Safety Specialist I

The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 27,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees is hiring a Safety Specialist I to join Environmental Health & Safety. The role supports chemical safety services, conducts inspections, and assists with training and incident response.

The position requires on-site work and occasional after-hours availability for training and incidents. Ideal candidates will have a High School Diploma or equivalent plus 2+ years of relevant experience, with a preferred Bachelor’s degree in a chemistry-related

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalent with 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, environmental studies, industrial hygiene, safety, engineering, or related field.
• 4 years of experience in a laboratory research or safety compliance program.
• Strong written and verbal communication with attention to detail.
• Ability to identify unsafe conditions during on-site inspections.
• Knowledge of lab operations, chemical nomenclature, and chemical properties.
• Knowledge of hazard communication and chemical inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Assist with chemical inventory data entry and reconciliation across campus labs and facilities.
• Assist with SDS file management (paper and electronic).
• Perform safety and hazmat storage compliance inspections and follow up on corrective actions.
• Provide chemical safety guidance and training to the university community.
• Conduct surveying and sampling for potential contamination and assist investigations.
• Assist in shipping, receiving, and tracking hazardous materials and waste.
• Update internal safety documents as needed.
• Provide support as essential personnel and assist with other duties.

Skills

Data entry

Chemical inventory

SDS management

Regulatory compliance

Safety communications

Inspection and reporting

Training delivery

Hazardous materials handling

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biochemistry, environmental studies, industrial hygiene, safety, engineering, or related field

Job description

The Opportunity :

Environmental Health & Safety seeks a Safety Specialist I to join their team. This position will assist the Environmental Health & Safety department in providing chemical safety services to the UCF community. This position requires occasional adjustment in work schedule due to training responsibilities, vendor appointments, and incident response needs that occur outside of normal work hours.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with data entry, vendor and catalog information, verification and reconciliation of chemical inventory in campus laboratories, shops, studios and service areas.
• Assist with Safety Data Sheet (SDS) file management (paper and electronic).
• Perform compliance inspections related to safety and hazardous material storage and use; prepare reports; monitor completion dates of corrective action plans; and provide follow-up with supervisors and departments to ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Assist in providing chemical safety guidance and training to the university community.
• Perform surveying/sampling activities for potentially contaminated areas; assist in response to investigation, and follow-up on laboratory and environmental incidents, accidents, and spills.
• Assist in shipping, receiving, and delivery of hazardous materials/dangerous goods for laboratory community including laboratory/radioactive waste collection, processing, classification, and tracking.
• Assist in updating applicable internal documents.
• Provide support as essential personnel as the need arises. Assist with other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications :

• High School Diploma or Equivalent and 2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6) .

Preferred Qualifications :

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, environmental studies, industrial hygiene, safety, engineering, or a related field.
• 4 years of experience in a laboratory research or safety compliance program.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to identify unsafe working conditions and practices through on-site inspections.
• Knowledge of routine laboratory operations, chemical nomenclature, and chemical properties.
• Ability to research, interpret, and apply technical information to prepare clear, concise reports with logical supporting information to justify decisions and recommendations.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local health and safety codes applicable to laboratory settings, hazardous materials storage, and general industry safety principles.
• Knowledge of hazard communication and chemical inventory management.

The anticipated hourly rate for this position is $23.33 hourly ($42,722 annually) to negotiable. The final amount will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

Position requires a valid Class E driver's license. This position may involve driving to various locations on and off campus to conduct University business.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H‑1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

This role requires the successful candidate to work on-site at UCF as their primary work location. On-site presence is an essential function of this role.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program
• Paid time off, including annual an