Director, Division of Occupational Health and Safety

The Person: We are seeking an exceptional candidate to serve as the Director (Science Program Leader), Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS). The ideal candidate will provide leadership, direction, and accountability for all aspects of the Division associated with development, administration, and delivery of occupational health and safety policy, programs, and training throughout NIH. The incumbent will also serve as an NIH and DHHS subject matter expert and resource in occupational health; community health; laboratory research safety; occupational medical services; and biosafety, biosecurity and biocontainment programs.

This individual will report to the Associate Director for Scientific Resources, Office of Research Services (ORS) but also coordinates activities across NIH and among other federal agencies.

The Challenge: The DOHS Director is an integral leadership position for the NIH and the DHHS, who needs to successfully work across institutional and organizational boundaries. The Director ensures the highest practical degree of safety and health for employees in all activities of the NIH. Through surveillance, consultation, policy development, training, and education, DOHS is the primary operational component in developing and implementing NIH-wide safety and health programs and policies. DOHS assesses and initiates preventive measures to avoid NIH work-related injuries and illnesses through research, monitoring, and investigations, and through workplace reviews conducted to evaluate compliance with occupational safety and health policies and procedures. The Division also participates in numerous projects including developing national and international biosafety guidelines; risk assessment studies; design, construction, and operation of maximum containment facilities; and extensive training activities. Specifically, the DOHS Director, serves as the primary risk manager for the NIH in the areas of occupational health and safety; plans and coordinates a broad range of programs to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment for NIH patients, employees and guests. The incumbent provides national leadership in laboratory safety to the biomedical research community and oversees safety surveys of laboratories across the NIH. The incumbent oversees the NIH Occupational Medical Services, the NIH Community Health programs, as well as, specialized support to the NIH Maximum Containment Laboratories.

More information about the Division is available at: https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/Pages/default.aspx.

Position Requirements: Candidates must have an advanced degree (e.g. M.D., Ph.D., D.V.M.) in a scientific discipline (microbiology, toxicology, public health, etc.) necessary to practice and direct occupational safety and health programs in a large, complex, biomedical institution. In addition, candidates with a Certification as a Specialty Microbiologist through the National Registry of Certified Microbiologists (SM NRCM) and/or

Certified Biosafety Professional (CBSP) (international certification) or equivalent would be preferred. The successful candidate is subject to a background investigation and public financial disclosure requirements.

Salary/Benefits:  Salary range is $50,000 - $230,000 and will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate. A recruitment or relocation incentive may be available, and relocation expenses may be paid. A full package of federal Civil Service benefits is available, including: retirement, health and life insurance, long term care insurance, leave, and a Thrift Savings Plan (401K equivalent).

How to Apply: All interested and qualified applicants (including current federal employees and Commissioned Corps Officers) should visit https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/jobs/Pages/default.aspx to find out more additional information about the position, along with application requirements.

The Office of Research Services will begin accepting applications on February 1, and the search committee plans to start reviewing application materials on March 15. However, the announcement will stay open until the position is filled.

Information about Office of Research Services can be found at https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/jobs/Pages/default.aspx.

You may contact Timothy J. Tosten, MPA, Acting Director and Acting Associate Director for Scientific Resources, Office of Research Services with questions or for more information about this vacancy at ORSDirector@mail.nih.gov.

DHHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers.