Laboratory Safety Specialist: Risk & Compliance Leader

Socket.dev; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) seeks a Laboratory Safety Specialist to promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance across university and health system laboratories. You will conduct inspections, advise on risk mitigation, and support training programs to safeguard research environments.

This on-site role reports to the Occupational Health & Safety team. A Bachelor’s degree in a related science is required, with experience in laboratory safety and regulatory knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local safety and environmental codes applicable to academic, research, and clinical laboratory settings.
• Solid understanding of general laboratory processes, clinical/research best practices, and chemical hazard mitigation.
• Proven collaboration with stakeholders to identify risks and promote safety culture changes.
• Strong technical writing skills with incident reports, environmental quality assessments, and lab safety reviews.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with a customer-service mindset.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills to resolve complex safety issues.
• Excellent organizational skills with a track record of meeting deadlines.
• Commitment to professional growth and adapting to evolving compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a respectful, professional, inclusive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct safety inspections and evaluations across university and health system laboratories.
• Identify and mitigate laboratory safety risks in collaboration with faculty, staff and students.
• Enforce the University’s OHS policy using 30-60-90 day escalation procedures.
• Maintain and enforce the CHP to ensure laboratory compliance with regulations.
• Engage stakeholders to promote safety culture and practical risk-based mitigation.
• Support the development and delivery of laboratory safety training modules.
• Assist with Industrial Hygiene surveys, fit testing, hazardous waste management and related duties.
• Maintain accurate records within the EHS-OHS management system (SciShield).
• Pursue ongoing professional development in Environmental Health and Safety.

Skills

Lab Safety

Regulatory Knowledge

Collaboration

Technical Writing

Communication

Critical Thinking

Time Management

Professional Growth

Positive Culture

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering

Job description

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) seeks a Laboratory Safety Specialist to promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance across university and health system laboratories. You will conduct inspections, advise on risk mitigation, and support training programs to safeguard research environments.

This on-site role reports to the Occupational Health & Safety team. A Bachelor’s degree in a related science is required, with experience in laboratory safety and regulatory knowledge.