Environmental Health and Safety Officer

Abilene Christian University is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. All applicants must be professing Christians and willing to support the Christian mission and purpose of Abilene Christian University while employed by the university.

The Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab at ACU is a world leader in molten salt reactor technology, whose mission is to provide global solutions to the world's need
for energy, water and medical isotopes by advancing the technology of molten salt reactors while educating future leaders in nuclear science and engineering. We are seeking to add a talented person with expertise in environmental health and safety (EHS) who is eager to learn and explore new technologies and the safety implications with our multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers.

This position will serve as NEXT Lab's embedded EHS coordinator, working in close partnership with ACU's Office of Institutional Compliance and Risk Management to ensure NEXT Lab activities comply with institutional policies and applicable regulatory requirements.

NEXT Lab Core Values
The key principle of this job is to support ACU's mission to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. Along with this, and the NEXT mission, our core values are the fundamental beliefs and guiding principles that shape our culture, behavior, and decisions.

1. Christ-like Character
We lead with humility, integrity, and wisdom. We strive to be honest mentors who reflect Christ in our actions and relationships.
2. Driven to Deliver
We take initiative, work hard, and stay curious. We're proactive, creative problem-solvers who are always learning and pushing forward to get things done.
3. Better Together
We believe in the power of collaboration. We communicate openly, support one another, and bring a spirit of respect, fun, and teamwork to everything we do.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong desire to integrate into a team that shares our core values and possess the skills listed below. Candidates who align well with our values but may not yet have all of the desired skills may still be considered.

Basic Responsibilities

• Implementation and coordination of environmental health and safety practices within NEXT Lab in alignment with ACU's institutional EHS programs

• Support of Institutional Radiation Safety and Licensing Management specific to NEXT Lab activities

• Implementation of beryllium exposure control and industrial hygiene measures in collaboration with ACU EHS

• Chemical Safety and Hygiene

• Training & Safety Culture Development

• Audits, Monitoring & Reporting

• Stakeholder Communication & Coordination

Essential Duties include the following. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

1) Regulatory Compliance & Licensing Oversight

• Ensure compliance with NRC, DOE, OSHA, EPA, and state and other applicable environmental and safety regulations.

• Coordinate with ACU EHS in the development and implementation of NEXT Lab specific procedures, policies, and manuals.

• Coordinate with Licensing Engineer, QA Manager, and ACU EHS to align NEXT Lab safety programs with reactor licensing, regulatory requirements, and NEXT QA/QC expectations.

2) Radiation Protection & Licensing Management

• Support the Institutional Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) in fulfilling responsibilities specific to NEXT Lab operations.

• Oversee NEXT Lab radiation licensing for sealed/unsealed sources, personnel dosimetry, and reactor operations under institutional licenses.

• Track, renew, and maintain compliance documentation with all applicable radiation licenses in coordination with the Institutional RSO.

• Implement ALARA practices and radiation monitoring programs.

3) Beryllium Exposure Control & Industrial Hygiene

• Develop and implement beryllium exposure control plans in accordance with institutional policies and best practices. .

• Monitor workplace air and surfaces for beryllium contamination.

• Ensure appropriate PPE, engineering controls, and exposure monitoring systems and procedures are in place.

• Train staff and researchers on beryllium hazards and…