Air Quality Program Manager

The Air Quality Program Manager is part of the Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability (EHSS) organization at Vanderbilt University. The Program Manager will collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders including staff, faculty, students, postdocs, leadership, external regulators, and other stakeholders in furthering environmental goals and initiatives for the VU community. The Program Manager will serve as an air quality expert managing Title V permit compliance, power plant air emissions, asbestos management, and will partner with the sustainability team on greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations, where applicable, for both the main campus in Nashville as well as any additional campuses, as needed. Additionally, the Program Manager will support compliance with all applicable safety and environmentally related laws, regulations, and granting agency expectations. The Program Manager will suggest best practices gathered from peer institutions, stay abreast of safety and compliance developments related to their expertise, and continuously improve EHSS support to the university community with evidence-based research. They will support the success of a high-performing organization by championing and driving efficiency and effectiveness using safety informatics and metrics, databases, software, and instructional technology. #VUrecruitIND

 

About the Work Unit:

Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability is part of the Division of Real Estate, Facilities and Development and consists of research-centric safety services and university sustainability leadership. EHSS is a 21-member team that supports a top 20 world-class research university with a community of 27,000 faculty, staff and students on 12 million square feet of academic, administrative, residential, and recreational space on 330 acres in downtown Nashville, TN. 

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with leadership and a broad range of internal and external stakeholders including regulators to implement and continuously improve goals and initiatives in furthering environmental health and safety. Engage and collaborate to provide support, education and outreach, while building productive relationships across the organization.

• Assist Vanderbilt’s main campus operational functions and additional campuses with compliance requirements related to air quality. 

• Prepare and submit reports to regulatory agencies as required.

• Manage air quality regulatory requirements for emergency generators, fuel tanks, natural gas boilers and VU’s co-generation plant including permit obligations, modifications, reporting, certifications, and renewals. 

• Management of refrigerants used in chillers, air conditioning, and appliances.

• Manage asbestos sampling and abatement contractors and associated asbestos recordkeeping and reporting requirements. 

• Partner with the sustainability team related to regulated greenhouse gas emissions where applicable.

• Provide services to VUMC Facilities Management in accordance with the service level agreement (SLA) related to air emissions, asbestos removal, and regulatory review.

• Lead various projects and initiatives. Ensure initiatives are grounded in areas of expertise, best practices, technical feasibility, and evidence-based research. 

• Develop and report on key performance indicators and progress dashboards.

• Support the university community with compliance with all applicable safety and environmentally related laws, regulations, and granting agency expectations. Continuously review and maintain comprehensive knowledge of applicable laws, regulations and expectations. Stay abreast of and adopt best practices of peer institutions.

• Assist VU Risk Management and VU Finance with periodic environmental risk evaluations and asset reporting obligations for Vanderbilt’s insurance providers.

• Contribute to development of policy and procedural documents intended to address existing and emerging EHSS needs.

• Design, implement, and manage outreach, educational, and training materials for EHSS areas of expertise. Implement compliance policies and training programs.

• Provide technical guidance and expertise to community members, including researchers, related to air quality including Title V, asbestos and GHG compliance

• Provide emergency response as appropriate.

• Manage contractor activities related to their area of responsibility.

• Drive efficiency and effectiveness using safety informatics and metrics, databases, software and instructional technology. 

• Adhere to EHSS standards to meet customer and administrative expectations.

• Act as backup for EHSS’s Water and Soil Quality Program Manager.

• Additional job responsibilities as needed and specific to area of expertise and focus in EHSS.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities. Will serve in a lead role on projects and activities carried out to support EHSS service efforts.   

Experience and Education:

• A master’s degree in related field and/or other related technical specialty is preferred; a baccalaureate degree is required.

• Minimum 5 years of experience with a master’s degree, minimum 8 years’ experience with a bachelor’s degree. 

• Certification is required. Certifications that may be relevant include Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Professional Engineer (PE), Asbestos Inspector, Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or other applicable certifications. 

• Expert knowledge in environmental compliance, environmental science and engineering, air quality, asbestos management, hazardous waste, and environmental management theory, concepts, standards of performance, best practices, granting requirements, and regulations.

• Ability to quickly and effectively respond to emergencies is required.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to develop engaging online and in-person training materials, presentations, programmatic documents, procedures, and reports. Strong ability to deliver training and program-specific presentations in an efficient, effective, engaging, and innovative manner. 

• Advanced skills in Microsoft and Adobe products such as TEAMS, PowerPoint, excel, and Word are necessary. Articulate, Oracle, Tableau, web programming, social media, or database system skills a plus.

• Experience with EHS Assistant software from Onsite Systems is a plus.

• Advanced data management, analytical, quantitative, technical, and problem-solving skills required.

• Ability to quickly learn and adapt is required. 

• Ability to successfully plan and execute multi-task and multi-project requirements and deliverables to meet objectives and deadlines strongly preferred.

• Must have strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills.

• Ability to build and maintain effective respectful and working relationships in a service-oriented environment with a diverse range of people and understand their needs and goals. Exhibit sensitivity, tact, inclusion, and respect for diversity. 

• Ability to work effectively with others as a team as opposed to working separately or competitively is necessary. Ability to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue is required.