Director of Environmental Protection (0473U) - 81473

Director of Environmental Protection (0473U) - 81473 About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles , Principles of Community , and Strategic Plan .

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

Departmental Overview

The Office of Environment, Health & Safety's (EH&S) mission is to provide guidance and services to the campus community that promote health, safety, and environmental stewardship.

EH&S is a highly dynamic, fast paced, committed organization focused on promoting workplace safety and environmental protection for the campus community. We are comprised of many scientific, technical, and administrative professionals, working in an evolving, learning, and sometimes challenging environment with a unified goal of supporting the University's mission of teaching, research and public service. EH&S strives to be an inclusive, service oriented, and operationally excellent organization and is seeking highly motivated individuals who want to learn, be creative, seek continuous competency development, and contribute to our mission.

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Position Summary

The Director of Environmental Protection operates with broad and independent authority as determined by the EH&S Executive Director.

The position directs Environmental Protection Programs at UC Berkeley, overseeing the environmental protection and hazardous materials management teams. The position interacts and represents the campus with state and federal regulators.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 10/09/2025. This position is open until filled.

Responsibilities

Plans, directs, and manages the Environmental Protection (EP) programs at UC Berkeley, providing personnel administration including hiring, training, evaluating performance, and as required, implementing corrective action.

• Develops and monitors operational plans.
• Represents EH&S at campus meetings and committees, and/or at UC-systemwide level.
• As part of the EH&S Senior Management Team, may establish and recommend changes to policies that affect the organization.
• By memorandum of understanding or other agreements, may develop, manage and oversee associated programs at other UC campuses, per identified need.
• Oversees work production and professional development of team.
• Supervises, motivates, guides, and applies appropriate standards to staff in their implementation of assigned duties.
• Recommends or approves hiring of new employees, promotions, reclassification, salary actions, and terminations.
• Administers full range of performance management to ensure maintenance of expectations and standards.
• Assesses job and career enhancement development needs for staff, assuring access to development opportunities.
• Ensures staff are fully and properly trained to meet mandatory training requirements of positions.
• Establishes, enforces, and promotes a culture of safety and compliance among all staff supervised.

Monitors budgets and expenses, ensuring compliance with budgetary allocations. Implements budget for hazardous waste and other recharge programs, approving non- compensation expenditure. Recommends budget distribution or augmentations.

• Participates in the annual budget review, developing and assisting with EH&S budgetary proposals and recharge programs to implement the EH&S mission.
• Provides technical input and direct support to annual recharge re-certification activities.
• Monitors rechargeable field work, assist with resolving service disputes

Directly and/or through professional and technical staff, evaluates, recommends, and implements policies and procedures to assure awareness of and compliance with environmental regulations and campus requirements; monitors and prevents environmental hazards.

• Oversees the implementation of federal, state, and local regulatory-driven permits, reports, fees, and licensing such as the multiple certified unified program agencies (CUPA) that UC Berkeley are covered under, required (state- and county-) hazardous materials business plans, medical waste registration, hazardous waste generator fees, EPA treatment permit and fees, storm and sanitary sewer discharge management program reports, underground storage tank licensing program, and air pollution source permit reporting and management.
• Oversees all aspects of proper hazardous waste management which includes processes for labs and other campus entities to properly collect, hold, and request pick- up.
• In addition, processes for the hazardous materials management staff to pick-up, sort, label, consolidate, store, pack, ship, and track unwanted hazardous waste.
• Other waste streams managed include: medical waste and controlled substances.
• Responsible for campus programs that help ensure compliant shipments of hazardous materials.
• Oversees contaminated site clean-up order driven program requirements, including the Richmond Field Station remediation project.
• Negotiates clean-up requirements with state and federal agencies, including both soil and marsh/wetland habitat clean-up.
• Acts as the campus expert on soil sampling, related to both remedial work, and general and construction-related campus soil management.
• Monitors, controls, evaluates and continually improves procedures in accordance with existing, updated and pending regulations.
• Provides reports to Federal, State, and local agencies.
• Directs audits, follow-up and notification activities.

Develops or oversees development of communication programs to ensure awareness of and compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and policies to protect environmental health and prevent unsafe conditions.

• Directs management of two websites related to EP Team programs (Creeks, RFS Environmental) required to meet campus regulatory obligations.

Maintains professional knowledge/expertise of existing and proposed changes in EH&S areas, with specific attention to regulations in particular subject area(s).

• Creates new and complex solutions applying advanced level knowledge/expertise of best practices within multiple technical, professional, scientific, and applied disciplines and makes recommendations and presentations based on accepted scientific methodology.

See Governing Agencies (Laws & Regulations)

Staff development:

• Works on professional committees and assignments, participates in professional training and attends relevant conferences, and/or is mentored or coached on a formal or informal basis.

In a campus wide disaster, serve as a key member of the EH&S Emergency Support Function (ESF) or Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This is part of the campus Emergency Management -Hazardous Materials program, and EH&S is identified as one of the several essential service units that may be mobilized to support the campus Emergency Operations Center.

Required Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of environmental and hazardous material management technical requirements, logistics, materials and operations, rules, regulations, and laws.
• Solid skills to create, develop, and implement EH&S projects/programs.
• Proven management expertise to effectively lead and direct subordinate professional staff in different programs.
• Solid interpersonal skills to effectively motivate others, skilled in facilitation, managing, coaching, and relationship building.
• Proven written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills to effectively convey complex information, ability to understand and apply political acumen.
• Skill to effectively communicate with variety of constituencies and senior campus management.
• Proven and solid communication skills including: verbal and written, active listening, critical thinking, persuasiveness, advising and counseling skills.
• Proven organizational and customer service skills to effectively manage multiple priorities.
• Proven skills to quickly evaluate complex issues, identify resolution, and create effective written, comprehensive analyses with recommendations.
• Ability to effectively represent the campus to state and federal authorities, local agencies and community groups. . click apply for full job details