A Safety Director is responsible for determining and maintaining the strategic direction of their organization's health and safety program and developing a workplace culture where safety is the utmost priority.
No Job Description The Hyperbaric Safety Officer is a primarily patient-facing, technician role that serves as the shift lead for daily hyperbaric operations. While not a formal management position with direct subordinates, this role utilizes prior knowledge to make critical shift-level decisions and acts as the designated safety authority delegate during assigned shifts. As the lead technician to all other technical staff on shift, this role ensures compliance with
NFPA 99, UHMS, FDA
IND, and IRB standards by directing emergency preparedness and enforcing institutional safety policies. The Hyperbaric Safety Officer maintains USF values for supervisory roles by actively supporting and uplifting shift employees and fostering a positive working environment. They collaborate with the Hyperbaric Safety Director to maintain compliance, optimize workflows, and support the Center's mission in research, education, and patient care. Grant-Funded. This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. Responsibilities
Patient Care & Shift-Level Safety Oversight:
Independently operate and oversee hyperbaric chambers for both clinical care and complex research protocols as a primary patient-facing technician. Serve as the safety authority on duty, making shift-level decisions by applying
NFPA 99, UHMS, FDA
IND, and IRB standards to ensure safe chamber operations and protect patients, research participants, and staff. Adjust pressurization/decompression rates to patient tolerance, and manage multiple chamber operations simultaneously when needed.
Shift Leadership & Mentorship:
Act as the lead tech to all other technicians on shift. Maintain USF values by actively supporting and uplifting shift employees, fostering a good working environment. Mentor Technicians I-III in chamber operations, enforce safety policies, and evaluate performance in real time. Train staff in advanced safety protocols and ensure team readiness.
Emergency Preparedness and Incident Response:
Direct emergency procedures during adverse events, including patient evacuation, stabilization, and chamber shutdown. Lead and evaluate shift-level safety drills and act as incident commander during real emergencies.
Safety Audits and Compliance Monitoring:
Conduct shift-level audits of treatment records, safety logs, and equipment checklists. Identify deficiencies and enforce immediate corrective actions, escalating systemic issues to the Safety Director.
Equipment Oversight:
Conduct shift-level preventive maintenance checks, verify oxygen system integrity, and ensure fire suppression systems are operational. Coordinate with the Safety Director and vendors for complex repairs.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Demonstrates advanced expertise in hyperbaric chamber safety, regulatory compliance, and emergency preparedness.
Strong shift leadership skills to guide technicians, support a positive work environment, and enforce safety protocols during assigned shifts.
Regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, safety protocols.
Working Conditions
Environment:
Typical indoor environment/office setting.
Physical Requirements:
Climbing, standing, stooping, and/or typing; Ability to lift up to 20lbs as needed.
Travel:
Ability to travel to other USF campuses and/or other locations as requested.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree health/technical
CHT/CHS, completion of a UHMS-approved Hyperbaric Safety Director Training Course, BLS/ACLS certification
CHT, CHS
credential (required)
Completion of UHMS-approved Hyperbaric Safety Director course
Minimum 2 years of hyperbaric experience
BLS/ACLS
certification (preferred)
Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements. A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
o (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
o (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree;
o (c) Six years of direct experience for a master's degree;
o (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or o (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.
About Us Working at USF With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts. About USF The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu. Compliance and Federal Notices This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check. Applicants have rights under
Federal Employment Laws:
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process. Equal Employment Opportunity The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract. HigherEd360 is part of the HigherEdJobs network.
