POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY
To expedite and facilitate the PDQ review process, please send the PDQ and Org Chart
electronically to marshag@unr.edu for initial review before routing PDQ for approval signatures.
Questions - call UNR-HR at 682-6114
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INSTRUCTIONS: See http://www.unr.edu/vpaf/hr/compensation/placement.html for complete instructions.
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Incumbents’ Name (if applicable): Stephanie Woolf
Position #: 10863
Current Title: Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Current Range: 6
(77927;1B;CA3036;CC043;E)
Department: Environmental Health & Safety
College/Division: Vice President for
Research
Action Proposed: (check all that apply)
( ) New position : Proposed Range:
Proposed Title:
( ) Title Change, Proposed Title:
( ) Proposed Reassignment from Range
to Range
( X ) Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
Employee’s Signature
Date
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature Marsha Read
Interim Vice President, Research
Date
Director/Chair/Dean
Date
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Marsha Read
Interim Vice President, Research
Date
Action Approved by the President (Completed by Faculty HR):
Position #:
EEO Code:
CUPA Code:
Job Class Code:
Exempt: Yes or No Census Code:
Range:
Effective Date:
Approved Title:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Employee Signature
Date
(Employee sign and send to HR for personnel file after PDQ approval for personnel file)
Rev: 2/5/2008
Position Description – Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Page 2
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position and its role in the university.
Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division which reflects the
position in it as well as those supervised in the department. (This section is used for advertisement
of the position.)
The Director of the Environmental Health and Safety Department (EH&S) is responsible for directing
programs to assure a safe and healthy campus environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors, and the
surrounding community. The Director is responsible for campus laboratory safety, hazardous waste
management, radiation, occupational health and safety, EH&S training, emergency planning; knowledge
management, and administration of the EH&S program. The individual must ensure compliance with
federal, state, and local laws, and regulations governing environment, health, and safety related activities
and acts as public spokesperson for University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) regarding environmental health and
safety.
The Director of EH&S acts as Training Coordinator (TC) to promote a safe, healthy environment for faculty,
staff, students, and visitors of the University with the reduction or elimination of hazards by a well-informed
workforce. The TC manages an effective training program through delegation to the subject matter experts
who provide resources in the form of instruction, training materials, and consultation to help units and
individuals determine needs and establish a custom program that addresses those needs. The Training
Coordinator provides expertise in a variety of safety and health related subjects used to support the
successful accomplishment of unit goals and satisfy specific legal obligations. The TC identifies required
forms of training for specific individuals and circumstances, assembles and presents (or have presented)
the appropriate educational materials, maintains legal records of training activities, and files necessary
reports with proper regulatory agencies.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide enough
detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job (percentage first with
heading and then bulleted information from greatest to least percentage).
45% - EH&S Department Administration
 Directs utilization and management of all fiscal, personnel, travel, file, and equipment resources
within the department
 Provides oversight and guidance to all EH&S program managers within the department
 Provides direct supervision of EH&S personnel, both professional and classified staff.
 Directs management and selection of EH&S Department personnel to ensure that the staff is
professionally competent, and that campus personnel policies, including affirmative action and equal
employment opportunities are in compliance
35% - Policies and Regulations Compliance
 Conducts long-range planning necessary to identify and implement new programs and policies to
assure compliance with changing governmental regulations, and accepted environment, health, and
safety best practices
 Serves as campus liaison to federal, state, and local government agencies that regulate university
environment, occupational health, and occupational safety issues (with the exceptions of food safety
and fire safety)
 Develops and maintains a University Environmental Policy and associated procedures, and a
University Occupational Health and Safety Policy and associated procedures
Position Description – Director, Environmental Health & Safety

Page 2
Responsible for:
1. Laboratory Safety: chemical and biological safety, and chemical inventory
2. Hazardous Waste Management: biological, chemical, and radioactive wastes
3. Radiation Safety: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
4. Occupational Safety: occupational safety hazards, oversight of campus Asbestos Management
Policy
5. Occupational Health: occupational health hazards, indoor air quality and ventilation
6. EH&S Training: coordination of campus and off-site employee safety training, and records
management
7. Emergency Planning: laboratory, office, and building response planning and drills
8. EH&S IT Program: EH&S data collection, management, and presentation, and EH&S web page
management
10% - Training Coordinator
 Manages the development and updates of training courses
 Develops and maintains effective and legal training records
 Manages the coordination of training activities
 Ensures that all responsible staff assesses the effectiveness of their program training
 Ensures that all responsible staff identifies their program training obligations for classes of
employees
10% - Campus Support and Other Duties
 Provides staff support for campus work groups, committees, and task forces assigned advisory roles
regarding the above policies and procedures
 Provide oversight and support for UNR specialty safety advisory committees.
 As requested, participate in undergraduate and graduate courses as instructor
 Accomplishing other tasks as assigned by unit administrator (Vice President for Research), other
central administrators or Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) officials
 Acts as Director and Emergency Coordinator of the Applied Research Facility (ARF)
 Provides staff support for the Applied Research Facility (ARF) to conduct general building duties
(mail handling, key requests, work orders, web site management)
3. Describe the level of freedom to take action and make decisions with or without supervision and
how the results of the work performed impact the department, division and/or the university as a
whole.
The Director is required to make high level administrative, managerial, and environmental health and safety
decisions and judgments which may impact virtually all components of the University at all levels. Errors in
decisions and judgment regarding programs may result in loss of life, personnel injuries or adverse health,
facility and resource losses, or environmental damage, potentially costing millions of dollars and which may
lead to serious adverse publicity for the University. Errors in decisions and judgments regarding regulatory
issues and compliance may lead to violations of federal, state or local laws and regulations resulting in
adverse publicity and fines in the hundreds and thousands of dollars. Errors in decisions and judgments in
regard to personnel and resource management responsibilities may lead to personnel complaints and loss
of resources. Conversely to the preceding, good decisions and judgments may lead to positive publicity,
compliance with regulatory requirements, and prevention of environmental health and safety incidents.
Position Description – Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Page 2
4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written
communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity & innovation)
essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Environmental health and safety principles and practices with detailed familiarity with applicable
federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and accepted best practices
 Human Resource principles and issues
 Policies and procedures in a higher education setting
 Recordkeeping principles and practices
 Budget development and management
 Various training methods and techniques
 Techniques of oral and written communication
 Project management
Skills:
 Excellent verbal and written communication skills
 High quality personnel and resource management skills
 Good teaching skills are highly desirable
Ability to:
 Serve as University spokesperson with the general public, news media, and national, state, and local
legislators
 Organize and manage various committees and task forces
 Facilitate exchange and coordination of information between multiple units
 Manage, prioritize, and complete multiple projects/tasks in an efficient and timely manner while
maintaining focus on organizational goals
 Work under deadline pressure and with sensitive and confidential information
5. Describe the type of personal contacts encountered in performing the duties of the job. Explain
the nature and purpose of these contacts: i.e., to provide services, to resolve problems, to
negotiate.
Internal:
The Director deals with all levels of NSHE and University personnel, from the Chancellor, through the UNR
President, vice presidents, deans, faculty, classified staff, and students. The purpose of these contacts may
range from providing professional advice, managing the department, resolving regulatory deficiencies, and
requesting various support services.
As the Training Coordinator, the Director may personally communicate with every other UNR employee in
the form of arrangements for training, presentation of training and follow-up. UNR EH&S may support other
NSHE institutions with training as facilitated by the TC. As the EH&S department continues to meet its
objectives, extended workshops and formal academic courses will be offered.
External:
This position also interacts with all types and levels of external personnel such as legislators, regulatory
officials, members of the public, and news media. The purpose of these contacts may range from providing
expert advice through responding to positive or negative news stories about the University and its programs,
addressing regulatory citations or inquiries, and general public education.
Position Description – Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Page 2
6. Indicate the minimum qualifications which are necessary in filling this position should it become
vacant. Please keep in mind the duties/responsibilities of the position rather than the qualifications
of the incumbent.
a.
Minimum educational level, including appropriate field, if any.
Master’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution in a discipline directly applicable to
environmental health and safety, i.e., environmental sciences, science (biology, chemistry,
physics), engineering, public health, or human or veterinary medicine
b.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required
education necessary for a person entering this position.
Master’s Degree and five years or a Doctorate Degree and three years of management
experience in a multi-component, complex, environmental health and safety program at an
academic, government, or industrial institution with scientific and technical research
programs
c.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
Nationally recognized certification in an environmental health and safety discipline such as a
Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certified Safety Professional, Certified Health Physicist, or
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager