Vice President, Environmental Health, Safety, Emergency Management - Hackensack Meridian Health

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.

At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Vice President, Environmental Health, Safety & Emergency Management develops, directs, coordinates, implements, and monitors the Network-wide Environmental Health and Safety, and Emergency Management programs and performs all the job functions listed below in accordance with Network procedures and compliance with regulatory agencies.

A day in the life of a Vice President, Environmental Health, Safety & Emergency Management at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Collaborate with Executive, Regional, Local, Nursing and Clinical Leadership to create a sustainable culture of risk prevention to reduce patient and team member harm; reduce organizational harm and improve human experience throughout the network inclusive of the physician enterprise and partner companies.
• Collaborate with Regional and local leadership to promote a culture of safety by supporting and encouraging non-punitive event reporting of adverse safety events.
• Lead workforce safety improvement initiatives and collaborate with workplace health and safety to analyze injury trends to infuse programmatic improvements.
• Chairs/supports network committees, sets agendas, ensures minutes are maintained for key meetings such as Enterprise Risk Management, Environment of Care, Safety and Emergency Management and submits monthly reports on findings, recommendations, actions taken and/or monitoring of the Environment of Care. Acts as coordinator of Network Environment of Care Committee and related structures. Develops these agendas to meet established or new requirements, maintains fully comprehensive minutes, and follows up on action to meet all requirements.
• Lead Network Early Event Evaluation and Resolution Committee to identify cases that would benefit from early discussion, settlement and resolution.
• Lead network risk mitigation activities such as strategic risk matrix.
• Lead and respond to safety notices, recalls, and other industry safety alerts.
• Envision, recommend and implement enterprise wide risk guidelines, protocols and standards. Reviews local and network department environmental and safety programs, policies and procedures for the appropriate action by that committee.
• Comply with New Jersey Department of Health reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with Claims Management administrator and internal counsel to review potentially compensable events and claim trends by site, event type, cost, and work with stakeholders to design educational and training programs for risk reduction.
• Identify and assess risks. Identify appropriate solutions and formulates sound reasonable recommendations for corrective action, using appropriate criteria and cost-benefit considerations.
• Proposes or provides corrective action plans, written or verbal, and can adjust plans for variable fluctuations as necessary.
• Provides developmental guidance to Department safety programs and their subdivisions.
• Maintains important records, policies and procedures, hazard communication information, resource materials, and current rules and regulations.
• Consults with appropriate leaders, services, and departments to ensure safe storage, transportation, and disposal of wastes. Involves in the selection of waste disposal company/contractor and monitors results. Participates in hazard surveillance and the incident reporting system as required to resolve issues. Develop and Manage Biological Safety Programs by conducting risk assessments, facility and waste stream audits, and safety training to ensure staff compliance to all regulations; Develop and Implement Biological/Hazardous Material Shipping Program.
• Manages SARA TitleII/Right-to-Know Program. Ensures all facilities actively maintain individual chemical inventory; creates and maintains a centralized database that includes inventory from all HMH Facilities; prepares and submits annual reports to appropriate regulatory agencies.
• Identifies and defines physical parameters and/or behavioral factors capable of contributing to occupational or environmental health hazards and/or fire hazards.
• Promotes and coordinates the Environmental and Safety Office role in the collection and evaluation of Environment of Care related information.
• Conducts investigations of accidents and fire incidents to determine causes and provide, as necessary, written reports including evidence interpretation, theory and rationale, and final conclusions.
• Develops, implements, and monitors the fire safety and emergency response policies and procedures including urgent response to suspect conditions. Oversees the preventive maintenance of fire protection and safety equipment. Initiates purchase of new equipment and/or orders repairs as necessary.
•  Responds to calls of possible fire or chemical contamination, evaluates the conditions found, takes further actions if necessary to return the hospital environment to normal, and informs and updates the personnel-in-charge of the condition status.
• Serves as the Network's person-in-charge for emergencies or hazardous materials incidents or remains on-call.
• Serves as the Environmental and Safety Officer during disaster response emergencies and specifically directs the actions necessary to protect staff from exposure to hazardous materials.
• Designs and implements appropriate quality control programs and develops processes and procedures whereby the Safety staff and others follow-up to ensure effectiveness. Develops, modifies and maintains Environmental Safety standards to support approved organization goals and comply with outside agency regulations. Coordinates and regulates department Safety Programs to ensure effectiveness. Develops/revised programs and recommends procedural changes as necessary. Conducts inspections and environmental sampling to ensure accident prevention, fire protection, and safety from hazards. Initiates corrective actions as required.
• Manages, coordinates, and monitors administrative activities of Environmental Health and Safety to ensure safe and efficient operations in accordance with established procedures and compliance with regulatory agencies. Manages and oversees department staff, provides work direction, and conducts on-the-job training to ensure the department has a trained knowledge base in the functional areas of Joint Commission Environment of Care.
• Completes performance evaluations and takes appropriate personnel actions. Monitors activities of staff to ensure effective completion of projects and assignments. Interprets and implements Network personnel and network policies and procedures.
• Takes a leadership role in construction-related safety. Ensure there are policies, procedures, and resources to support the Network's construction efforts to include issuing penetration permits, doing pre and post inspections, attending appropriate project meetings, giving design guidance, and eventual signed approval relative to interim and permanent life and general safety measures. Participates in the ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) aspects related to construction.
• Prepares Network for upcoming surveys for all regulatory activities. Takes a leadership role for preparation of Joint Commission Environment of Care surveys, in identifying areas for improvement and for monitoring on-going improvement of preparation efforts. Works directly with surveyors as needed. Researches and prepares strong arguments for HMH's compliance, if needed.
• Maintains effective communication with departments and services to ensure compliance with policies and procedures as they impact Environmental and Safety functions. Interprets codes, laws, etc. and provides guidance to departments as necessary. Develops and conducts appropriate training programs and drills. Designs and distributes instructional or informational materials. Partners with Learning and Performance and other areas of the Hospital to devise the best, most comprehensive training programs that will meet regulatory requirements and enhance the safety of our employees.
• Performs all duties inherent in managerial role. Participates in hiring, training, evaluation, and termination of assigned staff according to Network policies and procedures.
• Performs other special projects and duties as assigned by the Head of Team Member Health and Safety.
• Works in collaboration, with Occupational Health to ensure KPIs, such as DART, are monitored and accurate as drivers for performance improvement.
• Works in collaboration with Occupational Health to: a. Develop proactive programs to reduce team member injuries b. Ensure smooth operations to meet customer needs c. Ensure all regulatory filings to OSHA and other agencies are completed accurately and on time.
• Leads the network efforts to maintain and continuously improve an effective Emergency Management program that meets all network and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinates with the Medical Equipment management team to ensure the safety and regulatory compliance of the all HMH medical equipment.
• Coordinates with the facility team on all utility management programs to ensure they meet network and regulatory requirements while protecting all occupants and buildings.
• Coordinates with Infection Control on all issues that impact team member safety.
• Acts as the main OSHA designated network Respiratory Program Administrator.
• Ensures compliance with OSHA 1910 and other applicable standards.
• Monitor changes in the industry and be able to understand the impact on your own work.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Master's degree in either Safety Engineering, Environmental Health science, Healthcare or a related area.
• At least 5 years full-time experience in Hospital Safety/ Risk in a supervisory or managerial capacity, or at least 8 years full time experience in Hospital Safety/Risk in any capacity.
• At least 10 years full time experience in the safety profession if no hospital experience is evident. 

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Advanced Degree in Environmental Health Science, Healthcare or related field.
• 5 years experience as a Respiratory Program Administrator.
• 5 years plus experience in water and air monitoring safety programs.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM).
• OSHA 10 Certification.
• ANSI Certification (can get within 90 days of hire).
• PCRA/ICRA Certificate (can get within 90 days of hire).

Licenses and Certifications Preferred:

• Certified Healthcare Fire Safety Professional (CHFSP).
• Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
• ANSI Laser Safety Officer.
• Radiation Safety Officer.
• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.
• 8 Hour Hazwoper Certification.
• OSHA 30 hour Certification Construction Safety & Health.
• CBSP (Certified Biosafety Professional).
• Certified Industrial Hygienist.

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!