Environmental Health and Safety Compliance Specialist 00707

Departmental Objective

The Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) works to mitigate and minimize risk to the campus community and facilitate safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible operations. By providing guidance and best practices, EHS promotes continuous advancement and supports the alignment of university activities with regulatory standards.

Purpose of the Position

Serves as a key member of the Environmental Health and Safety team by improving the safety and well-being of the campus community while minimizing injuries, illnesses, ecological impacts, and environmental, operational, and regulatory risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducting laboratory, occupational safety, environmental compliance, and general building inspections.
• Facilitating regulated waste programs and other environmental compliance activities.
• Facilitating chemical inventory and SDS management processes.
• Administering safety management systems, compliance records, and regulatory documentation to ensure accountability and audit readiness.
• Maintaining environmental monitoring equipment and supporting exposure monitoring activities to evaluate and reduce health and safety risks.
• Providing technical guidance, training, and support to faculty, staff, and students.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Knowledge of laboratory safety, occupational health and safety, and environmental compliance principles.
• Knowledge of applicable OSHA, VOSH, EPA, DEQ, and NFPA requirements.
• Knowledge of chemical hygiene practices, chemical storage and compatibility requirements, regulated waste management, and biohazard safety.
• Knowledge of safety inspection techniques and the ability to identify unsafe conditions, fire code deficiencies, and regulatory compliance concerns.
• Ability to conduct inspections, training, and safety assessments independently.
• Ability to safely handle, transport, inventory, and manage chemicals and regulated waste.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and manage data within safety management software systems and other software systems.
• Ability to manage and maintain EHS departmental equipment, monitoring instruments, and related assets.
• Ability to conduct training for small and large groups.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations involving measurements, percentages, and basic formulas.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong computer skills and ability to learn and adapt to new software and technology platforms.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with diverse audiences while fostering collaboration, positive working relationships, and a high level of customer service.
• Ability to interpret technical and regulatory information and communicate it clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to prioritize multiple assignments and work independently with limited supervision.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team to achieve shared goals.
• Ability to work occasionally after hours, on weekends, and during emergency situations.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection, and perform duties in a laboratory and construction environment.

Qualifications

• High school graduate or equivalent education/experience that equates to a high school diploma.
• OSHA 30 and HAZWOPER, or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Experience in environmental health and safety, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, laboratory safety, fire safety, environmental compliance, facilities operations, or a related field.
• Experience conducting safety inspections.
• Experience identifying regulatory compliance issues.
• Experience working with chemicals, hazardous materials, regulated waste, or laboratory operations.
• Experience applying occupational safety, fire safety, and environmental regulatory standards, including Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH), fire code, or Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requirements, to ensure compliance and reduce risk.
• Experience maintaining records, databases, or safety management software systems.

Additional Consideration(s):

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene, Fire Science, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Health, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Experience in a laboratory setting.
• Experience in the higher education setting.
• Experience managing regulated waste programs.
• Experience maintaining chemical inventories.
• Experience using and maintaining safety monitoring equipment and environmental monitoring instruments.
• Experience using environmental health and safety (EHS) or work order software for work such as tracking inspections, corrective actions, training, and regulatory records.