APU is seeking employees who desire to engage in our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is pleasing to God and edifying to one another.

The Lab & Research Safety Officer will provide leadership and support to the APU Laboratory and Research Safety Program by promoting and supporting a comprehensive laboratory safety program throughout the school’s teaching and research enterprise and affiliate initiatives. Lab & Research Safety Officer will support and advance a positive, proactive laboratory safety program in a complex environment, working as a leader and member of the APU Safety Team and collaborating with departmental designated coordinators, University Risk Management, colleagues, and program leaders.

The position reports to the Department of Biology and Chemistry Department Chair and will assist with establishing and implementing program priorities in accordance with the Research Safety strategic plan. This position will collaborate with departmental coordinators and Risk Management and mentor specialists to promote best management practices throughout the campus.

The Lab & Research Safety Officer will be responsible for providing professional leadership, administrative oversight, and for managing laboratory safety operations, services, and programs in all locations. Lab & Research Safety Officer will develop, maintain and promote policies, procedures, and programs for laboratory safety, and ensure the campuses are compliant within University protocols, in accordance with pertinent local, state, and federal laboratory health and safety codes, standards and regulations. The position will be responsible for the effective implementation and ongoing quality improvement of technology-based systems for the Lab Safety team, including but not limited to chemical tracking, database, and training. This position has indirect supervisory responsibility for several Safety Team positions, as well as departmental designated coordinators utilizing University database systems.

Required Education

• Bachelor's Degree in a related area (Chemistry, Biology, or Environmental Sciences) including laboratory classes.
• Preferred: Master's Degree/Advanced degree in environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene, or a closely related field.

Required Experience

• Five or more years experience in environmental health and safety including two years lab work experience in chemistry, biology, physics or engineering labs, with three years preferred - preferably in an academic, public sector, or industrial research environment, project management and leadership experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferred: five years of experience leading hazardous materials incident responses. Experience with developing and delivering effective safety training for groups of personnel. OSHA 24 or 40-hour HAZWOPER, RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) certification preferred; RCRA and DOT certifications. Professional certification, such as Associate Safety Professional, Certified Safety Professional, Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, and Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer. Experience working with students, faculty, and staff in an academic lab environment.

Primary Duties/Essential Functions

• Knowledge of federal, state, and city regulations pertaining to health and safety.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, as a member of a team.
• Ability to facilitate effective operational integration, collaboration, and teamwork within School and University.
• Ability to prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously and exercise good judgment in managing time, including maintaining a flexible presence at multiple lab locations.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional, collaborative, service-oriented, cooperative and effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, unions, customers, the public, regulatory agencies and co-workers through practical and positive communication.
• Ability to operate industrial hygiene/environmental equipment and information technologies, including advanced database, spreadsheet, presentation design software and document editing features; ability to understand, interpret and convey measurements, data, standards and hazardous materials information
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and actively on complex topics and to convey risks effectively;
• Ability to simplify guidance for students and staff, and to prepare thoroughly documented technical reports, excellent oral communication and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare professional-quality presentations, speak clearly and engagingly about complex issues before small and large groups of diverse audiences;
• Ability to perform safety investigations, operations surveys, decommissioning or emergency response; ability to wear a respirator and other personal protective equipment. 
• Ability to coordinate with regulatory agencies such as Cal/OSHA, L.A. County Fire Department, Department of Health Services, and Dept. of Toxic Substances Control. 
• Familiar with State of California and Los Angeles County CUPA (California Uniform Program Agency) regulations and online program for hazardous materials. 
• Familiarity with the EPA/DTSC hazardous waste manifest process and working with hazardous waste vendors. 
• Experience working with IRB (Institutional Review Board) on research safety.  
• Experience with Biosafety, Vivarium and IACUC issues.
• Some travel required to regional lab and research locations.

Skills

• Knowledge of the structure of laboratory safety programs in an academic or research setting and relevant regulations including Cal/OSHA, CDC, DTSC, EPA, and LA CO Fire Dept.
• Familiarity with environmental health and safety management software.
• Experience leading a hazardous materials incident response.
• Experience with developing and delivering effective safety training for groups of personnel. 
• Experience implementing the Chemical Hygiene Plan and functioning as the Chemical Hygiene Officer. 

Mental Demands

• In agreement with the purpose and goals of Azusa Pacific University in providing a Christian-based higher education for its students.
• Ability to work under pressure, demonstrating a mature demeanor while successfully prioritizing and completing multiple deadline-oriented tasks with accuracy and consistency.
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretionary skills in determining when to act independently and when to consult management prior to taking action.
• Self-starter with a positive attitude.

Physical Demands

• May involve repetitive typing motions and sitting at a computer keyboard for an extended time period.
• Hearing and speaking on the telephone and computer and walking across campus grounds including stairs.
• Ability to conduct business at other offices on or off campus.
• Ability to bend, grasp, reach, and lift up to 40 lbs. occasionally.
• Must have the ability to be reachable for phone or electronic communications at all times, and mobility to respond to emergency situations on campus and regional centers at any time of the day or night throughout the year with the exception of approved leave.
• Normal manual dexterity and flexibility to assist with a variety of emergency situations. 
• Sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment.
• Reading, writing, typing, and computer monitor usage.

Visual Demands

• Computer monitor and reading.

Environment

• Working environment is both a standard business office and campus environment, as well as exposure to outside weather conditions during drills, programs, inspections, & emergencies.
• Subject to exposure to potentially hazardous materials, fumes from chemicals.

Technologies

• Proficient in Google Apps., Microsoft Office, Word, Excel.

Compensation

• Grade 17: $91,587 to $105,325 is the annual salary for this role and reflects what Azusa Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on the qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, APU offers a competitive benefits package.

Azusa Pacific University is a Christ-centered, multicultural community that values and seeks faculty and staff who are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation. Please click the links to learn more about 'what we believe', our 'mission statement', and our 'statement of faith'.

You can learn more about APU by watching the stories of faculty, staff, and alumni as they carry out our mission here: http://www.apu.edu/stories/

Azusa Pacific University will conduct a background check on all final candidates.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled unless otherwise stated. Azusa Pacific University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.