Job Description
The USF Health Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center is a state-of-the-art facility housed within the Department of Neurosurgery, Brain, & Spine at the Morsani College of Medicine. Equipped with six monoplace hyperbaric chambers, the Center combines clinical care with large-scale research and is funded by a $28M state appropriation to support a landmark randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans and active-duty service members with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Its mission includes delivery hyperbaric oxygen therapy in compliance with regulatory and UHMS standards for commercial and investigational protocols; training and certifying technical staff, maintaining rigorous safety oversight, and translating findings from studies into improvements in patient care. The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center thus plays a key role in USF Health's tripartite mission of research, education, and patient care, particularly in neurological injury and recovery.
Responsibilities
The Hyperbaric Safety officer is a mangerial-level postiosn responsible for supervising daily hyperbaric operations and serving as the designated safety authority delegate during assigned shifts. This role ensures compliance with NFPA 99, UHMS, FDA IND, and IRB standards by overseeing technical staff, directing emergency preparedness and response, and enforcing institutional safety policies. The Hyperbaric Safety Officer functions as the operational safety lead for chamber activities, providing guidance, training, and oversight to technicians while collaborating with the Hyperbaric Safety Director to maintain compliance, optimize workflows, and support the Center's mission in research, education, and patient care.
Shift-Level Safety Oversight - Supervise and monitor hyperbaric operations during assigned shifts, serving as the safety authority on duty. Apply NFPA 99, UHMS, FDA IND, and IRB standards to ensure safe chamber operations and protect patients, research participants, and staff. This requires advanced knowledge of hyperbaric safety standards and the ability to interpret and enforce them in real time. Independently operate and oversee hyperbaric chambers for both clinical care and complex research protocols. Adjust pressurization/decompression rates to patient tolerance, manage multiple chamber operations simultaneously when needed.
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.
Staff Supervision and Training - Supervise Technicians I-III during shift operations. Mentor staff in chamber operations, enforce safety policies, and evaluate performance in real time. Train staff in advanced safety protocols and ensure team readiness.
Safety Audits and Compliance Monitoring - Conduct shift-level audits of treatment records, safety logs, and equipment checklists. Identify deficiencies and enforce immediate corrective actions, escalate 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 Safety Director and vendors for complex repairs.
Qualifications
Requires completion of a high school diploma or equivalent, with additional coursework or degree in health sciences, biomedical engineering, or a related technical field strongly preferred.
Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree. • 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: • (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree; • (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree; • (c) Six years of direct experience for a master's degree; • (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or • (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.
Must hold CHT/CNS or equivalent credential, BLS/ACLS certification, and completion of a UHMS-approved Hyperbaric Safety Director course.
Several years of progressively response experience in hyperbaric medicine, including chamber operations, emergency response, and compliance with NFPA 99 and UHMS standards, are required. Prior leadership or supervisory experience in a clinical or research hyperbaric setting is preferred, demonstrating the ability to manage staff, enforce safety protocols, and act as the designed safety delegate during shift operations.
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.
The USF Health Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center is a state-of-the-art facility housed within the Department of Neurosurgery, Brain, & Spine at the Morsani College of Medicine. Equipped with six monoplace hyperbaric chambers, the Center combines clinical care with large-scale research and is funded by a $28M state appropriation to support a landmark randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans and active-duty service members with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Its mission includes delivery hyperbaric oxygen therapy in compliance with regulatory and UHMS standards for commercial and investigational protocols; training and certifying technical staff, maintaining rigorous safety oversight, and translating findings from studies into improvements in patient care. The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center thus plays a key role in USF Health's tripartite mission of research, education, and patient care, particularly in neurological injury and recovery.
Responsibilities
The Hyperbaric Safety officer is a mangerial-level postiosn responsible for supervising daily hyperbaric operations and serving as the designated safety authority delegate during assigned shifts. This role ensures compliance with NFPA 99, UHMS, FDA IND, and IRB standards by overseeing technical staff, directing emergency preparedness and response, and enforcing institutional safety policies. The Hyperbaric Safety Officer functions as the operational safety lead for chamber activities, providing guidance, training, and oversight to technicians while collaborating with the Hyperbaric Safety Director to maintain compliance, optimize workflows, and support the Center's mission in research, education, and patient care.
Shift-Level Safety Oversight - Supervise and monitor hyperbaric operations during assigned shifts, serving as the safety authority on duty. Apply NFPA 99, UHMS, FDA IND, and IRB standards to ensure safe chamber operations and protect patients, research participants, and staff. This requires advanced knowledge of hyperbaric safety standards and the ability to interpret and enforce them in real time. Independently operate and oversee hyperbaric chambers for both clinical care and complex research protocols. Adjust pressurization/decompression rates to patient tolerance, manage multiple chamber operations simultaneously when needed.
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.
Staff Supervision and Training - Supervise Technicians I-III during shift operations. Mentor staff in chamber operations, enforce safety policies, and evaluate performance in real time. Train staff in advanced safety protocols and ensure team readiness.
Safety Audits and Compliance Monitoring - Conduct shift-level audits of treatment records, safety logs, and equipment checklists. Identify deficiencies and enforce immediate corrective actions, escalate 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 Safety Director and vendors for complex repairs.
Qualifications
Requires completion of a high school diploma or equivalent, with additional coursework or degree in health sciences, biomedical engineering, or a related technical field strongly preferred.
Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree. • 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: • (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree; • (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree; • (c) Six years of direct experience for a master's degree; • (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or • (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.
Must hold CHT/CNS or equivalent credential, BLS/ACLS certification, and completion of a UHMS-approved Hyperbaric Safety Director course.
Several years of progressively response experience in hyperbaric medicine, including chamber operations, emergency response, and compliance with NFPA 99 and UHMS standards, are required. Prior leadership or supervisory experience in a clinical or research hyperbaric setting is preferred, demonstrating the ability to manage staff, enforce safety protocols, and act as the designed safety delegate during shift operations.
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.