Associate Director, Occupational Health & Safety

Associate Director, Occupational Health & Safety

Syracuse University is interested in candidates who have the communication skills and cross-cultural abilities to maximize their effectiveness with diverse groups of colleagues, students and community members. Women, military veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Syracuse University is an equal opportunity employer, as well as a federal contractor required to take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

Job Description

The Associate Director, Occupational Health & Safety is a senior technical and operational leader within the Emergency and Environmental Risk Services (EERS) division, responsible for directing the University's occupational health and safety programs. This position provides strategic and programmatic leadership for the OHS function and serves as the institutional subject matter authority on occupational hazard assessment, process safety, safety engineering, and OSHA regulatory compliance. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President of Emergency and Environmental Risk Services, the Associate Director exercises direct supervision over an Occupational Health & Safety Manager and an Occupational Health & Safety Specialist. The position operates as a peer to the Associate Director of Research Safety, with a formal collaborative relationship to ensure OHS program coverage supports the University's research safety operational needs.

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in safety engineering, occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related engineering or technical discipline; master's degree preferred. Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in occupational health and safety, safety engineering, or industrial safety, with at least two (2) years in a supervisory or program management capacity. Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or on track to obtain, preferred. Experience supervising professional staff and managing multi-program safety and health portfolios in complex, multi-use organizational environments. HAZWOPER24 or 40-hour certification required or commitment to obtain within 6 months of hire. Successful candidate is expected to establish their principal residence in the Central New York area within approximately a 30-minute driving distance from Syracuse University.

Skills and Knowledge: Strong working knowledge of OSHA, NFPA, and ANSI/AIHA occupational health and safety standards. Demonstrated technical expertise in physical and process safety hazard assessment, including electrical systems, high-voltage environments, crane and hoist operations, and process hazard analysis methodologies (PHA/HAZOP). Familiarity with NRTL certification processes. Experience in a research university, academic medical center, national laboratory (e.g., DOE/LBNL/SLAC model), or other complex multi-mission research environment. Excellent written, verbal, and analytical skills and strong attention to detail and organizational and time management abilities. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a diverse campus population and to work autonomously in a highly matrixed, decentralized, and complex work environment. Willingness to work collaboratively in support of all aspects of the EERS division. Strong data management skills with the ability to maintain accurate compliance records and interpret analytical data. Valid NYS Driver's license with a driving record that meets University requirements; position requires periodic field work in support of regulated waste and incident response operations. Medically fit and able to wear respiratory protection.

Responsibilities: Provides executive direction, operational oversight, and strategic planning for the University's OHS programs, establishing clear program goals, performance metrics, and continuous improvement frameworks. Supervises, mentors, and evaluates assigned staff; manages hiring, performance, and professional development. Serves as the primary OHS liaison to the AVP of EERS and senior University leadership, providing regular program status updates, risk reporting, and resource advocacy. Represents EERS in University governance bodies, planning committees, and cross-functional working groups, providing OHS input and expertise. Collaborates directly with the Associate Director of Research Safety to ensure OHS programs are fully integrated with and supportive of the University's research safety operations, including physical hazard assessment, equipment safety, and OSHA compliance in research laboratory and shop environments. Works collaboratively with University safety professionals and campus partners to advance a coordinated and comprehensive approach to health and safety across the institution. Develops, implements, and continuously improves OSHA-mandated occupational health and safety programs for research, instructional, and operational environments, with focus areas including electrical safety, control of hazardous energy, machine guarding, ladder safety, pressure vessels, heat illness prevention, and hearing and respiratory protection. Establishes clear program ownership and governance for OHS programs; leads safety committees to strengthen continuity and address compliance gaps. Monitors and interprets federal and state regulatory requirements, including OSHA rulemaking, NYS DOL guidance, and ANSI/AIHA standards, and applies them across the University. Directs and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local OHS laws and regulations; maintains current and effective internal policies, procedures, and best practices. Serves as the University's primary liaison with OSHA, regulatory agencies, and legal counsel. Maintains strong communication with Facilities, Auxiliary Services, and research units on program requirements, emerging risks, and corrective actions. Develops and delivers OHS training programs aligned with regulatory requirements and tailored to University operations. Serves as the institutional subject matter expert on physical and process safety hazards, with technical authority over the EERS health and safety program portfolio. Leads proactive hazard analyses, including Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), to identify and mitigate occupational risks across University operations. Reviews and approves engineering controls, personal protective equipment, safety specifications, and equipment installations to ensure compliance with OSHA standards, ANSI/NFPA codes, and manufacturer requirements. Evaluates new and existing facilities, equipment, and processes for safety engineering compliance; develops and implements corrective action plans to address deficiencies. Partners with Facilities Services, capital project managers, purchasing, and academic units to integrate safety engineering into construction, renovation, and procurement processes. Oversees industrial hygiene programs, including exposure assessment, sampling, monitoring, and controls for physical and chemical hazards. Designs, implements, and maintains an Equipment Safety Evaluation Program (ESEP) to assess and authorize laboratory and research equipment lacking U.S. NRTL certification. Leads or oversees investigations of workplace injuries, illnesses, near-misses, and safety incidents; conducts root cause analyses and ensures corrective and preventive actions are identified, assigned, and completed. Develops and tracks leading and lagging safety performance indicators; reports trends, program metrics, and corrective action status to EERS leadership and senior stakeholders. Directs or participates in response to significant occupational safety incidents and campus emergencies, including 24/7 response or notification: coordinates with public safety, facilities, risk management, and external agencies. Provides oversight and support for EHS&S response to environmental incidents, hazardous material spills, and regulated waste emergencies, including after-hours response. Supports development and maintenance of emergency action plans, occupational safety programs, and preparedness training and exercises. Other duties as assigned.