OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGER

Company: University of Washington
Location: Seattle
Posted on: May 26, 2025

Job Description:

If you are using a screen reader and experience any difficulty accessing our web pages, please call 206-543-2544 or email UWHires and we will be happy to assist you. jump to contentJob Location Detail: Hybrid Eligible - 3 days in office, 2 days of teleworkPosting Date: 05/22/2025Closing Info: Open Until FilledOther Compensation:Shift: First ShiftBenefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. Please note that this position has been re-posted. If you have already submitted your application, you need not submit it again, as it has already been received.As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Environmental Health & Safety Department's (EH&S) Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Manager provides leadership for the University's occupational hygiene and safety programs and services, for personnel and facility health and safety and University compliance with local, state and federal, and funding agency requirements. This position will manage and implement the University's occupational hygiene and physical safety programs including respiratory protection, hearing loss prevention, indoor air quality, personal protective equipment, regulated building materials (e.g., asbestos, lead), chemical safety, heat stress prevention, wildfire smoke, shop safety, energized equipment safety, confined space entry, fall protection, and ergonomics. This position directly manages a team of four to seven occupational health and safety professionals.

This position is required to demonstrate professionalism, ethical conduct, and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the execution of their duties and in alignment with the EH&S DEI mission statement.

This job position requires a high level of specialized technical expertise in the field of exposure sciences, occupational health and safety, management skills and competencies, must develop and deliver a highly competent technical and responsive team, and is capable of providing strategic direction and management of institution-wide occupational health and safety programs and services. This position is uniquely complex as it requires the leader to provide both technical and administrative leadership, as well as staff supervision for several complex and regulated institution-wide occupational hygiene and safety programs and related services. This position requires flexibility and strong time and project management skills to balance health and safety preventative efforts while responding to unplanned campus health and safety incidents and emergencies. This position is responsible for the management and compliance of occupational health and safety programs and related services in support of the University's mission. The programs assigned to this position may change over time.

This position has budget management responsibilities for the following areas:

--- Environmental and occupational health monitoring equipment: This position manages and tracks the annual calibration and maintenance costs of sampling equipment, as well as planning for the future replacement of equipment over time. This includes sampling media expenses, laboratory analysis budget. Workplace and environmental sampling equipment includes air monitoring, chemical vapor and chemical exposure monitoring, particle monitoring, respirator fit test equipment, regulated building material air monitoring, etc.
--- Occupational health and safety services budget and resource management for memorandums of understanding agreements (MOU). This position develops the estimated time and effort and costs to support our MOU clients annually. This position is also responsible for monitoring and tracking the resources compared to the budgeted amounts.

This position is critical for ensuring the University implements effective and compliant occupational hygiene and safety programs for prevention of injury, illness, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. This position is responsible for managing hazards/risks related to research and teaching settings, facilities maintenance and construction, UW hospitals and clinics, Housing and Food Services, and UW recreational and sports facilities. This role requires in-depth technical expertise regarding occupational hygiene and safety applications, including hazard recognition, risk and exposure assessment, exposure controls, training, and outreach and communication, to ensure a safe campus and maintain regulatory compliance. A strong leader to manage and execute the program requirements is required.

The position interacts regularly with University's organizational units (academic, operational, administrative, clinical and research), as well as external regulatory entities at the local, state and federal level. Functioning independently and as part of a dedicated, professional management team, this position must exercise discretion, good judgment, and tact when handling confidential materials and addressing sensitive matters.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage and Implement Occupational Safety and Health Programs, Projects, and Services (55%)

This position is responsible for overseeing, developing, managing, and implementing institution-wide Occupational Health and Safety programs and services for all University campuses and medical facilities. This includes written and policy program development, related training content development and delivery (in-person and electronic), technical reports and UW-wide safety and compliance resources, compliance and safety inspections and exposure assessments, injury and illness investigations, and regulatory and accreditation agency interface and reporting. Specifically, this position is responsible for the following health and safety programs and associated services. Programs assigned may change over time.

1. Occupational Hygiene including but not limited to: respiratory protection, hearing loss prevention, indoor air quality, personal protective equipment, regulated building materials (e.g., asbestos, lead), chemical safety, and heat stress prevention.
2. Chemical Safety including but not limited to: Hazard Communication Program, support of chemical hazard communication, hazardous chemicals exposure assessments in all work environments, chemical toxicology, and research protocol reviews involving chemicals
3. Physical Safety including but not limited to: shop/maker space safety, working with energized equipment, confined space entry, fall protection, cranes and hoists, electrical safety, and ergonomics.

--- Ensure effective and compliant programs are in place in coordination with UW unit leadership and EH&S colleagues. Programs and services must meet compliance with federal, state, local regulatory agencies, research funding agencies, and UW Accreditation including but not limited to Washington State Division of Occupational Safety and Health Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), The National Institutes of Health (NIH), and AAALAC International accreditation.
--- Develop and oversee that necessary administrative policies related to occupational health and safety are in place and are current and consistent with regulatory changes and mandates.
--- Provide specialized technical expertise and consultation institution-wide to UW unit leaders, UW personnel, and EH&S department staff and managers regarding environmental and occupational health and safety assessments, risk mitigation, and the interpretation and application of public and occupational health and safety regulations and technical standards that apply to the diverse University settings.
--- Ensure UW units are provided with programs, technical assistance, services and consultation needed for personnel health and safety and regulatory compliance.
--- Proactively interface with University unit leaders and EH&S sections in assessing and mitigating EH&S risks.
--- Advise University unit leadership and campus partners on the impact of legislative and regulatory changes, develop appropriate strategies to address and incorporate into health and safety programs, services, and processes.
--- Lead and conduct technical and business briefings related to public and occupational health and safety for University leaders.
--- Interface with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, prepare and review responses to regulatory inspections and information requests for assigned program areas.
--- Lead and facilitate UW review for regulatory rulemaking efforts in coordination with UW unit leaders and stakeholders.
--- Oversee, compose, and maintain written institution-wide health and safety compliance programs, policies, related compliance tools, training content, and related website content and outreach materials.
--- Apply understanding of occupational health and safety principles and exposure and risk assessment and applications with demonstrated ability to direct quantitative and qualitative exposure/risk assessments.
--- Develop, oversee and implement operational procedures and communications for compliance and occupational health and safety.
--- Oversee, conduct, and review staff exposure assessments and investigations. Review reports from staff and ensure accuracy.
--- Oversee, develop, maintain outreach and communication documents including, technical papers, focus sheets, safety guidance documents and compliance and safety program manuals, compliance tools.
--- Oversee and manage unit compliance and the confidential handling of personal health information per HIPAA, FERPA and other privacy regulations surrounding confidential information.
--- Oversee and implement unit compliance related to handling of information for public records requests, University litigation, and records retention policies.
--- Provide leadership and technical oversight for emergencies and participate in the Unit Response Center (URC) efforts and/or the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and serve as part of the rotating Staff on Call (SOC) team.
--- Oversee, facilitate, and conduct root cause investigation/accident response efforts for workplace injuries and illnesses. Coordinate and communicate findings with UW unit leaders.
--- Lead and implement occupational safety risk reduction strategies and policies in coordination with UW Risk and Compliance Services and Human Resources.
--- Provide consultation and support to Human Resources Division Office of Labor Relations to address union contract safety and health related issues.
--- Prepare media talking points and collect documents for legal actions or public disclosure, if requested.
--- Evaluate national and state trends, emerging issues, and pending legislation and regulation in order to position the University's programs to be ready for future impacts.

