Director, Life Safety, Physical Environment, & Emergency Preparedness

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director, Life Safety, Physical Environment, & Emergency Preparedness at Southampton Hospital provides strategic leadership, oversight, and direction for the organization's Life Safety, Physical Environment, Environment of Care (EOC), Emergency Management, Utility Management, and Regulatory Readiness programs. The Director is responsible for ensuring a safe, compliant, and highly reliable care environment across all hospital and affiliated ambulatory/article 28 locations.

Serving as the organization's subject matter expert for Life Safety and Physical Environment/EOC standards, the Director develops and executes strategies that promote regulatory compliance, operational excellence, risk reduction, and continuous survey readiness. The Director works collaboratively with executive leadership, Facilities Management, Safety and Security, Infection Prevention, Clinical Operations, Emergency Management, and Support Services to establish policies, performance standards, and organizational priorities that align with the mission and strategic goals of the health system.

The Director leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs designed to ensure compliance with requirements established by The Joint Commission, CMS Conditions of Participation, NFPA Life Safety Code, OSHA, NYSDOH, and other applicable regulatory agencies. The position provides executive oversight of Environment of Care and Life Safety committees, serves as a key advisor during construction and renovation projects, and drives organizational performance improvement initiatives related to safety, risk management, and operational resilience.

The Director is accountable for fostering a culture of safety and regulatory excellence through leadership development, staff education, multidisciplinary collaboration, and proactive risk assessment.

JOB DUTIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide strategic direction and executive oversight for all Environment of Care, Life Safety, Emergency Management, Utility Management, and Physical Environment programs.
• Develop long-range organizational plans, priorities, and initiatives to advance safety, regulatory compliance, and operational performance.
• Serve as the organization's primary authority and advisor regarding Joint Commission, CMS, NFPA, OSHA, and state regulatory standards related to the physical environment.
• Establish enterprise-wide standards, policies, and performance measures to support regulatory compliance and continuous survey readiness.
• Lead organizational efforts to integrate Life Safety and Environment of Care principles into strategic planning and operational decision-making.

Regulatory Compliance & Accreditation

• Direct all accreditation and regulatory preparedness activities related to the physical environment and life safety management programs.
• Provide executive leadership during regulatory surveys, inspections, and accreditation reviews.
• Oversee corrective action planning, risk mitigation strategies, and sustainment activities resulting from survey findings and compliance assessments.
• Monitor emerging regulatory requirements and assess organizational impact, developing implementation strategies as necessary.
• Ensure maintenance of all required documentation, reports, life safety drawings, assessments, and compliance records.

Risk Management & Performance Improvement

• Lead enterprise-wide risk assessments and environment-of-care evaluations to identify vulnerabilities and opportunities for improvement.
• Establish key performance indicators and dashboards to measure program effectiveness and maintain regulatory compliance.
• Drive performance improvement initiatives designed to enhance patient, visitor, and employee safety.
• Analyze safety trends, incidents, and environmental risks and implement sustainable solutions to reduce organizational exposure.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to prioritize and mitigate operational and regulatory risks.

Operational & Financial Leadership

• Provide oversight and strategic guidance regarding maintenance programs, utility management systems, construction projects, interim life safety measures, and environment-related capital investments.
• Partner with Facilities Management and Engineering leadership to ensure compliance with life safety and building code requirements.
• Develop and manage departmental operating and capital budgets.
• Evaluate resource requirements and make recommendations regarding staffing, technology, equipment, and infrastructure investments.
• Participate in capital planning activities and provide guidance regarding regulatory implications of proposed capital projects.

Committee Leadership & Organizational Collaboration

• Chair or provide executive leadership to the Environment of Care Committee, Safety Committee, Emergency Management Committee, and other multidisciplinary leadership groups as assigned.
• Partner with leaders across clinical, operational, and support service departments to promote a culture of safety and regulatory excellence.
• Partner with leaders across clinical, operational, and support service departments to promote a culture of safety and regulatory excellence.
• Serve as a liaison with regulatory agencies, accreditation organizations, consultants, and external partners.
• Provide regular reports and recommendations to senior leadership regarding regulatory compliance, risk management, and program performance.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Lead, develop, and mentor staff responsible for Environment of Care, Life Safety, Emergency Management, and regulatory compliance programs.
• Establish clear goals, accountability measures, and professional development opportunities for team members.
• Promote organizational awareness through staff education programs related to Life Safety, Environment of Care, emergency preparedness, and regulatory requirements.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS: