Division Chief, EHS Performance Improvement Support

Division Chief Of Environmental Health And Safety

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) Performance Improvement Support, 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."

The Division Chief of EHS Performance Improvement Support will manage and direct the Bureau's facility level environmental, health and safety (EHS) staff in program improvement, facility staff support and technical assistance; 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.

Job Tasks/Duties:

• Providing supervisory leadership, coaching and mentoring of EHS professional staff 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.
• Overseeing the active involvement of facility based EHS staff during OEHS Assessments, BWT internal Programmatic Assessments, 1910 walk-throughs 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.
• Maintaining effective coordination and support of facility EHS compliance and conformance through program implementation (i.e. operational tasks, PM, CM driven activities), identification of EHS risks through a hazard recognition process, industrial hygiene assessments, hierarchy of controls, safe work plans and spot reviews.
• Participating in the preparation and review of environmental programs including Hazard Waste Contingency Plans, Hazard Waste Minimization Plans, NYS PESH and NYS DEC responses, SWPPP, SPCCC, RMP, SPRs, Air compliance, SPDES and related training presentations.
• Actively providing critical EHS program implementation support including technical direction on Incident Command/Emergency Drill execution, EHS corrective/preventive action implementation, and COVID-19 program implementation.
• Providing support for the improvement 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.
• Participating in EHS investigations, labor management meetings, union walk-throughs and work to support OEHS initiatives, 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.,)
• Interfacing 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 closely with DEP legal staff and other stakeholders to communicate and resolve high risk observations as well as close out actions.
• Proactively working to provide implementation support, oversight and effective communication on EHS implementation of contract activities (e.g. BEDC, JOCs, etc.,), pre-turnover inspections, punch list items, Prevention Through Design (PTD), Deep Dives, Pre-construction work, HASP review and approval.
• 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.

Minimum 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.

Preferred Skills:

• Ten years or more years of related experience in a management level position.
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in environmental health, environmental science, occupational health, public health, business administration, public administration, biological or physical sciences, engineering or related field.
• Master's degree in EHS (Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Occupational Health, Public health, Administration, etc.,).
• Professional EHS certifications or equivalent are preferred such as ASP, CSP, SMS etc., from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals(BCSP) CIH, CPEA, QEP, etc., from the Board for EHS Credentialing and ISO 45001, ISO 14001 certifications, etc., from Exemplar Global or other comparable certification issuing bodies.
• Knowledge in EHS management systems, and process systems understanding of industrial operations.
• Experience in project management and supervising EHS related contracts.

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.