Team/Department leadership (30%)

--- This position is responsible for the functional and administrative management of professional, technical staff; conduct personnel actions; plans, assigns, and reviews work of all assigned staff to assure business and strategic goals and objectives are being met.
--- Mentor technical professionals to consider emotional intelligence and client perspective, ensuring the ability to interact in a flexible, innovative approach that serves client needs while meeting compliance requirements.
--- Develop capabilities of staff and ensure strong implementation and program leadership for all programs and services areas.
--- Ensure staff remain technically skilled and have all health and safety training, management support, and personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary for their jobs.
--- Ensure personnel actions follow human resource policies and procedures and comply with union contracts where applicable.
--- Train staff and conduct their job performance reviews.
--- Assure staff are part of larger departmental efforts, regulatory inspections and reviews, and designates appropriate staff to serve on and support intradepartmental teams.
--- Serve as a member of the departmental Management Team to help manage departmental resources, improve organizational effectiveness, provide leadership, plan and implement strategic and budgetary decisions, establish goals, develop administrative policy and procedure, and improve safety culture and cross departmental collaboration.
--- Serve on the EH&S Chemical Safety Team and may serve as the Institutional Chemical Hygiene Officer.
--- Manage and implement process improvement/evaluation benchmarking work of all programs and activities within the areas of responsibility.
--- Develop metrics and implement process improvement methods, including methodology for process efficiencies, to evaluate workloads and program services and determine whether provision is sufficient and where services should be altered or expanded to meet the dynamic needs of University employees.
--- Lead and support departmental committees related to occupational health and safety or cross section initiatives, and other emerging topics.

Strategic Planning (10%)

--- Responsible for the development and implementation of unit's strategic and business plan and for contributing to departmental strategic and business plans.
--- Oversee all process improvement / evaluation benchmarking work of all programs and activities within the areas of responsibility.
--- Evaluate national and state trends, emerging issues, and pending legislation and regulation in order to position the University's programs to be ready for future impacts.
--- Develop metrics and implement process improvement methods, including LEAN methodology, to evaluate workloads and program services and determine whether provision is sufficient and where services should be altered or expanded to meet the dynamic needs of University employees.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

--- Bachelor's degree in occupational hygiene, exposure sciences, environmental health, engineering, chemistry, natural sciences, or related field.
--- At least six years of direct occupational hygiene work experience including program management.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

--- Experience as a supervisor, managing technical professionals conducting occupational hygiene and safety exposure duties.
--- Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with diverse audiences at all levels of the institution including faculty, staff, students, regulatory agencies, University and unit leaders and administrators.
--- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to effective and collaborative relationships within the EH&S department, across the University, and externally.
--- Demonstrated accountability, sound decision-making, strategic planning, time management, prioritization. Capable of successfully managing multiple projects with critical deadlines.
--- Broad knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply laws, reglations, and policy guidance into institutional programs and operations.
--- Self motivation and ability to self direct and lead in situations with ambiguity including emergency/crisis situations.
--- Proficiency with data management and analysis tools in a Windows environment, including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

--- Advanced degree in occupational hygiene, exposure sciences, public health, occupational safety, environmental health, engineering, chemistry, natural sciences, or related field is expected for this role.
--- Certification as an industrial hygienist.
--- Knowledge of and experience with application of health and safety regulations and implementation of an occupational health and safety program for a large employer or research institution.
--- Demonstrated ability to build, train, and mentor effective and collaborative technical and service teams.
--- Experience working in a research institution or institution of higher learning.
--- Experience representing an employer to regulatory agencies.
--- Comprehensive understanding of strategic planning, organizational development, operational excellence, and project management concepts, principles, and application.
--- Experience developing metrics or work outputs and outcomes with sound monitoring strategies.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position will work in all University workplaces including an office location, construction and maintenance sites, research and teaching labs, field research and teaching sites, health care facilities, and animal care and use areas.

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your "My Jobs" page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .
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Keywords: University of Washington, Redmond , OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGER, Healthcare , Seattle, Washington