Life Safety Manager - Environmental Health & Safety

The department of Environmental Health & Safety at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Life Safety Specialist.

About the Opportunity

Collaborate with the Assistant Director, Associate Director and Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety, to develop an overall strategic plan for the WVU environmental health and safety programs. Develop both short-term and long-range goals and direction for the office and its work at WVU. Execute environmental health and safety related projects involving analysis of plans, programs, policies, procedures regulations and facilities. Work includes conducting subject matter research, holding meetings, and collaborating with units throughout WVU.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Confer with the Assistant Director, Associate Director and Executive Director of EHS when developing, planning, designing, and overseeing innovative, comprehensive environmental, safety, health, and programs for WVU. Oversee policy development, implementation, and management of EH&S issues as they relate to regulatory matters and compliance and overall Life Safety and Fire System Safety of WVU faculty, staff, students, visitors, and resources. Oversee and monitor programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness for Life Safety and Fire System Safety.

• Function as an environmental health and safety leader, advocate. Collaborate, to implement proper procedures as it relates to WVU needs. Keep abreast of developments in the marketplace for environmental health and safety equipment, applicable state and federal statutes and regulations, and specific process subject matter. Collaborate with key stakeholders in the organizations to share information and benchmark our progress. Implement life safety and fire system safety programs and get involvement and support by departmental leadership, faculty, and staff.

• Provide guidance for compliance with legal and university requirements regarding environment, health and safety regulatory matters, regulations, and laws. Provide guidance to ensure compliance with the safety requirements of state and local departments such as the West Virginia Dept. of Labor, West Virginia State Fire Marshal, and other agencies having life safety requirements which affect the campus environment. Support compliance with other legal requirements set forth by applicable local, state, or federal regulatory bodies.

• Assess effects of current and proposed laws, and define options and associated costs, risks, and responses. Providing the necessary support and guidance for the implementation of the various federal, state and locally required environmental health and safety programs to WVU.

• At the direction of the Assistant Director, Associate Director or Executive Director of EHS, author reports, letters and memoranda to administration as necessary, stays current with life safety issues to ensure departmental proficiency and emerging regulatory issues. Also, author responses to state and federal agencies relating to inspections, infractions, and corrective action.

• At the request of the Assistant Director or Executive Director of EHS, the Life Safety Manager may get engaged in activities at other campus locations based on department needs and specific area of responsibility.

• Responsible for the hiring, firing, disciplining and supervision employees of Life Safety and Fire Systems. Meet with staff to develop goals, provide direction, and oversee their independent performance and function of their position. Provide guidance, supervision and oversight regarding investigations, audits, reports, inspections, training, work assignments, and performance.

• In conjunction with the appropriate departmental leads, will oversee development of vendor contracts to ensure contracts are written to meet the needs of the WVU procurement rules and regulations.

• Assist and oversee regulatory issues as they relate to life safety or fire system projects. Issues may include plans review, fire system repair, inspection, testing, or replacement. Meetings may also be conducted with WVU PDC, WVU FM and Architect and Contractors.

• Assist and oversee life safety related issues as they relate to construction. Work with WVU PDC to assist them in their EH&S needs.

• Oversee and approve purchases for the Life Safety and Fire System Safety staff and are responsible for creating and submitting budgetary needs for the unit.

• Work with WV Board of Risk Management (BRIM) to ensure that inspections are completed each year. Work with departments and building supervisors to ensure corrections are made in a timely manner.

• Coordinate with the WV State Fire Marshal's Office on code interpretation, variances, inspections and design review.

• Coordinate fire watches with contractors when fire alarm systems are down.

• Communicate with Morgantown FD and WV State Fire Marshal in reference to the status of fire safety systems on WVU campus.

• Work with branch campuses, farms, and extensions to assist with life safety and fire system needs.

• Assign tasks through a work management system.

• Complete reports to be delivered to administration as required.

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Management, Industrial Hygiene, Safety Management, Environmental Health and Safety related field or equivalent experience is required.
• Master's degree in Environmental Management, Industrial Hygiene, Safety Management, Environmental Health and Safety related field or equivalent experience is preferred.
• A minimum of four (4) years of directly related professional experience in Occupational Safety and Health/Fire and Life Safety.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of organizational structure and methods of operation in an institution of Higher Education.
• Requires a comprehensive knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes, and experience in the enforcement and compliance auditing processes of regulatory agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and interpret federal, state, and local health and safety regulations and communicate quantitative and qualitative information.
• Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to exercise independent judgment in situations of ambiguous or unforeseeable outcomes or emergencies.
• Requires ability to utilize a personal computer. Expertise in the use of Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and general knowledge of Web search techniques.
• Review, interpret, and provide recommendations on architectural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical drawings.
• Use, interpret and apply appropriate regulations to the University environment.
• Demonstrated ability to be creative and solve complex problems.
• Demonstrated ability to complete assigned tasks frequently in a very limited time frame.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with all levels of personnel within and out of the university setting, utilizing skills to negotiate, explain and persuade.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to a wide variety of work environments.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport and maintain partnership and good working relationships with various local, state, and federal regulatory agency personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and work effectively within project teams and committees.

• Demonstrated ability to manage and administrate assigned health and safety programs as necessary for WVU to maintain a safe and healthy environment on university property.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and reason logically and strategically.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead, supervise, and evaluate professional level employees.

• Valid Driver's license.
• Must complete NFPA 101 Life Safety training.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.