Laboratory Safety & Regulatory Compliance Specialist

Key Accountabilities

• Partner directly with faculty, researchers, and students to deliver expert technical guidance, draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and build practical risk assessments that enable safe, innovative research.
• Conduct comprehensive laboratory inspections and regulatory compliance evaluations across teaching and research labs, applying risk-based methodologies to identify hazards and recommend effective engineering, administrative, and PPE controls.
• Direct chemical inventory management, laboratory cleanouts, and waste minimization initiatives while conducting routine inspections of Satellite and Central Accumulation Areas (SAAs/CAAs).
• Coordinate hazardous waste characterization, storage, manifesting, transportation, and disposal in accordance with applicable regulations, ensuring audit readiness through meticulous reporting and corrective action tracking.
• Perform laboratory inspections, compliance audits, and root-cause investigations into incidents, spills, and near-misses, preparing technical reports to drive continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with EH&S on-call rotation and assist in hazardous materials emergency spill response while assisting departments with emergency planning, lab preparedness, and operational recovery.
• Assist in administering core compliance programs—including Chemical Hygiene, Biosafety, Radiation, and Hazard Communication—while evaluating specialized risks involving chemical, biological, laser, radiological, cryogenic, and compressed gas hazards.
• Develop and deliver specialized EH&S training while producing practical guidance documents, lab manuals, and safety communications to serve as an institutional technical resource.
• Maintain key compliance metrics, inspection databases, and program records while partnering with faculty, Facilities, Procurement, and institutional committees to advance safe research operations.
• Provide technical guidance, project leadership, and mentorship to EH&S staff, interns, and student employees, carrying out key program initiatives and related operational duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health and Safety or another closely related scientific discipline; Master's Degree preferred
• Three to five years of work related experience
• Experience in higher education or research laboratories, and familiarity with NIH, NSF, and OSHA laboratory requirements
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, biosafety, hazardous materials management, regulatory compliance, or related Environmental Health & Safety programs; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• A master’s degree in a related field may substitute for two years of the required experience
• Professional certifications (e.g., CIH, CSP, CHMM, CBSP) preferred
• HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) training required
• Valid Driver's license and good driving record required