Environmental Safety Specialist I

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid vacation & holidays

Tuition assistance

Employee discounts

Retirement plan

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin seeks an Environmental Safety Specialist I to support environmental programs in compliance with regulatory guidelines. You will conduct inspections, collect samples, train staff, and manage waste handling across campus facilities including laboratories and support spaces.

Responsibilities include maintaining permits, coordinating with stakeholders, and ensuring safe operations with access to UT Austin benefits and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Science, Natural Science, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences or Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene or related field.
• Experience with environmental sampling, permitting and/or compliance.
• Competencies include accuracy, communication, initiative, interpersonal relationships, problem solving and service excellence.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections, monitoring, training, and testing of environmental programs and sites to ensure permit compliance.
• Attend seminars/workshops to maintain knowledge of environmental programs.
• Conduct environmental training for staff and students.
• Perform chemical and biological waste pickups, packaging, transport, and processing.
• Collect environmental samples for storm water and wastewater and manage waste disposal.
• Review analytical results and assist in reports required by permits.
• Maintain compliance reporting systems and develop corrective actions.

Skills

Accuracy and attention to detail

Effective communication

Initiative

Interpersonal relationships

Problem solving

Service excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science/Engineering/Environmental Health

Job description

Job Posting Title: Environmental Safety Specialist I ---- Hiring Department: Environmental Health and Safety ---- Position Open To: All Applicants ---- Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 ---- FLSA Status: Non-Exempt from FLSA ---- Earliest Start Date: Immediately ---- Position Duration: Expected to Continue ---- Location: AUSTIN, TX

Job Details: General Notes Our teams provide a comprehensive array of qualified services, backed by our licensed and certified technicians, to this end, we offer opportunities for continuing education, as well as various stipends for additional trade licenses. Our team of trained trade experts are well-matched for the university's operational and maintenance needs, whether the facility is a brand new laboratory or our iconic Tower. Our goal is to self-identify operations and maintenance issues long before our clients realize a repair is needed and take a thoughtful approach to using their resources, structuring processes, and providing the best client service and use of university resources. This goal comes from our sense of ownership and pride in our work. With this approach in mind, the team is organized into a zone-based structure and employs flexible work hours, data analysis, and technology to meet operational goals. Environmental Health and Safety Services provides healthy and safe operations on campus, to protect students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to ensure protection of the environment. Your skills will make a difference. You'll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will contribute to operational excellence and enhance the student experience. If you're the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you'll like working in our department and for UT Austin.

UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to: Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%) Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b) Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities. Tuition assistance Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card Free rides on all UT shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card

For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards. For more information on Environmental Health and Safety, Visit the Environmental Health and Safety Website Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employee without sponsorship. Security sensitive; Criminal background check conducted on selected applicant. Hiring decision is contingent on applicant clearing check. This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code §51.215. Applications will be reviewed online by the hiring department. Purpose To provide professional knowledge and expertise in the operation and support of environmental programs in compliance with regulatory agency guidelines and institutional policies. Responsibilities Conduct inspections, monitoring, training, and testing of various sites to ensure compliance with the permit requirements of the university’s storm water, wastewater, SPCC, PSTs/USTs and other environmental programs. Inspection frequency is determined by the senior staff. Attend seminars and workshops to gain and maintain knowledge for environmental programs. Conduct/present environmental training for institutional employees and students. Perform chemical and biological waste pickups, packaging, transporting, segregating and processing of waste on University of Texas at Austin campuses and/or satellite locations. Schedules or coordinates with customers for times and locations of pickups. Collect environmental samples for storm water and wastewater as required including discharge request to storm and sanitary sewer. Test, inspect and calibrate equipment as needed. Review and perform quality control of analytical results. Assist in the preparation of reports as required by permits and determined by senior staff. Maintain program compliance reporting systems identifying and developing both corrective actions and appropriate training for areas found to be deficient. Communicate effectively and in a timely manner with stakeholders across UT Austin main campus and satellite locations in order to maintain compliance. Document corrective actions as needed. Assist in the development of standard operating procedures and other written guidelines. Respond to environmental complaints and problems including hazardous and non-hazardous spills, odors and contamination. Analyze cause of incidents and impacts to environment, personnel and facility safety and report findings to management. Schedule and monitor services for pretreatment devices and disposal of non-hazardous waste streams, including grease, grit, mud, and oil-water separator units. Ensure waste profiles are current. Inspect pre-treatment units as needed. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Science, Natural Science, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences or Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene or related field. Experience with environmental sampling, permitting and/or compliance. Candidates must possess working experience with the following competencies: accuracy and attention to detail, effective communication, initiative, interpersonal relationships, problem solving and service excellence. Candidates must possess a basic understanding of critical thinking and decision making. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Preferred Qualifications Two years of experience in environmental health and safety or a related field. Two years of experience performing environmental sampling or storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) inspections. Currently certified Hazardous Waste Operator or attended Hazardous Materials training. Has attended training to be a Department of Transportation certified shipper for Hazardous Materials. Salary Range $50,000 + depending on qualifications Environmental Demands: Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished) May work in all weather conditions May work in extreme temperatures May work around chemical fumes May work around biohazards May work around chemicals May work around electrical and mechanical hazards Physical Tasks: May work around standard office conditions. Repetitive use of keyboard at a workstation Work Will be performed remotely through remote connections Use of manual dexterity Climbing of stairs Climbing of ladders Lifting and moving Additional Working Conditions: May be required to work in confined spaces, manholes, tunnels, elevated work, extended shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays. Considerable walking, standing, squatting, stooping, and moving of heavy materials and equipment in all weather conditions. May be required to use of personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing duties. May be exposed to loud noise, high dust and allergen levels. May be required to lift up to 50lbs. Often required to twist, grasp, push, pull and bend. May require tuberculosis screening and occasional use of a respirator. Drive University vehicles. Maintain acceptable driver rating as established in Policy: UTS157 Section 2.5.4. Required to participate in on-call program if able to meet qualifications. Work Shift 40 Hour Work Week Schedule; Monday-Friday, 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM. This position provides for work-life balance with typically a 40 hour work week that includes flexible work arrangements. The current schedule requires the employee to work on the UT Austin campus 4 days per week. Required Materials Resume/CV 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor Letter of interest Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes. Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above. ---- Employment Eligibility: Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval. ---- Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. ---- Background Checks: A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position. ---- Equal Opportunity Employer: The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. ---- Pay Transparency: The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. ---- Employment Eligibility Verification: If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university. ---- E-Verify: The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF] ---- Compliance: Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701. Start Here, Change the World At The University of Texas at Austin, tradition meets innovation in the heart of a city that frequents lists of the best places to live and work. Named by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row in 2025, UT offers both a dynamic work environment and a gateway to vibrant local culture. Whether you're at the forefront of the student experience, conducting world-changing research or supporting the engine that drives Texas’ flagship university, working at UT means making a lasting impact on our city, our state and our world. Our more than 20,000 faculty and staff empower 55,000+ students to challenge ideas, pursue passions and shape their futures. Joining UT, you’ll become part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on campus and throughout the world. Looking for a student job? Please see our Student Employment site. Comments and Inquiries: Email comments to [e-mail]. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at [phone], or toll-free at [phone]. UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus