Program Leader, Waste And Environmental Compliance

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

The Program Leader, Waste and Environmental Compliance reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Program Leader, Waste and Environmental Compliance coordinates and leads work by identifying, analyzing, and managing the hazardous materials compliance/safety issues for NMH. This position is responsible for providing planning, support, and overall coordination of Environmental Compliance and waste management programs for the hospital. The Program Leader promotes hospital-wide awareness of potential health, safety, or environmental hazards, conducts hospital-hazardous materials training, manages the Environment of Care surveillance program, performs risk assessments, and initiates action to assure timely resolution of identified hazards or unsafe work practice.  Builds and maintains strong and positive working relationships with all contacts throughout the health system.  

This role interacts with regulatory and external agencies, completes associated reporting and participates in regulatory inspections/surveys. The Support Services Program Leader has the authority to take immediate corrective action whenever conditions exist that may pose acute threat to life or health or damage to equipment and buildings.   

Description

• Hazardous Material Policy, Plan and Procedure Development:
  • Develop and Maintain Hazardous Materials Policies for NMH as part of the Environment of Care (EOC) Committee
  • Develop and maintain the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Contingency Plan / Emergency Operations Plan
  • Maintain the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan
• Training:
  • Develops and/or Provides training as required by Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),  Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan, Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations 
  • Develops and Provides Pharmaceutical Waste Training (for NMH and NLFH) and Hazardous Drug (HD) Spill Response Training for EVS
• Oversees Chemical and Pharmaceutical (Rx) Waste Management Programs and assists with Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) Program
• Participates in Chemical and Hazardous Drug Spill Response:
  • Member of the Emergency Operations Team for Chemical Spill Response
  • Chemo/Hazardous Drug Spill Response Team member
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory reporting:
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
  • Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) / Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA)
  • Clean Air Act Permit Program
  • Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials
• Completes and maintains EVS online chemical inventories
• Participates in meetings of the Environment of Care Committee
  • Ensures compliance with the Joint Commission (JC) standards for Hazardous Materials
  • Completes Focused Standards Assessment annually when EOC Committee annual evaluation report is due
  • Completes quarterly and annual Hazardous Materials and EOC Surveillance Reports, Dashboard
• Attends meetings of the Emergency Management Committee
• Interfaces with Regulatory Agencies and The Joint Commission
• Manages Environment of Care Surveillance process for NMH
  • Monitors compliance and program goals
  • Submits monthly and quarterly data to EOC survey team managers and main contacts on survey completion compliance
  • Registers new departments, surveyors, managers and directors in Sentact for EOC Rounds surveillance and deficiency closure purposes
  • Participates in bimonthly survey and manager webinars with Sentact and assists with training development
  • Schedules EOC rounds weekly surveillance    
  • Provides guidance to managers on closing EOC deficiencies
  • Works with NMHC Accreditation, Clinical Compliance and Policy Manager Managers, and Sentact to update JC standards related to EOC survey questions
• Assists Northwestern Medical Group(NMG) locations with setting up Rx Waste and RMW services  and provides general environmental regulatory guidance to NMG sites as requested
• Acts as Subject Matter Expert for NMH and consulted by Other Regions for Hazmat Questions/Guidance
• Additional Functions:
  • Maintaining confidentiality of employee and/or patient information.
  • Keeps current on legislation, regulatory changes, code changes, maintains knowledge of current and emerging issues and trends in areas of specialty. 
  • Sensitive to time and budget constraints.
  • Other duties as assigned.  

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, occupational health, environmental health, or related field
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point, Project
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills, demonstrated analysis and problem solving skills, excellent oral and communication skills, demonstrated ability to effectively establish and maintain working relationships with peers and constituents at all levels of the organization. 

Preferred:

• Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) 
• Knowledge of Joint Commission, DOT, EPA, NFPA, and OSHA standards and codes
• Knowledge or experience in performance improvement methodology

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.