Division Chief, EHS Program Management

Division Chief, EHS Program Management

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system's 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City. The Bureau of Wastewater Treatment (BWT) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all facilities related to the treatment of sewage within the five boroughs of the City. This includes 14 wastewater treatment plants, sludge dewatering facilities, collections facilities (pumping stations, combined sewer overflow retention facilities, regulators, tide gates, etc.), wastewater laboratories and harbor vessels. The Bureau of Wastewater Treatment is seeking to fill the position of Division Chief of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Program Management, who will be a critical support leader for achieving the Bureau's number one stated goal : "Ensure a culture of safety where safe work practices are fully embraced and integrated into all our work."

Job Purpose

Under jurisdiction of the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, with wide latitude for independent judgment and decision-making, serves as EHS Division Chief for Program Management in the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment.

Job Tasks / Duties

The EHS Division Chief for Program Management will manage and direct the Bureau's EHS Sections for EHS Program Development & Communications, as well as the EHS Assessments, Measurements and Investigations. This position will lead the development and continuous improvement of applicable EHS programs to the work that BWT. The primary focus will be to promote a culture of safety and progressive EHS approaches; will develop methods to assess EHS program success, risk assessment applications and work with agency level and BWT Directorates on inter-bureau EHS programmatic improvements. Responsible for :

• Providing supervisory leadership, coaching and mentoring of EHS Section Chiefs involved in the onsite administration of EHS program implementation and performance improvement.
• Supporting the EHS Directorate by designing an effective strategic plan that enables EHS risk reduction approaches and performance improvement initiatives through program development.
• Providing high level supervision of EHS staff involved in OEHS Assessments, BWT internal Programmatic Assessments, and various levels of site investigations.
• Working collaboratively with BWT Sections and Directorates to promote continual improvement, through a Plan-Do-Check Act approach and awareness of EHS risk areas, regulatory environment, root causes, and programmatic implementation to promote a culture of safety across various operational aspects of the Bureau.
• Provide EHS program direction and technical support to Training Section through updated EHS programs covering hazard recognition process, industrial hygiene, hierarchy of controls, safe work plans and technical safety evaluations.
• Maintaining program requirements of injuries and illnesses record keeping, emergency action plan review, Tier 2 reporting, and risk management programs, among other regulatory program responsibilities.
• Managing critical EHS program implementation including technical direction on Incident Command / Emergency Drill execution, as well as EHS corrective / preventive action implementation.
• Providing general direction to the EHS Director on emerging regulatory standards that impact the Bureau's operations and providing regulatory interpretation for technical decision making.
• Overseeing the review and implementation of Unsafe Reporting and tracking, Near Miss recognition and tracking, EHS investigations, performance metrics, and high-risk activities including crane rigging, fall protection, confined space, hot work, management of change development and approval.
• Continuously develop and improve EHS investigation workflows EHS policy development, Agency level assessments, action item extensions, and finding closeout.
• Overseeing the use and application of enterprise wide systems and computer-based programs (e.g. SIRS, AIT; AIIMS, NOVs, CMMS, etc.,)
• Engaging with Federal, State and Agency level representatives to coordinate the Bureau's approach to compliance and provide appropriate level feedback regarding BWT's efforts at meeting its compliance obligations and management system initiatives.
• Working collaboratively with DEP legal staff and other stakeholders to communicate and resolve high risk observations as well as close out actions.
• Occasionally performing duties of Acting BWT EHS Director, when required.
• Providing technical support and staff management during high-level emergencies and recovery, with 24 / 7 availability.

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by 30 credits in the eh biological and / or physical sciences, and four years of satisfactory full-time experience performing inspections to assure compliance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations governing the areas of food, drugs, and general environmental sanitation, eighteen months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or in supervising staff performing food, drug and general environmental sanitation inspectors or related work; or 2. An associate degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by 12 credits in the biological and / or physical sciences, and six years of satisfactory full-time experience as described in question "1" above; or 3. Education and / or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However all candidates must have at least 60 credits from an accredited college or university, including 12 credits in the biological and / or physical sciences, and at least two years of experience as a public health sanitarian, including or supplemented by eighteen months of experience in an administrative, managerial, executive or supervisory capacity as described in "1" or "2" above.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.