Item 3.C-June 14, 2013
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
To expedite and facilitate the PDQ review process, please send the PDQ and Org Chart electronically to marshag@unr.edu for discussion and for initial review before routing PDQ for approval signatures.
Questions - call UNR Faculty HR at 682-6114
INSTRUCTIONS: See http://www.unr.edu/hr/compensation-and-evaluation for complete instructions.
Position #(s): 10864 Incumbent(s) Name (if applicable): Benjamin G. Owens
Current Title: Manager, Laboratory Safety
(JCC:77836;3B)
Current Range: 4
Department: Environmental Health and Safety
Account #(s): 1201-121-0809
College/Division: Vice President, Research
Action Proposed: ( check all that apply )
( ) New position: Proposed Range:
Proposed Title:
(X) Title Change, Proposed Title: Assistant Director, EH&S (Laboratory Safety)
( ) Proposed Reassignment from
( ) Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
( ) Line of Progression (show titles below)
Range:
JCC (Current or new HR assigned):
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
____________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
____________________________________________________________
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature
____________________________________________________________
Director/Chair/Dean Stephanie Woolf, Director, EHS
__________________
Date
__________________
Date
__________________
Date
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
____________________________________________________________
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Marsha Read
__________________
Date
Vice President, Research / Dean, Graduate School
Action Approved by the Provost/President (Completed by Faculty HR):
Pos #(s): 10864 JCC: 67406 Range: 4 EEO: 6/1/2013
Approved Title: Assistant Director, EH&S (Laboratory Safety)
Employee signs on “final” stamped approved PDQ and sends to HR for personnel file.
Employee Signature:_______________________________________________ __________________
Date
Printed Name: ____________________________________________________
Rev: 10/1/2012

Position Description – Assistant Director, EH&S (Laboratory 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 Assistant Director, Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) for Laboratory Safety, is responsible for managing the University of Nevada, Reno laboratory safety program, which includes the chemical hygiene, biosafety, select agent, and chemical management services programs. The position serves as the institutional Chemical Hygiene Officer and Biosafety Officer and is the institutional authority regarding chemical hygiene, biosafety, and select agent issues. . The incumbent provides budget planning and projection, strategic planning, staff supervision, and serves on University committees to represent EH&S. The Assistant Director meets with the other Assistant Directors and the EH&S
Director for development and refinement of programs to grow the expertise of the department. The position reports to the Director, EH&S.
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).
50% - Laboratory Safety Program Management and Training

Provide leadership and technical expertise to laboratory personnel (students and employees), faculty, and administrators

Serve as institutional authority on chemical hygiene and biosafety issues, and EH&S technical representative on regulatory issues related to laboratory safety (chemical hygiene, biosafety, and chemical inventory)Develop and update the required university Chemical Hygiene Plan
(CHP) and the Biosafety Manual (BSM) which establish policies and procedures for hazardous chemicals and biological agents, respectively

Work with research and teaching laboratories on an ongoing basis to produce custom CHPs and BSMs that reflect specific needs of individual situations

Evaluate research and teaching laboratories and make recommendations to ensure implementation of safe work practices and compliance with federal, state and local laboratory safety regulations and UNR policies

Coach and mentor department chairs, directors, faculty and laboratory personnel on safe chemical hygiene and biosafety practices and broad regulatory requirements that pertain to laboratory activities (acquisition, storage, use, disposal, shipment, and incident planning and response)

Manage development and maintenance of the required university Blood-borne Pathogens
Exposure Control Manual that establishes blood-borne pathogens policies and procedures

Develop and maintain required university Biohazardous Waste Plan and manage biohazardous waste program, including compiling and submitting annual report required for maintenance of institutional regulatory permit

Provide leadership and establish priorities, goals, and metrics for laboratory safety program to include chemical hygiene, biosafety, select agent, and chemical management services functions
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Ensure appropriateness and effectiveness of laboratory safety functions, activities, and projects, to include quality and timeliness of activities and reports required for institutional regulatory permits related to chemical air emissions, chemical inventory reporting, and biohazardous waste

Ensure compatibility of laboratory safety programs with department goals and other EH&S initiatives and programs by communicating effectively and working cooperatively with other
EH&S functions

Position Description – Assistant Director, EH&S (Laboratory Safety) Page 3

Manage laboratory safety programs related to chemical and biological safety topics

Develop and present training on laboratory safety topics such as chemical safety, biosafety, bloodborne pathogens, biohazardous waste, ventilation, and specific chemical safety topics
(e.g., formaldehyde)

Serve as primary instructor for laboratory safety topics in any academic courses for which
EH&S is responsible
15% - Select Agent Program

Manage the university select agent program as the institutional Responsible Official, which includes facilities and operations on the Reno campus and in Las Vegas

Act as institutional representative to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for all select agent matters

Obtain approval from the CDC/USDA for access to select agents as specified in the USA
Patriot Act of 2001; the Public Health Security, Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002: 7 CFR 331; 9 CFR 121; and 42 CFR 73

Ensure compliance with all select agent regulations and approve by signature all select agent activities and transfers, as well as any changes to the select agent registration
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Develop and conduct annual select agent training and exercises of required written biosafety, security, and incident response plans

Implement programs and measures to ensure safety of personnel and security of select agents, to include personnel reliability programs, facility and computer security, and accountability of select agents

Coordinate with Facilities Maintenance, laboratory managers, and contractorsto perform required evaluations of select agent (biosafety level 3) laboratories to ensure continued proper operation of these specialized facilities
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Travel to Las Vegas on at least on a quarterly basis to advise and inspect select agent facilities, written plans, operational procedures, security measures, and inventories
15% - Operations Management

Provide budget planning and projection

Participate in strategic planning of EH&S
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Serve on University committees to represent EH&S
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Provide leadership and supervision for various employee and safety management functions to include development of priorities and performance objectives, annual performance evaluation, hiring, conflict management, and discipline (in conjunction with EH&S Director) for faculty, staff and students

Meet with the other Assistant Directors and the EH&S Director for development and refinement of programs to grow the expertise of the department
10% - Safety Committee Participation and Support
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

As university Biosafety Officer, serve as voting member of federally mandated IBC.

Review biological agent use protocols submitted by PIs for compliance with biosafety regulations and best practices

Provide biosafety expertise and technical support (priorities and committee issues, literature review, recommendations, technical writing) to IBC
Laboratory Safety Committee (LSC)

Serve as non-voting member of institutional LSC (no EH&S voting members on LSC)

Provide laboratory safety expertise and technical support (priorities and committee issues, policy development, literature review, recommendations, technical writing) to LSC

Position Description – Assistant Director, EH&S (Laboratory Safety) Page 4
10% - EH&S Team Member

Support department goals and projects as assigned by the Director and other EH&S functions including radiation safety, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, and hazardous waste management

Develop and present training on EH&S topics outside of laboratory safety as needed for department to meet training responsibilities

Perform health and safety evaluations and hazard monitoring of non-laboratory work places and provide recommendations to reduce personnel and environmental risks
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.
Level of Freedom:
The Assistant Director is responsible for making independent decisions pertaining to the laboratory safety and chemical management services programs, to include goals and priorities, leadership of personnel, programmatic management, and technical health and safety issues. As the institutional select agent Responsible Official, the incumbent is responsible for making independent decisions and assuring compliance with federal regulations pertaining to select agents, to include safety, security
(personnel reliability and facility security), and incident response. The Assistant Director applies independent judgment to develop innovative solutions to complex technical and management problems. The incumbent takes an active role in the overall management and strategic planning of the department and acts in the Director’s absence when necessary. In conjunction with the EH&S
Director, the Assistant Director makes personnel decisions related to selection, activities, and performance.
Impact:
Judgments, decisions, and instructions given to laboratory staff, faculty, and administrators will determine UNR’s ability to achieve safe and healthy laboratory work environments and compliance with requirements imposed by multiple regulatory agencies. Laboratory incidents resulting in injury, illness, facility damage (e.g., fire), or regulatory noncompliance can result in significant fines, expensive compliance agreements, and negative publicity for the University. This is especially true of activities that involve select agents, as noncompliance can result in severe penalties, including suspension of State mandated select agent activities and specific biomedical research. More importantly, the Assistant Director’s decisions and actions directly affect employee and student health and safety. In addition to the obvious detrimental consequences to affected persons, laboratoryacquired illnesses or injuries can have strong negative impact on the university teaching and research enterprises as a result of negative publicity and regulatory and legal action.
4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity and
innovation) essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
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Theoretical and working knowledge of how chemicals and biological agents are used in laboratories, and knowledge of toxicology and biological agents

Properties of chemicals, how they interact and how they can be safely handled and stored

Biology of biological agents and how they can be safely handled, stored, decontaminated, and disposed of

Position Description – Assistant Director, EH&S (Laboratory Safety) Page 5
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Maintenance of chemical and biological agent inventories, including the need for and benefits of such inventories, inventory procedures, and security issues and requirements
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Safe storage of chemicals and biological agents, personal protective equipment, laboratory ventilation and the use of chemical hoods and biological safety cabinets, contamination control practices, medical monitoring, environmental sampling, waste management and disposal methods, environmental permitting, and essential training

Industrial hygiene monitoring for evaluating exposures to chemical and biological agents and evaluation of other health and safety hazards
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Laboratory facilities and associated facility safety systems that impact health and safety (e.g., ventilation systems, security requirements, and fire protection systems), to include engineering principles and facility requirements for specialized biocontainment (BSL-3) laboratories
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Computerized methods to track all elements of Chemical Hygiene and Biosafety Plans, including distribution of MSDSs and training records

Comprehensive regulatory requirements associated with use of chemicals and biological agents in the laboratory environment, to include: (1) Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) laboratory Standard (29CFR 1910.1450), (2) CDC/National Institutes of
Health (NIH) regulations covering recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and other biological agents, CDC and USDA select agent regulations, (3) Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) hazardous waste and air quality regulations pertaining to laboratory activities and permitting, (4) International Fire Code (IFC) and National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) fire safety regulations as applicable to laboratories, (5) Nevada. Department of
Transportation (NDOT)/ International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations covering packaging/shipment of hazardous chemicals and infectious agents, (6) Washoe County
Biohazardous Waste regulations, and (7) other OSHA and EPA regulations
Skills:
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Strong written and verbal communication skills applicable to all levels of the campus community, including classified employees, students, faculty members, and administrators

Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to plan, follow-up, and manage multiple complex programs and activities
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Leadership skills to provide vision for continued improvement of the laboratory safety function, motivate EH&S laboratory safety personnel, and positively influence and gain cooperation of laboratory workers, faculty members, and administrators
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Proficiency in use of a personal computer and current software applications including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and email)
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Leadership skills
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Strategic Planning
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Budget Management
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Analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
Ability to:
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Assess chemical and biological agent risks and recommend control measures to include administrative procedures, engineered controls, and personal protective equipment
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Research the literature and other sources to gather information on new chemical and biological agents, laboratory procedures, exposure control methods, and laboratory facility requirements and testing, and apply this information to create solutions for specific unique problems

Practice chemistry and microbiology, use personal protective devices, evaluate the physical aspects of laboratory operations, and utilize computer methods for training and records keeping purposes

Understand and interpret formalized policies, guidelines, rules, and regulations

Position Description – Assistant Director, EH&S (Laboratory Safety) Page 6

Coach and mentor faculty and technical staff into development of Chemical Hygiene and
Biosafety Plans that achieve regulatory compliance without hindering research or teaching priorities

Achieve and maintain an extreme level of credibility with all levels of the campus community to ensure success of the entire EH&S program

Translate technical information and solve problems in a manner that achieves workable solutions that respects local circumstances within an acceptable level of risk while attaining regulatory compliance

Work effectively and productively with other EH&S staff, laboratory personnel, advisory committees, physical plant workers, and regulators

Obtain approval (federal background check) from the CDC/USDA APHIS Select Agent
Program for access to select agents
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 Reason for Contact
Administrators, laboratory faculty, technicians, classified staff, chairs and directors, and students
To support, suggest, advise, teach and otherwise communicate for the purpose of lowering human risks when working with hazardous chemicals and biological agents, lowering risks of environmental contamination, and improving University’s regulatory compliance status; to persuade and negotiate on issues; daily one-on-one problem solving to intermittent large group presentations
External
Local, State, and federal regulators (i.e., State OSHA,
State Fire Marshall’s Office,
Reno City Fire Department
(RCFD), Washoe County Health
District (WCHD), NIH, FB, CDC, etc.)
Reason for Contact
To communicate on matters relating to laboratory safety and other chemical and biological safety issues; as select agent Responsible
Official, the Manager act as the institutional contact for the CDC,
USDA, and FBI on all matters pertaining to select agents; to maintain compliance and promote professional relationships
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.
Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution with major in chemistry, microbiology or related scientific or engineering discipline
Academic training must include laboratory work involving use of chemicals and/or biological agents at a minimum of an advanced undergraduate level b. Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required education necessary for a person entering this position.
Bachelor’s Degree and five years, or Master’s Degree and three years, of experience in managing an environmental health and safety program with significant responsibility

Position Description – Assistant Director, EH&S (Laboratory Safety) Page 7 for worker training and both chemical hygiene and biosafety issues to include experience as an environmental health and safety professional responsible for laboratory safety issues at a university, government facility or industrial facility with extensive laboratory research environments. Experience must include management of complex environmental health and safety programs and projects.
Preferred Licenses or Certifications: None c. Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP)
Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer (CCHO)
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) or equivalent evidence of specialty training in chemical hygiene or biosafety areas