Director of Research Safety

Director of Research Safety

The Director of Research Safety is a senior strategic leader responsible for advancing the University's research enterprise through the development, oversight, and integration of comprehensive research safety programs. Serving as the primary liaison between Environmental Health & Safety and the Office of Research, this position aligns research safety infrastructure with institutional research priorities while fostering a culture that enables innovative, world-class research.

Reporting jointly in partnership with research and safety leadership, the Director provides strategic direction for laboratory safety programs, proactively identifies emerging risks associated with new research initiatives, and ensures the University is positioned to support growth in complex and high-consequence research. This role moves beyond traditional compliance oversight by integrating safety planning into institutional research strategy, forecasting future resource needs, and building collaborative partnerships with faculty, researchers, and executive leadership.

The Director supports the laboratory safety leadership team, provides executive level guidance on research safety matters, and champions a service-oriented approach that balances regulatory compliance with the advancement of scientific discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal liaison between Environmental Health & Safety and the Office of Research to ensure research safety initiatives support the University's strategic research goals.
• Partner with the Vice President for Research and institutional leadership to align research safety capabilities with emerging research priorities, major grant opportunities, new faculty recruitment, and program expansion.
• Collaborate with research administration during the proposal development and pre-award process to evaluate laboratory infrastructure, space, equipment, and safety requirements for high-consequence or specialized research activities.
• Develop predictive staffing and resource models that anticipate future Environmental Health & Safety expertise needed to support institutional research growth.
• Provide executive leadership with strategic analyses regarding institutional risk posture, regulatory changes, emerging research hazards, and resource requirements.
• Recommend long-term investments in research safety infrastructure that enable future scientific initiatives.
• Provide strategic leadership, mentorship, and professional development for the Laboratory Safety Team, including the Assistant Director of Laboratory Safety and Radiation Safety Officer/Laser Safety Officer.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture while ensuring balanced workloads and operational excellence across diverse research disciplines.
• Ensure designated program leaders have the resources, authority, and support necessary to fulfill regulatory and institutional responsibilities for chemical hygiene, biosafety, radiation safety, and laser safety programs.
• Delegate day-to-day operational management to the Assistant Director of Laboratory Safety while maintaining oversight of program effectiveness, strategic priorities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate program performance through metrics, assessments, and continuous improvement strategies to strengthen institutional safety performance.
• Build collaborative relationships with principal investigators, research staff, faculty, and institutional leadership to develop practical, compliant solutions that support complex research activities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert on research safety issues impacting institutional decision-making.
• Participate in or advise institutional oversight committees, including the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Radiation Safety Committee, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and other research compliance committees as assigned.
• Promote a proactive research safety culture by integrating safety considerations into research planning, laboratory operations, and institutional decision-making.
• Lead initiatives that shift safety from a reactive compliance function to a collaborative research partner supporting innovation and responsible scientific advancement.
• Represent the University with regulatory agencies, professional organizations, and external partners on matters related to research safety.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health, Engineering, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, or a closely related scientific discipline
• 8+ of progressively responsible leadership experience in environmental health and safety, research safety, or laboratory operations within a complex research university, academic medical center, government research institution, or corporate research and development environment.
• 5+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams responsible for laboratory safety, biosafety, chemical safety, radiation safety, industrial hygiene, or related programs.
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior leadership, faculty, researchers, and administrators to develop strategic solutions within complex organizational environments.
• Experience supporting laboratory operations and research environments involving biological, chemical, radiological, and other specialized laboratory hazards.
• Proven ability to align operational safety programs with long-term organizational strategy and research growth.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations governing research safety, including OSHA, EPA, NIH, CDC, NRC, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Exceptional strategic planning, organizational leadership, and change management skills.
• Ability to anticipate emerging research risks and develop proactive institutional solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable information for executive leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service, collaboration, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and research excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a scientific, engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience supporting large-scale, federally funded research programs.
• Experience integrating safety considerations into research planning, laboratory design, and institutional strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change and cultivating collaborative, service-oriented research safety cultures.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff, and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.