Chief Safety Officer

THE ORGANIZATION:  TRIUMF
Established in 1968 in Vancouver, TRIUMF is Canada’s particle accelerator center. It is considered Canada's premier physics laboratory and is consistently regarded as one of the leading subatomic physics research centers on the international level. The lab is a hub for discovery and innovation inspired by a half-century of ingenuity in answering nature's most challenging questions. From the hunt for the smallest particles in our universe, to research geared towards the development of new technologies, such as next-generation batteries and medical isotopes, TRIUMF is pushing the frontiers in research to advance science, medicine, and business.

TRIUMF’s passion for understanding everything from the nature of the nucleus to the creation of the cosmos sparks imagination, inspiration, improved health, economic opportunity, and a better world for all. Powered by its complement of top talent and advanced accelerator infrastructure, TRIUMF is pushing the frontiers in isotope science and innovation, as well as technologies to address fundamental as well as applied problems in particle and nuclear physics, and the materials and life sciences. In collaboration with 21 Canadian universities, TRIUMF's diverse community of nearly 600 multidisciplinary researchers, engineers, technicians, tradespeople, staff, and students create a unique incubator for Canadian excellence, as well as a portal to premier global collaborations.

To learn more, please visit TRIUMF’s website.

THE OPPORTUNITY:  CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER
The Chief Safety Officer (“CSO”) is responsible for all aspect of Environment, Health, Safety and Quality (“EHSQ”) at TRIUMF. This role is accountable for developing a best-in-class safety culture that supports TRIUMF’s commitments to its people, regulators, and funders and implementing a quality program that informs and advances operational excellence. The CSO provides strategic direction for EHSQ. They also serve to ensure policies and programming align with and support TRIUMF’s strategic plans.

The CSO reports to the Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and is a member of the Leadership Team. They supervise groups responsible for auditing and leading Occupational Health and Safety, Radiological Safety, Emergency Preparedness, and Quality, and interact with their Leadership Team peers and their teams on a daily basis, providing advice, solving problems, interpreting policies, and addressing other safety-related issues. The CSO maintains external contacts with federal and provincial government agencies, regulators, and affiliated universities and institutions, both nationally and internationally. All relationships should be characterized by professionalism, diplomacy, trust, competence, objectivity and responsiveness.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a progressive safety leader to make a transformative impact at one of Canada’s most essential institutions. Servings as an ELT member in this newly elevated role that was created to lead a newly formed division, the CSO, will lead, coach, and develop the growing OHS, Radiation Protection, and Quality teams, currently comprised of ~25 staff through three Managers who will report directly. The CSO will effect change across the organization by fundamentally rebuilding and growing the OHSQ functions, promoting a behavioural safety culture at TRIUMF, helping all employees and visitors to see safety as supportive not obstructive to research and operations, and building capacity by developing training and orientation programs. The CSO will also report to board Environment, Safety and Security Committee, and build stronger relationships with regulators, area first responders, and community partner groups.

Key Responsibilities:
The CSO advises the CEO on all EHSQ matters of significance pertaining to policies and programming, as well as employee and public safety and environmental protection; key responsibilities include:

• Ensure that EHSQ programs, policy, and practices meet TRIUMF’s quality standards and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) licensing requirements;
• Regularly reviews, updates, and harmonizes EHSQ policies and programming to ensure compliance with evolving regulations and standards, ensuring consistency across all policies;
• Oversees radiological protection and safety systems, focusing on safety control areas, including Management, Facility and Equipment, and Core Control Processes;
• Directs, conducts and leads TRIUMF’s EHSQ programs, strengthening preventive measures and improving the laboratory’s WorkSafe experience;
• Uses the organizations information systems and data to inform decision making;
• Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for fire protection and emergency preparedness for the TRIUMF site;
• Oversees audits of all TRIUMF operations to ensure compliance with policies and regulations related to employee and public safety, as well as environmental protection;
• Leads a focus on safety culture that prioritizes the incorporation of safety principles and practices in how we work and operate;
• Institutes a Quality Program and reporting system(s) with target milestones, metrics and KPIs to chart and report on the laboratory’s progress beyond baseline measures;
• Ensures safety KPIs, trends, and root cause analyses are adopted by divisional leadership and communicated top-down through training and communications;
• Supports the CEO in managing the relationship with the CNSC;
• Has the designated Radiation Safety Officer report to them; acts as an alternate RSO as required; and,
• Reviews and approves all designs of facilities, operational procedures and staffing requirements in support of occupational health and safety, emergency preparedness, operational radiological and environmental control, and quality.

