Safety Coordinator

The Safety Coordinator will work closely and will communicate with Arizona Facilities Operations (AFOps) management and other NOIRLab safety team members to help manage safety priorities, safety work, and provide physical safety oversight.  The Safety Coordinator will work with construction contractor’s safety personnel to coordinate safety activities where assigned, at any number of locations on AURA property including but not limited to the observatory or base facility sites.  Reporting to and following the directions of the NOIRLab Safety Manager, the Safety Coordinator will provide the verification of NOIRLab and contractor’s safety compliance by providing site and personnel inspections, audits, investigations, and other activities to verify compliance with OSHA, AURA, and NOIRLab safety, health and environmental regulations, policies, and procedures.

Essential Functions:

• Provides inspections, audits, consultation, assistance with investigations, and analysis of the site of safety management systems; taking action when necessary in accordance with NOIRLab site procedures. Examples include but are not limited to reviewing fall protection equipment and programs, Job Hazard Analysis, electrical safety including lockout tagout, rigging and lifting practices, scaffold assembly and use, PPE and use, equipment operator’s certifications, confined space evaluation, welding safety, and fire prevention measures.
• Provides weekly reports and other documents when necessary and meets with the Head of Safety to discuss progress and issues at least biweekly and the NOIRLab Safety Manager weekly.
• When directed, assists and performs job site incident and accident investigations, post-incident and accident paperwork, and reporting paperwork in coordination with other company safety personnel, and participate in post-incident reviews and follow-up activities.
• Verifies that orientation, general, and specific safety lectures to employees and contractor employees are conducted.
• Reviews contractor safety representative inspections, and audits contractor safety plans. When needed, assists NOIRLab personnel with the development of safety plans.
• Ensures necessary reporting requirements are met regarding NOIRLab safety, health, workers compensation, security, and environmental compliance.
• All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else. This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position as defined in the Vela Award Management system.

Other Functions:

• Other duties as assigned

Required Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) with a Certificate in Safety Management or related field; with at least 2-5 years’ experience in occupational safety or equivalent.
• Must have the ability to effectively interact with all AURA safety personnel, all levels of management, staff and contractors, legal counsel, insurance carriers, physicians, governmental agencies, vendors, and others, in carrying out responsibilities of the position.
• Proven communication and team constructing abilities/skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships and articulate objectives.
• Ability to make independent, and often time’s expedient recommendations and decisions, involving safety regulations, environmental and other regulatory matters.
• Must maintain confidential information and records in accordance with regulations, company policy, and good judgment.
• Proficient in personal computer software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.
• Ability to meet the physical aspects of performing inspections, audits, surveys, equipment evaluations, etc. including walking, climbing, lifting, carrying, etc. at altitudes below 7000 feet.
• Valid State driver’s license and a valid GSA permit issued by AURA.

Preferred Education/Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• Experience in construction safety and contractor management
• Knowledge of observatory facilities infrastructure
• Experience in implementing or participating in the implementation of a Safety Management System in an international environment company highly desirable
• EMT/First responder training
• Fall Protection Competent Person training
• Critical Lift experience
• RCRA training and experience
• NFPA 70-E training
• Wildland Fire Prevention experience
• Life Safety Code training and experience
• Bilingual in English & Spanish

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop; kneel; crouch; or crawl.
• The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must possess - sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands and both legs to a) reach upward, sideways, downward to work with paper files; b) sufficient mobility and dexterity to utilize computer systems, fax machines, copiers, and other office machines.
• Must possess – 1) ability to read and understand instructions, drawings, safety guides, and other written materials necessary to perform job; 2) sufficient visual capacity to perform the applicable functions without assistance of visual aids other than eye contacts or eye glasses; 3) sufficient spoken aural capacity to hear and understand instructions, warning bells, fire alarms, or shouted instructions without assistance of auditory aids other than a hearing aid; and 4) ability to impart information orally so that others understand and can respond appropriately
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolding and catwalks to get to areas inaccessible by any other means. May work at heights up to 150 feet from the ground and must utilize personal fall protection equipment. Ability to access enclosures dictated by the structural design of the telescopes, for routine and non-routine inspection of operational and construction safety.
• Able to climb stairs and work at 6,800 feet altitude

The position will remain open until filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application by October 31, 2023. Preference will be given to qualified internal candidates and qualified Native Americans living on or near the Tohono O'odham reservation.

• Please enter 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process) and attach: a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format: Lastname Docname.  
• Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to employment@aura-astronomy.org. 

Veterans, disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at employment@aura-astronomy.org 

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of 47 US institutions and 3 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories for the National Science Foundation and NASA. AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research. In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and to diversity throughout the astronomical and scientific workforce. AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities. 

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment. Details on benefits can be found at https://hr.aura-astronomy.org/employee-benefits-guide/ 

Consistent with the actions of the Biden Administration, as of 12 May 2023, AURA will no longer require COVID-19 vaccination of its employees in the U.S. AURA employees in the U.S. may be subject to COVID-19 vaccination requirements from other entities, such as host institutions or partner affiliations. 

As a recipient of U.S. Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations. As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and/or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. The statements below as well as the requests for self-identification are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping and reporting. Your responses are kept strictly confidential.