Director, Environmental Health & Safety

COVID 19 On-Campus Requirements

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, Risk and Safety Services, the Director, Environmental Health and Safety (Director) is a key member of the Risk and Safety Services team, providing operational and strategic direction to the portfolio and the university on all issues related to environmental, health and safety (EHS) in support of the strategic priorities of the portfolio and the academic and research missions of the university.

The Director is responsible for the overarching strategy for environmental health and safety management across the university. This role is pivotal in shaping policies and procedures that ensure compliance with legal requirements, mitigates environmental health and safety risks, and promotes a culture of safety throughout the organization.

Through promoting integration of environmental health and safety standards and best practices into the operations of the university, the Director supports the university’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of the university community.

In addition to policy formulation and oversight, the Director is instrumental in providing leadership and advocacy to influence positive behaviours towards environmental health and safety by collaborating with various departments across the campus and providing the guidance and resources necessary for departments and units to maintain a high standard of environmental health and safety stewardship.

Job Description

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Maintains comprehensive environmental, health, and safety (EHS) policies and procedures across the university to ensure compliance with local, provincial, and federal regulations.
• Develops new programs when compliance requirements change and updates existing programs, policies and operational guidelines when new hazards are identified.
• Lead audits and inspections to identify potential EHS risks and non-compliance issues and oversee the implementation of corrective actions.
• Oversee the delivery of EHS training programs for employees at all levels to foster a culture of safety and environmental responsibility.
• Oversee the investigation of accidents and incidents, ensuring thorough documentation, root cause analysis, and implementation of preventive measures.
• Remains current on the best available solutions to EHS issues based on our academic and research environment and communicates them proactively to the campus community. Actively monitors issues, trends and emerging legislation.
• Leads and monitors procedures and plans for responding to EHS related incidents and emergencies and collaborates with Risk and Safety Services leadership on the maintenance and updating of the university’s emergency management plan that is owned by the Risk and Safety Services Portfolio.
• Lead conversations with external partners, including regulatory agencies, community groups, and environmental organizations, to represent the university’s EHS interests and commitments.
• Lead and further development the departmental priorities that align with the strategic direction of the Risk and Safety Services Portfolio.
• Serves as a member of the leadership team within the Risk and Safety Services portfolio, builds collaborative partnerships and contributes to the delivery of team and departmental goals.
• Manage the EHS budget to ensure the appropriate allocation of resources.
• Plans, prioritizes and manages the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching. Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection.
• Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating performance and conducting formal performance reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Assesses staff training and development needs and ensures that employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Investigates, addresses and resolves employee/labour relations issues, including disciplinary matters. Makes decisions or effective recommendations on matters involving possible discipline, discharge and probationary termination.
• Promotes and fosters a culture of inclusion and diversity and a sense of service in support of the University mission.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• A university degree, graduate level is preferred, in Occupational Health and Safety, Safety
• Engineering, Environmental Science, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in an EHS role, with 5+ years managing in a unionized environment.
• Professional certifications such as CSP, CIH, or CHMM is considered an asset.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, policy development and writing, management and administration.
• Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to compile relevant data from a wide variety of sources, with an ability to pay exceptional attention to details.
• Strong knowledge of the Ontario Health & Safety Act, and other applicable Provincial and Federal health and safety regulations and standards.
• Experience gained within a large post-secondary environment is considered an asset.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL SKILLS:
• Proven track record of successful EHS program development and implementation.
• Excellent leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to foster a culture of safety and engage students, faculty and staff in a proactive health and safety practices across the University.
• Strong team management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong communication (written, verbal and presentation) and interpersonal skills including the ability to develop, build upon and leverage relationships.
• Superior skills in building and maintaining effective personal and professional relationships, ability to elicit trust to foster collaboration, partnerships and collegiality with students, faculty, staff and the community.
• Ability to conduct thorough investigations and risk assessments.
• Experience in developing and conducting EHS training programs.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Strong organizational and planning skills. Project management skills will be critical in this environment.
• Capable of preparing and delivering presentations to various internal committees and groups as well as external/community agencies; recognizes diversity of abilities and adapts content, tone, medium and style of audience to be inclusive.
• Demonstrated policy development, business development and budget management skills at a senior management level.

DECISION MAKING:
• Develops response on behalf of the University to environmental health and safety issues involving government regulatory bodies.
• Provides strategic and technical advice to senior administrators regarding environmental health and safety issues and the requirements for due diligence compliance.
• Makes decisions on innovations to service and program delivery and associated administrative and system development.
• Determines the content and critical information to be presented in the annual budget and operations plan submission, determine budget allocations and staffing allocations.
• Determine appropriate strategies for successful project management.
• Determine appropriate communications and follow-up with stakeholders.
• Appropriately handling highly sensitive or crisis situations that could impact negatively on the University.
• Determines when to advise the Executive Director, Risk and Safety Services of a situation which might impact negatively on the university and formulate recommendations for remedial action.
• Evaluates job candidates and makes effective recommendations on suitable hires.
• Makes decisions and/or effective recommendations regarding transfers and promotions.
• Evaluates employee performance and decides on appropriate training or coaching to address lack of proficiency in carrying out responsibilities, or remedial action for staff disciplinary situations.
• Assesses investigation outcome of grievances and makes effective recommendations on appropriate course of action or next steps on grievances.
• Makes effective recommendations on level of discipline up to discharge and probationary termination.

Employment Equity and Accessibility Statement

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

The University provides support in its recruitment processes to all applicants who require accommodation due to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, including those with disabilities. Candidates requiring accommodation during the recruitment process are asked to contact Human Resources at hradmin@queensu.ca.