Senior Buyer

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff "for fit" makes significant contributions to Howard University's overall mission.

BASIC FUNCTION: Provide strategic oversight and management of enterprise-wide environmental, health and safety (EHS) initiatives, focusing on building a positive EHS culture. Maintain strict regulatory compliance and facilitates continuous improvement on all EHS fronts. Monitor EHS and related activities to ensure compliance with Federal, state and local environmental, health, and safety regulations, as well as policies and procedures. Create and implement safety training programs required to support cultural and regulatory efforts, and continuously identify and mitigate EHS related risk.

SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY: Director or EHS

NATURE AND SCOPE: Internal contacts include departmental senior officials, officers and staff; University administrators, faculty and students. External contacts include federal, state, and local agencies, and the general public.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: Implements, maintains and monitors environmental, occupational health and safety programs to ensure the University's timely compliance with environmental, occupational health and regulations and laws governing hazardous waste, fire safety, air and water emissions, industrial hygiene, infectious waste, laboratory safety, and underground storage tanks. Ensures the University's compliance with OSHA, EPA, federal state and local statutes evaluating existing programs and/or creating and implementing programs and mechanisms to foster the University's awareness of and compliance with environmental, occupational health and safety issues and regulations governing laboratory safety, air and water emissions, fire safety, hazardous waste, industrial hygiene, infectious waste, laboratory safety, and underground storage tanks. Monitors proposed changes and new developments in environmental, occupational health and safety laws. Advises management of the impact of such changes and developments on the University's policies, procedures and programs. Recommends appropriate courses of actions, as necessary. Communicates policies, procedures, changes and new developments in applicable issues and regulations to management and University employees to provide understanding and to ensure compliance. Serves as the environmental safety officer for incidents involving safety of University students, employees and property. Supervises safety inspections and audits of University buildings, laboratories, underground storage tanks, etc. Responds to and reviews concerns, test results and citations from OSHA and other agencies. Inspects University buildings grounds; recommends necessary actions to eliminate safety hazards. Coordinates safety-related activities with other University units and state and federal safety agencies. Compiles and organizes safety and Worker's Compensation data for reports and briefings to management. Prepares, executes and reviews budget. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES: Comprehensive knowledge of OSHA, federal, district statutes and regulations governing environmental, health and safety including, but not limited to, fire and building codes, laboratories, air and water emissions, underground storage tanks, hazard waste management, and hazardous communications. Knowledge of technical methods and analytical techniques used to evaluate compliance with environmental, health and safety laws. Knowledge of research methods and techniques. General Knowledge of computer programs, to include word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software. Enhanced skills in the use of both oral and written English with the ability to read technical literature, write administrative reports and to provide public presentations that are succinct, persuasive and articulate. Ability to handle confidential information and to manage multiple projects, programs and issues concurrently. Excellent skills in public and customer relations with the ability to use tact, diplomacy and decorum. Ability to negotiate and to successfully navigate internal and external politics. Ability to work a flexible schedule and be on call during a 24 hour a day, seven days per week timeframe. Ability to establish and maintain harmonious and effective work relations with department senior officials, staff and security personnel; students, university officials, staff, faculty, outside agencies and the general public. Ability to work inside/outside, in hot/cold temperatures, and in noisy, uncomfortable and hazardous environments.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in a field related to environmental and/or occupational health and safety and four (4) years of experience in the management and administration of an environmental, occupational health and safety program; or Master's Degree and two (2) years of experience or; in lieu of the above, the equivalent combination of training and experience. Certification as a Safety Professional preferred.

Note: This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required. The university has the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not be construed as a contract for employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr