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Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Director full_time

NSF’s NOIRLab is the preeminent US national center for ground-based, nighttime optical and infrared astronomy. NOIRLab is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) which operates as a matrix organization, providing services across a range of programs: Gemini, Rubin, MSO (CTIO and KPNO), and CSDC; with facilities in three geographic locations: Arizona, Chile and Hawai’i. The mission of NOIRLab is to enable breakthrough discoveries in astrophysics by developing and operating state-of-the-art ground-based observatories and providing data products and services for a diverse and inclusive community.

The EHS Director is responsible and accountable for the overall leadership in the development, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) function for all of NOIRLab and works with AURA to ensure appropriate management systems are in place for the assessment and assurance of compliance with applicable laws, regulations, company standards and policy and, where applicable, Chilean regulations.

This position leads and provides insight, training, and information to the EHS team of NOIRLab safety professionals regarding the safety strategic objectives and regulatory compliance issues. NOIRLab EHS supports all NOIRLab operations and staff as well as partners, tenants, and users of facilities at NOIRLab sites in Chile, Hawaii, and Arizona.

The EHS Director works closely with the NOIRLab leadership team, managers, technical and administrative staff, and contractors and is responsible for identification, and sharing, of best management practices in the implementation and monitoring of the EHS programs and plans to reduce injuries and costs. The EHS Director works closely with AURA-O to ensure compliance with applicable Chilean governmental and labor insurance (mutual) requirements.  The relationship between the EHS Director and the Center Operations Services is especially important as this group maintains common infrastructure and access controls. 

The EHS Director shares accountability with leadership and has the authority and responsibility to conduct risk assessment to identity and control environmental and safety risk and to bring any matter of safety directly to the NOIRLab Director, Deputy Director and/or AURA President as appropriate.

Essential Functions:

  • Develops and implements a uniform environmental, health and safety program across all NOIRLab facilities.
  • Leads the planning and implementation of organization-wide EHS activities for NOIRLab, soliciting and incorporating input from the NOIRLab and AURA in Chile stakeholders and domain experts.
  • Integrates into all NOIRLab processes environmental, health and safety protections to safeguard all AURA/NOIRLab employees and equipment as well as tenants, visitors and the public.
  • Point of Contact for external U.S. regulatory agencies (OSHA, EPA, DHS, DOT, etc.) and ensures compliance with all applicable U.S. federal and local regulations, and Chilean regulations, as applicable.
  • Leads the safety team and works with all levels of staff, from site-based personnel through NOIRLab leadership, to ensure engagement and a strong safety culture across NOIRLab.
  • Supports development training materials for line management and works to achieve efficiency and standardization of EHS principals, policies, and standards.
  • Ensures site incident investigations of agency-reportable incidents is timely, effective, and sufficient to prevent recurrence. Lead, participate in, and contribute to, any incident investigations when an external or independent investigation leader is required.
  • Responsible for communication of all EHS incidents, learnings, initiatives, and implementing corrective measures and reports status to leadership through completion to prevent reoccurrence and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, company standards and policy and insurance carrier claim reporting requirements.
  • Carries responsibility for reporting and tracking workplace safety through regular EHS incident tracking and long-term trend analyses.
  • Works collaboratively with NOIRLab leadership, continually reviews requirements, policies, practices, and “lessons learned” and updates the EHS programs as appropriate.
  • Plans and implements programs to train employees in site safety practices, job hazard analysis, fire prevention, and correct life-cycle handling and management of equipment and hazardous materials.
  • Ensures that employees are properly trained for their assigned tasks.
  • Coordinates and performs visits and inspections for EHS compliance.
  • Promotes safety and health engagement and awareness through internal NOIRLab channels.
  • Represents EHS, AURA-O, and NOIRLab with internal and external stakeholders, including giving presentations, attending meetings and taking part in reviews.
  • Develops a systematic process to collect data and analyze the causes of accidents and “near-misses” and generates required reporting. Discusses major safety incidents and accidents with NOIRLab leadership, and AURA senior management.
  • Implements initiatives to reduce and prevent accidents and exposure to occupational hazards.
  • Assists in the development and maintenance of an NOIRLab physical security and access-control plan for all base and mountain facilities and infrastructure. Prepares and presents the plan and all recommended revisions for an annual review.
  • Demonstrates for all audiences a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Other Functions:

  • Other duties as assigned.

Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

  • A bachelor’s degree in the field of EHS or Engineering with at least 10 years of relevant EHS experience.
  • Must have a strong working knowledge of OHSA regulations relevant to the astrophysics industry and working knowledge of EHS principles across a multi-site environment.
  • Teaching and change management experience and demonstrated exceptional communication, influencing and interpersonal skills; ability to clearly communicate at all levels with the organization.
  • Solid verbal and written communication skills.
  • Success in advocating for diverse and inclusive teams and work culture
  • Must have a valid Driver’s License; clean driving record; ability to drive a vehicle
  • Must be able to travel internationally, including complying with all travel requirements

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

  • CSP (Certified Safety Professional) certification
  • Safety and environmental management experience with a multi-national organization
  • Safety and environmental management experience of a geographically distributed team

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
  • The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
  • The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
  • Must possess – sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.
  • Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately
  • Travel will be necessary in or outside the contiguous United States.
  • Ability to work at the following elevations:
  • Kitt Peak: Able to climb stairs and work at 6,800 feet altitude
  • Maunakea: Ability to work at 14,000’
  • Cerro Panchon: Ability to work at 8,900’
  • Cerro Tololo: Ability to work at 7,300’

Preference will be given to qualified internal candidates and qualified Native Americans living on or near the Tohono O’odham reservation.

The position will remain open until it is filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application by July 28, 2023.

Update as of 07.31.23– Please note that application date for submissions has been extended to August 9, 2023.

  • Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: Lastname Docname. 
  • Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to employment@aura-astronomy.org. 
  • Please enter 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process). 

Veterans, disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at employment@aura-astronomy.org 

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of 47 US institutions and 3 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories for the National Science Foundation and NASA. AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and to diversity throughout the astronomical and scientific workforce. AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities. 

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at https://hr.aura-astronomy.org/employee-benefits-guide/ 

Consistent with the actions of the Biden Administration, as of 12 May 2023, AURA will no longer require COVID-19 vaccination of its employees in the U.S. AURA employees in the U.S. may be subject to COVID-19 vaccination requirements from other entities, such as host institutions or partner affiliations. 

As a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and/or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. The statements below as well as the requests for self-identification are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping and reporting. Your responses are kept strictly confidential.

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