Environmental Health Safety Specialist

Insight Global; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Insight Global is seeking a Safety & Compliance Specialist for a college environment in California. The role focuses on Hazardous Materials & Chemical Inventory Management, ensuring proper lifecycle handling from receiving to disposal, accurate inventory, and compliant logistics.

You will conduct regular safety inspections, coordinate with labs, lead corrective actions, and provide training advisory as part of the Safety Committee.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant science or EH&S field.
• Must have HAZWOPER certification or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• Must have DOT/DOT/RCRA hazardous materials certifications for shipping and handling.

Responsibilities

• Oversee hazardous materials lifecycle, including receiving, labeling, storage, and disposal.
• Maintain and audit chemical inventory using compliance software.
• Coordinate deliveries and hazardous waste collection in compliance with regulations.
• Reconcile inventories and maintain safety documentation.
• Conduct safety inspections and ensure OSHA/EPA compliance.
• Lead corrective actions with lab directors and participate in safety committees.
• Lead emergency response teams and act as campus liaison for chemical emergencies.

Skills

OSHA compliance

IIPP knowledge

Safety training

Hazard communication

Emergency response

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering

Bachelor's in Environmental Health and Safety

Related scientific discipline

Tools

HAZWOPER

RCRA/DOT certifications

Job description

Hazardous Materials & Chemical Inventory Management

• Chemical Lifecycle Oversight: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of hazardous materials within the college, including chemical receiving, proper hazard labeling, segregated storage, and safe disposal.
• Inventory Tracking: Maintain and audit the chemical inventory using specialized compliance software, ensuring all data is accurate, up to date, and compliant with the University Chemical Hygiene Plan.
• Logistics Coordination: Oversee chemical and biological material deliveries and coordinate hazardous waste collection and handling in strict compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines.
• Systems Management: Reconcile chemical and biohazard inventories and maintain updated web-based safety resources and documentation for the college.

Laboratory Inspections & Regulatory Compliance

• Compliance Audits: Conduct regular safety inspections across all teaching labs, research labs, and workshops to ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and the University Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).
• Corrective Action: Partner with laboratory directors to identify safety hazards or compliance deficiencies, recommending and initiating immediate corrective actions.
• Equipment Diagnostics: Perform fume hood and flow rate diagnostics, and facilitate annual certifications for biosafety cabinets and laminar flow hoods.

Training & Advisory Services

• Technical Consultation: Assist faculty, researchers, and staff in developing specialized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for hazardous materials and chemical procedures.
• Safety Training: Coordinate and deliver mandated chemical safety training, including chemical spill response and specialized hazard handling protocols.
• Committee Leadership: Serve as an active member of the College Safety Committee and act as a technical advisor or voting member on University compliance committees (e.g., Institutional Biosafety Committee).

Emergency Response

• Incident Response: Lead and train the Hazardous Emergency Response and Spill Control Teams for the College of Engineering.
• Emergency Contact: Serve as a primary point of contact for campus first-responders regarding chemical emergencies or urgent laboratory safety issues.

REQUIRED SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS & EDUCATION:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Health and Safety, or a closely related scientific discipline.
• HAZWOPER: Current 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification (or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire) required for emergency response and spill control duties.
• DOT/RCRA: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials certifications for compliance with chemical waste shipping and handling rules.

PREFERRED CERTIFICATIONS:

• CHMM: Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) designation.
• CSP/CIH: Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).