Associate Vice President Safety and Risk Services

Position: Associate Vice President for Safety and Risk Services
Job Description

Embry-Riddle: A Global Leader in Aviation and Aerospace

With vibrant campuses in Daytona Beach, FL, and Prescott, AZ-along with a Worldwide network spanning roughly 120 global locations-Embry-Riddle proudly stands as the world's largest aviation and aerospace university. Now celebrating our 100th year, we continue to lead innovation in STEM education, serving more than 30,000 students worldwide. Our cutting-edge programs in Applied Science, Aviation, Business, Technology, Engineering, Safety, Security, and Space prepare the next generation of leaders shaping the future of flight and beyond.

The Opportunity:

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking Associate Vice President for Safety and Risk Services to join our leadership team. The Associate Vice President for Safety & Risk Services (AVP) provides strategic leadership and varying levels of oversight and coordination for university-wide programs in areas like environmental health and safety, flight safety, research and laboratory safety, insurance and risk, safety and risk analysis for campus activities, occupational safety and health, and institutional safety policies.

The AVP works across ERAU's two residential campuses and Worldwide operations, partnering with academic leaders, flight operations, facilities and construction teams, student life organizations, and administrative units to ensure a safe, compliant, and risk-aware environment.

The successful candidate will bring technical credibility, operational judgment, strong relationship-building skills, and the ability to move complex policies and processes forward in a timely, effective manner. This role reports to senior university leadership and plays a key part in strengthening ERAU's safety culture and institutional risk posture.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Culture

* Provide leadership to the Manger of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), Prescott Manager of EH&S, and the Insurance & Risk Coordinator. Offer indirect oversight to aviation safety managers.

* Strengthen a consistent and collaborative culture of safety across the Daytona Beach and Prescott residential campuses and Worldwide operations.

* Build trust and enhance communication with academic units, student life, flight programs, research groups, and facilities teams.

* Serve as a visible, approachable leader who builds strong partnerships with students, faculty, staff, and campus organizations.

* Implement and oversee a structured and collaborative ecosystem that ensures safety analysis and mitigation is implemented at appropriate levels across the University.

Flight Safety Governance

* Serve as a liaison to the Flight Safety & Education (FS&E) Committee working closely with the University's core leadership team member serving as the focal for this committee.

* Maintain a deep understanding of aviation safety, flight operations, safety management systems (SMS), and human factors.

* Participate in after-action reviews of flight-related incidents and monitor implementation of corrective actions and process improvements.

* Support leadership in determining which issues escalate to Senior Administration, the President, and the Board of Trustees.

* Collaborate with flight programs (AS, UAS, and others) to ensure alignment between operational safety practices and institutional policies.

Environmental Health and Safety

* Provide strategic oversight for university-wide environmental health and safety programs, including occupational safety, hazardous materials, fire and life safety, and related regulatory compliance.

* Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, DOT, fire codes) while promoting consistent EH&S standards across campuses and operations.

* Drive proactive hazard identification, risk assessment, and mitigation efforts to reduce incidents, regulatory exposure, and operational disruption.

Research & Laboratory Safety

* Oversee research and laboratory safety across the university, including specialized facilities, hazardous materials, and regulated environments.

* Understand unique regulatory considerations such as ITAR-controlled spaces, restricted access labs, and specialized research workflows.

* Improve the efficiency and clarity of policy review and approval processes to prevent proposals from stalling and to ensure timely advancement.

* Support safe operations in high-risk research facilities.

Facilities, Construction & Capital Projects

* Partner with Facilities Management, Planning & Construction, and external contractors to ensure safe operations on active construction sites and during major capital projects.

* Advise on safety expectations and issues for existing and new facilities.

* Provide guidance on commissioning processes and safety integration for new or renovated facilities.

Risk & Insurance Program Management

* Collaborate with the Senior Vice President and CFO to ensure adequate coverage in the university's insurance portfolio.

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