THE PERSON:
The CSO is a key role at TRIUMF, driving the adoption of an integrated, proactive, and behavioural safety and quality infrastructure and associated operational processes. The CSO should be a visionary leader who is able to articulate a clear direction, possessing the collaborative skills and wherewithal to make it happen. The ideal candidate is known for their exceptional leadership, integrity, team building, and cultural transformation skills, and ability to ensure effective safety and quality systems are enmeshed across TRIUMF. Extensive experience in all realms of institutional and safety, quality, and change management best practices are essential.

Professional and Personal Qualifications:

• A bachelor degree in science, engineering or a relevant field; graduate degrees are an asset;
• 10+ years of progressive experience leading enterprise OH&S in a complex, technologically diverse manufacturing, industrial, or research environment;
• CRSP (Canadian Registered Safety Professional) or RRSP (Registered Radiation Safety Professional) designations are assets;
• Experience with developing and managing emergency preparedness, an asset;
• Experience in the fields of radiation protection and accelerator health and safety are assets; and,
• The CSO to be able to be trained and designated as a Nuclear Energy Worker.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Extensive experience with EHSQ Programs and standards to ensure that activities are conducted in a safe, healthy, environmentally and socially responsible manner, preventing incidents, injuries, occupational illnesses, pollution, and assets damage;
• Strong working knowledge of EH&S regulations, codes, practices and standards to support the development of a technically competent EH&S team;
• Comprehensive understanding of risk management principles, practices, and regulations;
• Comprehensive knowledge of occupational health and safety principles;
• Experience developing and implementing organizational change strategies focused on continuous safety improvement;
• Experience in developing and / or managing a quality program;
• Ability to lead diverse teams and collaborate efficiently with internal and external stakeholders; and,
• Excellent communication skills, especially writing and presentation of technical, regulatory and policy information.

Competencies and Personal Characteristics:
Leadership – Achieves desired organizational results by encouraging and supporting the contribution of others; a proactive and positive team player who acts with a sense of urgency and leads by example; sets and communicates clear goals.
Accountable – Holds self and others accountable for responsibilities; focuses on results and measuring attainment of outcomes in a business focus.
Strategic – Develops a plan in support of organizational strategic direction. Demonstrates an understanding of the link between one’s job responsibilities and overall organizational goals.
Integrity and Honesty – Demonstrates a resolute commitment to and respect for the spirit behind the rules and core values of the organization, setting an example of professionalism and ethical propriety.
Influential and Collaborative – Has an open and consistent approach to working with others and possesses strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and develop/maintain partnerships, obtaining stakeholder agreement.
Creativity and Innovation – Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas; designs and implements new or cutting-edge programs/processes.
Effective Working Relationships – Treats colleagues, and stakeholders with respect; resolves conflicts in a timely manner, negotiates effectively, and provides effective feedback to colleagues/employees.
Communication – Clearly presents written and verbal information; writes with clarity and purpose; communicates effectively in both positive and negative circumstances; listens well.
People Development – Fosters learning and development of others through coaching, managing performance and mentoring; has a genuine desire to develop others and help them succeed; formally and informally recognizes deserving staff and colleagues.
Stakeholder Focused – Anticipates and attends to the needs of internal and external stakeholders of the organization; keeps resident, staff, and stakeholder interests in the forefront.

TRIUMF welcomes candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and will assist the organization to expand its capacity for diversity. TRIUMF encourages applications from equity seeking groups; these include women, persons with diverse gender expressions, persons of all sexual orientations, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit persons. However, all qualified people are encouraged to apply.

COMPENSATION:
A competitive compensation package includes excellent benefits and a defined contribution pension plan. The salary range is $180,000 to $210,000, and is currently under review for future adjustments.

To apply, please visit our website.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Nick Lay or Tony Kirschner
LEADERS INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE SEARCH
#880—609 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V7Y 1G5
Phone: (604) 688-8422 
Email: vancouver@leadersinternational.com