Senior Research Safety Specialist - Industrial Hygiene

At Advocate Health, we are committed to advancing scientific discovery and innovation while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance. We are seeking an experienced Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Research Industrial Hygiene Senior Specialist to lead and support industrial hygiene, occupational health, and environmental safety programs within our academic and research environments.

Responsibilities

• Performs comprehensive safety and industrial hygiene assessments to identify and control potential health hazards, including exposures to hazardous chemicals, noise, vibration, biological, radiological, or other physical hazards that may potentially expose faculty, staff, and students.
• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive industrial hygiene programs, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and industry best practices.
• Develop comprehensive sampling strategies for specific projects and work areas and perform sampling to evaluate personnel exposures and engineering controls.
• Lead or participate in incident investigations related to occupational illnesses or exposures and recommend corrective actions to prevent future occurrences through appropriate engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Analyze and interpret data collected from monitoring activities and prepare detailed reports documenting findings and recommendations for corrective actions.
• Provide support and guidance for medical surveillance and occupational health programs.
• Conduct assessments for indoor air quality, ADA, and ergonomic concerns in research and academic environments.
• Direct and interact with regulatory agency personnel during compliance inspections for research.
• Serve as a technical resource and subject matter expert for Environmental, Health, and Safety, sharing expertise with leaders, peers, and teammates while utilizing problem-solving skills for complex situations.
• Serve as a member of the hazardous materials spill response team, which may include response on weekends and after regular business hours.
• Assist with the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Chemical Safety Committee, and other committees.
• Stay current with new regulations, industry trends, and advancements in industrial hygiene practices, and recommend appropriate changes to existing programs and practices.
• Develop and administer training or educational resources for research and academic teammates.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Physical Science, Biological Science, Environmental Science/Engineering, Occupational Safety, or a related field.
• 5 years of related experience.

Skills

• Familiarity with regulatory agency code requirements, including NIH, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, EPA, and OSHA.
• Knowledge of the principles, fundamentals, and best practices of industrial hygiene and the risks associated with hazardous materials.
• In-depth experience with exposure prevention and assessment techniques, understanding of mechanical systems, and ability to apply this knowledge to mitigate health and safety concerns.
• Ability to analyze multiple programs, identify areas needing improvement, and prioritize needs for effective short- and long-term strategic planning.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to manage, prioritize, track, and complete tasks/projects within established deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact professionally and effectively with a wide variety of individuals (researchers, staff, students, administrators, and regulators).
• Commitment to customer service, timely response, collaboration, cooperative professional relationships, and diversity.
• Ability to use sound judgment and act decisively in high-stress or emergency situations.
• Critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Competency using PC, office productivity applications, presentation applications, and database applications.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Position requires travel, including exposure to weather and road conditions.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Ability to lift and carry heavy materials and equipment.
• Ability to climb/descend ladders and enter confined spaces to perform evaluations.
• Physically able to serve on hazardous materials spill response team, including ability to wear respiratory protection.
• May be subject to hazards (e.g., chemicals, mechanical conditions) and atmospheric conditions (e.g., dust, fumes).
• Responsible for setting a strong example of safety by working in a safe manner and utilizing personal protective equipment (PPE), as appropriate.
• Presence in research labs, healthcare environments, animal facilities, and hazardous waste facilities, which may result in occasional occupational exposure to ionizing radiation, chemicals, and biological agents.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP).