Safety & Health Specialist - Occupational Hygiene and Safety Division

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

Safety and Health Specialist – Occupational Hygiene and Safety Division

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

The Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) provides the focus for the administration of all safety programs to Duke University, Duke University Medical Center, and Duke University Health System. OESO has the responsibility for developing institutional safety plans and policies; providing information and training to meet all regulatory requirements; providing technical consultation and guidance; conducting exposure and risk assessments; conducting safety audits; monitoring compliance with all safety policies; and investigating accidents, injuries, and reported unsafe conditions.

Specific to the Occupational Hygiene & Safety (OHS) Division:
OHS coordinates the programs for evaluating, controlling, or eliminating both health and safety hazards in the workplace. 

Primary Purpose of Position:
Participate in the development, planning, implementation, and tracking of environmental compliance programs across the University and Health System.  Through collaborative efforts with various Duke departments, the focus of this position is to identify and minimize environmental risks as well as manage compliance with applicable regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Recognizes environmental compliance requirements, conducts compliance reviews/audits, plans, and develops compliance improvement strategies, implements compliance improvement programs, and tracks progress throughout the process
• Serves as a liaison for numerous departments across the University and Health System to assist them in understanding their environmental compliance risks, identify programmatic improvement strategies, and outline collaborative action plans to maintain compliance.
• Ensures state and federal reporting requirements are met through timely submission of required reports for programs and/or duties assigned by the Environmental Compliance Manager
• Manages efforts to reduce or eliminate hazardous agents in waste streams through a number of pollution prevention programs.
• Assists the Environmental Compliance Manager in preparing and presenting training classes and materials as needed.
• Manages environmental compliance projects as assigned by the Environmental Compliance Manager
• Maintains a current knowledge of all existing and proposed changes in environmental regulations and division practices related to his/her responsibilities.
• Participates on the OESO spill response team.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to waste management, radiation safety and environmental compliance programs such as SPCC, USTs, CAA, TSCA, RCRA, CWA and other applicable environmental regulations or practices that impact the University and Health System.
• Good organizational and personnel management skills. 
• Creative problem solving to recognize and analyze needs and assist in the development of programs to address and promote compliance. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Solid apprehension of current environmental sampling techniques, and the ability to comprehend analytical reports as it relates to environmental compliance and/or remediation projects
• Ability to use computer database and spreadsheet programs
• Possesses knowledge of standard theories, techniques, concepts, and practices that can be used to improve environmental regulatory compliance.  Applies the knowledge to moderately difficult work assignments.
• Provides solutions to a variety of problems where analysis of situation or data requires a review of identifiable factors.
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action. 
• Follows established procedures.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
•  Act as lead person or technical advisor on small to medium projects.
• Works with a variety of individuals at all levels.  Takes on multiple projects and performs multiple tasks simultaneously.  Works effectively with co-workers within a team setting.  Independently schedules appointments, presentations, in-services and other work related commitments.
• High degree of accuracy required in identifying and providing appropriate solutions for environmental issues.
• Ability to supervise technical staff. 

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science or Engineering, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering or related field.

Experience:

• No experience for level 1; three years’ experience for level 2; five years’ experience for level 3.
• Preferred: Three years of experience

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification:

• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Recognized professional certification such as REM, CSP, CHMM, etc. preferred.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.