring program. Manage radioactive material commissioning program. Manage radiation survey instrument calibration program. Manage the radioactive waste program, including preparation and submittal of required regulatory radioactive waste reports. Assist with the laboratory radiation survey and X-ray inspection programs. Perform shielding designs and evaluations. Assist with the coordination of the RSC meeting agenda and preparation of supporting documents and presentations. Coordinate closely with the VU Laser Safety Officer. Coordinate and lead incident/exposure analysis and corrective action development associated with lab exposures, injuries, and near-misses as appropriate. Prepare findings and recommendations using root cause analysis principles and in accordance with applicable external agency requirements. Participate in an on-call schedule. Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Relationships

You will not have any direct reports but will supervise occasional student interns and will take the lead with a team of peers both within and across functions on specific projects. You’ll report to the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and Radiation Safety Assistant Director and will act as Assistant Radiation Safety Officer in the absence of the RSO.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in health physics, physics, chemistry, biology, or a related field is required. A master’s degree is preferred. Three years of direct experience in health physics or a research university setting is required with a master’s degree or five years with a bachelor’s degree. An equivalent combination of education and experience is accepted. Ability to obtain certification from the American Board of Health Physicists. Working knowledge of health physics principles, radiation safety regulations, radioactive waste management, laser safety principles, and other applicable regulations and standards of performance. Strong Excel, Word, and PowerPoint skills are necessary. Captivate, Articulate, Oracle, or database skills preferred. Advanced analytical, quantitative, technical, and problem-solving skills. Relational database experience preferred. Quickly learn and adapt. Must have strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills. Building and maintaining effective working relationships in a service-oriented environment with a range of people and understanding their needs and goals. Show sensitivity and tact when necessary. Ability to work effectively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively, is necessary. Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives on an issue.

Apply Now:

https://ecsr.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/job/10003551/

Jennifer Knapp
Lead Talent Acquisition Consultant, Human Resources
jennifer.knapp@Vanderbilt.Edu

Benefits

In addition to a 403(b) retirement plan and tuition assistance for you and your dependents, Vanderbilt is pleased to offer a comprehensive and flexible benefits package for you and your family.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive.

As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

Please note: All candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include, but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

About Us

At Vanderbilt University, our work — regardless of title or role — is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives daily.

Vanderbilt is proud to have been named one of “America’s Best Large Employers,” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster, and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice through:

• Working and growing together as a community of communities. We are One Vanderbilt. Providing a work environment where every staff and faculty member can be their authentic and best self while providing the resources and opportunities to learn and grow. Encouraging development, collaboration, and partnership both internally and externally while fostering the value that every member of the Vanderbilt community can lead and grow regardless of title or position.

We understand you can choose where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Apply Now:

https://ecsr.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/job/10003551/

Jennifer Knapp
Lead Talent Acquisition Consultant, Human Resources
jennifer.knapp@Vanderbilt.Edu

Vanderbilt University has made the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, the University requires all employees to (1) participate in any required on-campus COVID-19 testing protocol as may then be in effect, or (2) show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.