Nashville, Tennessee
Vanderbilt University is seeking a strategic, high-impact leader to serve as their Assistant Director of Radiation and Laser Safety (RLS). Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for EHSS, you will serve as the university’s Radiation Safety Officer (RSO), overseeing a comprehensive program that protects our world-class research community, environment, and property.
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This is a critical leadership role designed for an expert who balances technical mastery with the ability to navigate a complex academic environment.
The Impact You’ll Make
- Strategic Leadership: Provide visionary and tactical direction for the RLS program, ensuring a safe environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors across the university’s research and teaching missions.
- Regulatory Authority: Serve as the primary liaison with federal, state, and local agencies, ensuring total compliance with all RLS regulations.
- Program Transformation: Lead the high-stakes transition of VUMC’s Office of Clinical and Research Safety activities into unified university operations.
- Innovation & Informatics: Champion a data-driven safety culture by leveraging safety informatics, metrics, and modern instructional technology to drive organizational efficiency.
- Collaborative Governance: Represent EHSS on vital committees, including the Radiation Safety Committee, Risk Management, and Emergency Management Operations.
Primary Responsibilities
- RSO Stewardship: Act as the organization’s Radiation Safety Officer, partnering with university leadership to mitigate risk and ensure best practices.
- Workforce Development: Design and lead comprehensive training programs focused on RLS behaviors and compliance excellence.
- Audits & Inspections: Direct all RLS audits, proactively developing and executing remediation plans.
- Relationship Management: Build and sustain positive, transparent relationships with regulators and internal research stakeholders.
- Continuous Improvement: Spearhead initiatives to modernize and refine RLS policies, programs, and safety software.
What You Bring to the Team
Minimum Requirements:
- Education: Master’s Degree in a relevant field.
- Certification: Must be a Certified Health Physicist (CHP) or National Registry of Radiation Protection Technician (NRRPT).
- Experience: 8+ years of progressive Radiation Safety management experience.
- Authorization: Unrestricted authorization to work in the U.S.
- Location: Ability to commute to or relocate to Nashville, TN daily.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 12+ years of Radiation Safety management experience, ideally within a complex research university or clinical environment.
- Proven track record of managing large-scale organizational transitions.