Harvard University EHS is hiring a Senior Construction Safety and Environmental Officer in Cambridge, MA.
This position is a member of EHS’s Occupational & Construction Safety, and Public Health (OCSPH) division and is responsible for the development and implementation of environmental and construction safety programs for construction and remediation projects within the various schools and units within the University. The position is a resource to Project Managers to assist them in implementing their environmental compliance and construction related program responsibilities for their respective projects. Primary responsibilities of this role are to work with the construction project teams to identify EH&S issues and risks during the planning, design, construction, and closeout phases of projects, and assist the Project Managers with maintaining compliance with Federal, State, and Local construction safety and environmental laws.
This position requires strong knowledge of construction techniques and methods and how they relate to potential environmental and safety issues for a project. Complex support may include building occupant & resource protection, continued operation and future use of unique building systems, general construction safety, fire prevention, asbestos, lead-based paint, soil management, PCBs in building materials and other hazardous wastes/conditions.
- Focused on Construction and Renovation, the position will support project managers, architects, general contractors, subcontractors by working with third party construction safety and environmental professionals, and internal EHS groups to identify and mitigate environmental health and safety risks for projects, ensuring compliance with local, State and Federal regulations. Ensure stakeholder involvement by working closely with the Office of General Counsel, Harvard Public Affairs and Communications, as well as other Harvard stakeholders.
- Manages the University’s core construction safety programs, including but not limited to, Contractor Safety Assessment Programs, Contractor Drug Testing Program, Project Design Review Process, EHS Project lifecycle Program (Design Review, Hazard Assessment, Project Kickoff, Project Support, Validation, etc.), Contractor Community Coordination, Construction Safety Standard and Construction and Renovation KPI management.
- Interfaces with applicable regulatory agencies, managing 3rd party EHS consultants, ensuring University compliance in managing construction safety and environmental programs to include inspections and documentation.
- Builds, supports, and maintains an environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, excellence, respect, inclusion, and accountability. Ability to lead through influence rather than authority.
- Works with architects, engineers and designers to incorporate environmental design criteria into plans and specifications. Provides technical assistance to the project teams regarding environmental issues during a project. Prepares, coordinates, and tracks on behalf of the project manager request for proposals, specifications, and plans for soil management, stormwater, groundwater, hazardous materials, and other environmental issues that may be relevant to the construction process. Maintains all documentation associated with these tasks.
- Provides regular reports to project managers and EHS management regarding the status of environmental and safety issues for their projects. Manages and reviews environmental consultant’s work, to ensure compliance, timeliness and technical accuracy. Regularly attend construction meetings.
- Communicates environmental and safety requirements to contractors and provides routine environmental health and safety compliance inspections of construction sites, as necessary. Proactively identifies and reports on environmental concerns, hazards, or risks to project managers.
- Interfaces with regulatory agencies regarding proposed regulations, regulatory interpretations, compliance negotiations, permits, regulatory reform and related activities. Act as project liaison between the regulatory agencies and Harvard school/units.
- Reviews architectural design documents and specifications to identify potential issues related to EHS concerns during design, construction and building operation.
- Coordinates with EHS management team and staff to integrate EHS requirements into construction projects and assist with post-construction transition to building occupancy. Fosters construction-related competency among EHS professional staff.
- Participates in a rotating on-call EHS emergency response program. Responds to and mitigates emergencies involving hazardous materials during and after business hours.