Department Safety Officer

About the role

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is seeking a full-time Safety Officer to lead and coordinate laboratory safety efforts across research and teaching spaces.

This role serves as a key partner in supporting a safe, collaborative, and compliant environment for faculty, staff, researchers, and students engaged in innovative materials science and engineering work.

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
• Cook up 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
• Aid in 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

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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

Other Responsibilities

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.