Occupational Health Director

University of New England; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental plans

Retirement plan match up to 8%

Generous leave and holidays

Tuition benefits for employees

Tuition benefits for dependents

Job summary

The University of New England in Maine seeks an Occupational Health Director to lead UNE’s health services, develop policies, and oversee medical surveillance, immunization compliance, health clearances, and fitness-for-duty programs for employees, students, labs, and clinical settings.

You will collaborate with Human Resources, Environmental Health & Safety, and academic programs to ensure regulatory compliance and accreditation, reporting to the Chief HR Officer with a dotted line to the VP

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited nursing or medical program with additional training or experience in occupational health.
• License in the State of Maine or eligible for licensure.

Responsibilities

• Administer occupational health programs including surveillance, immunization, and health clearances.
• Review and interpret health records and exposure information to guide requirements.
• Develop and implement occupational health policies and procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Healthcare experience

Regulatory knowledge

Program management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Nursing or medical degree

Tools

Electronic health records

Occupational health databases

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Occupational Health Director provides leadership, management, coordination, and oversight for UNE’s occupational health services. The position is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining occupational health policies and procedures that support UNE employees, students, laboratories, research environments, and other University operations.

The position serves as UNE’s designated occupational health leader and clinical resource, overseeing medical surveillance, immunization compliance, exposure response, health clearances, fitness-for-duty reviews, respiratory protection programs, and other occupational health initiatives.

The Occupational Health Director works closely with Human Resources, Environmental Health & Safety, Student Health Services, Research & Innovation, academic programs, and external healthcare providers to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and accreditation expectations.

The position reports directly to the Chief Human Resources Officer, with dotted line reporting structure to the Vice President of Health Affairs.

About the University of New England

UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands‑on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.

Benefits Overview

• Multiple health and dental plan options, plus vision coverage.
• Up to 8% retirement plan match.
• Generous leave time, including vacation, sick, and personal time, and 12+ holidays per year.
• Educational benefits:
  • UNE tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and domestic partners.
  • UNE tuition waiver for dependents of employees with 1 year of full-time service.
  • 50% tuition reduction if less than 1 year of full-time service.
• Develop and lead UNE’s occupational health services.
• Establish occupational health policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Coordinate occupational health services affecting employees, students, and other covered populations.
• Monitor occupational health services effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Manage relationships with healthcare providers, laboratories, and occupational health vendors.

Medical Surveillance and Health Compliance

• Administer medical surveillance programs required by OSHA and other regulatory agencies for employees with occupational exposures, including laboratory, chemical, radiological, biological, and animal-related risks.
• Coordinate occupational health requirements for healthcare personnel and employees assigned to clinical settings.
• Oversee pre-placement health screenings, immunization compliance, tuberculosis screening, respiratory protection medical evaluations and health clearance programs for employees.
• Serves as the University’s Clinician of Record, monitoring compliance with occupational health standards and requirements.

Clinical Oversight

• Review medical documentation, health records, exposure information, and workplace health concerns as appropriate.
• Provide recommendations regarding occupational health requirements, restrictions, monitoring, and follow-up activities.
• Coordinate with external occupational health providers and specialists when physician consultation is necessary.

Exposure Response and Incident Management

• Develop and manage protocols for occupational exposures, including bloodborne pathogen exposures, infectious disease exposures, hazardous chemical incidents, and workplace injuries.
• Work with the VPHA and Director of Student Health Services to coordinate communicable disease response activiites.

Academic, Clinical, and Research Programs

• Support health compliance requirements for students participating in academic and research laboratory, fieldwork, and experiential learning activities.
• Collaborate with academic programs regarding health and safety requirements and accreditation guidelines.
• Partner with EHS , Institutional Biosafety Committee, Research Compliance, and laboratory leadership to support occupational health programs for research personnel.
• Support health-related compliance requirements associated with anatomy laboratories, simulation activities, and UNE healthcare settings.

Collaboration and Consultation

• Partner with Environmental Health & Safety regarding workplace hazards, exposures, inspections, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide consultation to departments regarding occupational health program requirements and best practices.
• Coordinate with Human Resources regarding employee health, workplace accommodation processes, workplace injury response, and return-to-work processes.
• Serve on institutional committees related to safety, health, compliance, and risk management.

Documentation and Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain confidentiality and compliance in handling employee health records.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA , CDC , state public health, accreditation, and institutional requirements.
• Track required occupational health documentation and reporting.
• Support audits, inspections, and accreditation reviews.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

Graduate of an accredited nursing or medical program with additional training or experience in occupational health. Preferred: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse / Nurse Practitioner (NP), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or Doctor of Medicine (MD). Candidates holding a Registered Nurse (RN) or Physician Assistant (PA) license may also be considered based on relevant education, experience, and qualifications.

Must hold a current, unrestricted license (or be eligible for licensure) in the State of Maine.

Experience

Five years of progressively responsible occupational health, employee health, environmental health, preventive health, healthcare, clinical operations, public health, or related experience.

• Experience managing occupational health or employee health programs.
• Experience with regulatory compliance, employee health, clinical compliance, or occupational health programs
• Experience managing sensitive health information
• Experience working in highly regulated environments.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of occupational health principles.
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations and medical surveillance requirements.
• Knowledge of bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection, exposure management, and workplace health standards.
• Knowledge of HIPAA and health privacy requirements.
• Ability to interpret health-related regulations and institutional requirements.
• Strong program management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze data and prepare reports for leadership.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across diverse academic, healthcare, and research environments.
• Proficiency with electronic health records, occupational health databases, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Occupational health experience within higher education, healthcare, laboratory, research, or clinical environments.
• COHN , COHN -S, CCM , MPH , CPH , or similar professional certification.
• Experience supporting healthcare workers, laboratory personnel, anatomy laboratories, researchers, or clinical learners.
• Experience working with accreditation standards and compliance obligations.
• Experience overseeing immunization and health clearance programs.

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.

Additional Note

This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extension.

Anticipated Pay Range

$95,000 – $115,000