In this role, you will work closely with research and teaching laboratories to provide hands-on safety guidance, training, inspections, hazard assessments, and operational support across a wide range of laboratory environments and equipment. You will help strengthen departmental safety programs, support safe research and teaching practices, and contribute to a culture where safety is integrated into everyday learning, discovery, and innovation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and coordinate departmental laboratory safety programs across research and teaching spaces
- Conduct laboratory inspections, audits, hazard assessments, and follow-up corrective actions
- Partner with faculty, principal investigators, and lab leaders to develop safety plans, SOPs, and risk mitigation strategies
- Support chemical inventory management, hazardous materials guidance, and laboratory access/security processes
- Coordinate safety onboarding, training, compliance documentation, and offboarding activities
- Serve as the primary instructor and coordinator for departmental safety education and training initiatives
- Support safe operation of shared teaching laboratories, undergraduate lab courses, outreach programs, and student projects
- Collaborate with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), departmental committees, and university partners on safety and compliance initiatives
- Assist with incident response, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement of departmental safety practices
- Lead departmental safety communications, outreach efforts, and annual safety engagement events
- Provide guidance on new equipment, laboratory processes, and safety infrastructure improvements
- Supervise student workers and temporary staff supporting departmental safety operations
If you are someone who enjoys building relationships, supporting others in hands-on environments, improving processes, and helping create spaces where research and learning can thrive safely, we encourage you to apply.
Minimum Experience/Education:
Relevant post-baccalaureate credentials required; bachelor's degree plus alternative or equivalent professional training and experience may be substituted for the advanced degree on an exceptional basis.
Required Qualifications:
- Working knowledge of laboratory safety regulations, policies, and compliance requirements in research or technical environments
- Experience supporting or coordinating safety programs in laboratories, industrial settings, or similarly safety-critical environments
- Ability to communicate safety requirements clearly to diverse audiences through training, presentations, and written guidance
- Strong organizational skills with demonstrated success managing documentation, inspections, training records, and competing priorities
- Proven ability to build effective working relationships across faculty, researchers, students, and staff while supporting a culture of safety and accountability
- Capacity to rapidly learn and apply knowledge of laboratory hazards (e.g., chemicals, electrical systems, pressure systems, fire risks, and equipment-related risks) to support safe operations
Preferred Qualifications:
If not already certified, the Safety Officer will be supported in obtaining these certifications: OSHA HazCom 29 CFR 1910.1200; OSHA HAZWOPER 24 or 40 hr 29 CFR 1910.120; laser safety training (Class 3B or 4); biosafety training; radiation safety training; AHA First Aid /CPR/AED training.
