Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

Western University of Health Sciences; California (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking institution dedicated to enhancing community well-being as an Environmental Health and Safety Specialist. In this pivotal role, you will lead the charge in ensuring compliance with safety regulations, manage emergency response plans, and foster a culture of safety across campus. Your expertise will help shape a safe and supportive environment for students and staff alike. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working alongside a diverse and collaborative team. If you are passionate about safety and education, this role is perfect for you!

Benefits

Generous Paid Time Off

Comprehensive Insurance Plans

Retirement Benefits

Flexible Work Environment

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in safety, environmental science, or related field.
• 2+ years of EHS experience, preferably in higher education.

Responsibilities

• Oversee EHS program compliance and emergency management.
• Conduct assessments of research activities and ensure safety standards.

Skills

EHS Compliance Knowledge

Emergency Response Skills

Interpersonal Communication

Organizational Skills

Education

BS/BA in Safety or Related Field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.

At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.

Although, geographically, we are two campuses - as humanists, we are one: to enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities and achieve excellence in everything we do. We attract diverse, professional faculty, staff and students that thrive in an environment of humanistic health care education. Join our team of faculty and staff and make a difference.

Position Title

Position Title Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

Position Control Number

Position Control Number A02083

Type of Position

Type of Position Administration

Position Status

Position Status Full-time

Department

Department 13191–Environmental Health and Safety

Campus

Position Location

Position Location California

Job Summary

Under direction of Associate Vice President of Operations, the Environmental Health and Safety ( EHS ) Specialist (“Specialist”) is responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of EHS through ensuring compliance regarding campus wide EHS program management, including but not limited to chemical and biological safety, hazardous waste management and applicable Cal- OSHA , NFPA life safety, and other regulatory agency requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge and understanding of all relevant technical requirements, logistics, materials, operations, policies, rules, regulations, and compliance regulators in EHS disciplines.
• Strong organization skills to effectively perform the day-to-day operations required for the EHS program.
• Experience in responding to and participating the response to emergencies and critical situations, including follow-up evaluation and critique of response efficacy; assist in the creation, development, and implementation of changes to the university’s emergency response plan as required.
• Knowledge of federal and state regulatory requirements including but not limited to OSHA , CUPA , AQMD in air, water, storm water, wastewater, hazardous waste, solid waste, and asbestos.
• Effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to clearly and effectively interact with a diverse group of individuals to secure and/or provide information to clarify situations and effectively resolve problems.
• Ability to lead and train the workforce in safety related topics.

Required Qualifications

1. Education and Training: BS/BA degree or equivalent experience from an accredited college or university majoring in safety, occupational health, environmental science, industrial hygiene, risk management engineering, physical/biological sciences, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience strongly preferred.

2. Experience: At least two years of experience in EHS , including the ability to read/interpret state and federal regulations. Experience in higher education and research facilities with animal environments, strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience in the strategic development, implementation of a comprehensive EH&S program and culture, with proven experience in a managerial role.

3. Certifications/Licenses and Qualifications: Certified Safety Professional ( CSP ); and/or Certified Industrial Hygienist strongly preferred. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Email.

Preferred Qualifications

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Operational Responsibility: Oversees the budget planning, processing, allocation, and resource utilization across EHS

Key Responsibilities

2. Emergency Management Responsibility: Maintains comprehensive emergency management plans, including response procedures, booklets and posters for various types of emergencies. Oversees the Institutional Building Safety Coordinator Program.

Key Responsibilities

3. EHS Administrative Responsibility: Responsible for the day-to-day operations and organizational compliance through the development and execution of the strategic plans for EHS programs aligned with regulatory standards and best practices. Also serves on campus wide committees such as Safety, Emergency Management, Policy, Biosafety, Radioactive Safety, IACUC , DURC , Stem Cell and councils as requested.

Key Responsibilities

4. Recordkeeping Requirements Responsibility: Prepares, maintains, and submits regulatory required reports within specified timelines, e.g., OSHA , Cal/ OSHA ,OR- SHA , CUPA , DTSC ., CDPH , and DEA .

Key Responsibilities

5. Employee Training Responsibility: Oversee the administration, operation, and assignment of the employee training platform, ensuring its functionality, accuracy, and accessibility to authorized users. Assist specific trainings such as Driving training.

Key Responsibilities

6. Research Safety Responsibility: Through the collaboration with Researchers and staff, conducts assessments of research activities, chemical inventory monitoring, laboratory procedures, and facilities to identify potential hazards and ensure compliance with safety standards through conducting regular inspections and audits of laboratory facilities to ensure compliance with lab policies and procedures, safety protocols, regulated waste management (inventory, disposal activities, manifests, and compliance documentation), and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

7. Safety Equipment Responsibility: Oversees the Safety Coordinator Backpacks, Emergency Radios, Eyewash Stations/Emergency Showers, Fire Extinguisher, AED , and First Aid Kit inventory, inspection and maintenance programs.

Posting Details Continued

Work Schedule

Standard 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with occasional nights and weekends.

We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable.

We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Additionally,

• Our faculty, staff, and administrators are 100% focused on student success.

• Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment.

• Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community.

• As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic self, and lead to the future with innovation in health sciences.

• WesternU’s core value of humanism encourages all to bring their whole self in all that they do.

• We are committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity, collaboration, and fun at all levels for all people!

Expected Pay Scale

Minimum

Minimum $80,000.00 Annually

Maximum

Maximum $85,000.00 Annually

Physical Demands

Physical Demands

Do the essential functions of this job require lifting?

Do the essential functions of this job require lifting? Yes

If yes, list maximum weight and duration

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by any employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear, and regularly required to sit. The employee is often required to stand, walk, cycle, use hands, and reach with hands and arms to operate a computer in the performance of job duties. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and color vision, and depth perception.

The employee must be able to lift and move equipment weighing up to 40 pounds, climb ladders up to 10 feet or more in height, bend, walk, and stoop in confined spaces.

Describe Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position has a non-standard work schedule that may include nights, weekends, or alternative schedules.

Posting Information

Posting Number

Posting Number A00811

Posting Date

Posting Date 05/09/2025

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Conditions of Employment - Background Check

To secure employment, successful fulfillment of a background check, including a criminal records check, may be required. Western University of Health Sciences will extend a conditional offer of employment, subject to rescission if the background check unveils disqualifying information or if it is found that the candidate deliberately withheld or misrepresented information. Non-completion of the background check to satisfaction may impact the ongoing employment of a current Western University of Health Sciences employee who received a conditional offer for the position.

Pay Transparency Act

Pay Transparency Act- Western University of Health Sciences is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range considers various factors in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The Expected Pay Scale is defined as the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Placement within the Expected Pay Scale is determined by internal equity and relevant qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Statement (EEO)

It is the policy of Western University to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment as required by law without regard to age, race, color, national origin ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, sex or gender (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, disability (both physical and mental) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (which includes childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), age, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other applicable protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.This policy applies to all employment practices within WesternU including without limitation, hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoffs, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. WesternU makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merits, and business needs at the time.

Required Documents

Resume

Optional Documents

Cover Letter

Letter of Recommendation #1

Letter of Recommendation #2

Letter of Recommendation #3

Additional Applicant Document

Required License/Certification

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity? Please provide the name of the website, individual, or organization.

  (Open Ended Question)

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