Occupational Health and Safety Specialist

Department

OPS DSS Occupational Health

About the Department

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), led by the Executive Director of EHS, reports to the Associate Vice President for the Safety and Security division. Safety and Security includes the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD), Emergency Management Operations, Transportation and Parking Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and Security Systems.

Environmental Health and Safety provides a safety framework, subject matter expertise, emergency response, and management of safety support activities for the University in its entirety including numerous off-site facilities (e.g., Press Warehouse, Gleacher Center, Court Theatre Production Center, multiple commercial real estate locations, Ricketts Lab, Fossil Lab, Hyde Park Labs, leased spaces), Medical Center Facilities on the Hyde Park campus, and multiple affiliates (e.g., UC Charter Schools, Marine Biology Lab, Child Development Centers) to ensure operations are conducted safely and in accordance with regulatory standards and institutional guidelines while also serving in a consultative role to other partners (e.g., Argonne National Lab, Fermi National Lab).

Environmental Health and Safety contributes to the UChicago institutional safety infrastructure via partnerships with other administrative support units including Facilities Services, Physical Plant, Office of Research Safety, the Medical Center Environmental Health and Safety Office, Emergency Management, University of Chicago Police Department, Risk Management, Office of Legal Counsel, Commercial Real Estate Operations, and Campus and Student Life.

Job Summary

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), led by the Executive Director of EHS, reports to the Associate Vice President for the Safety and Security division. Safety and Security includes the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD), Emergency Management Operations, Transportation and Parking Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and Security Systems. The Occupational Health and Safety Specialist reports to the Senior Occupational Health and Safety Specialist for Environmental Health and Safety. This position requires frequent reporting directly to the Assistant Vice President of Facilities Operations.

Environmental Health and Safety provides a safety framework, subject matter expertise, emergency response, and management of safety support activities for the University in its entirety including numerous off-site facilities (e.g., Press Warehouse, Gleacher Center, Court Theatre Production Center, multiple commercial real estate locations, Ricketts Lab, Fossil Lab, Hyde Park Labs, leased spaces), Medical Center Facilities on the Hyde Park campus, and multiple affiliates (e.g., UC Charter Schools, Marine Biology Lab, Child Development Centers) to ensure operations are conducted safely and in accordance with regulatory standards and institutional guidelines while also serving in a consultative role to other partners (e.g., Argonne National Lab, Fermi National Lab).

Environmental Health and Safety contributes to the UChicago institutional safety infrastructure via partnerships with other administrative support units including Facilities Services, Physical Plant, Office of Research Safety, the Medical Center Environmental Health and Safety Office, Emergency Management, University of Chicago Police Department, Risk Management, Office of Legal Counsel, Commercial Real Estate Operations, and Campus and Student Life.

The Facilities Services Occupational Health and Safety Specialist is responsible for developing, managing, improving, and serving as the occupational health and safety subject matter expert and solely dedicated to Facilities Services Operations to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety programs while coordinating regulatory compliance efforts. This role ensures a safe and compliant working environment within Facilities Services Operations by providing technical guidance, training, and inspective/risk analysis of occupational health and safety hazards and related operational issues that may arise.

Facilities Services Operations includes various shops including carpenters, painters, electricians, engineers, groundskeepers, inventory clerks, locksmiths, mechanics, roofers, sheet metal workers, and central utility plant workers.

The programs which fall under the purview of the Occupational Health and Safety unit include, but are not limited to the following: hazard communication, respiratory protection, confined spaces, hearing conservation, lockout tagout, fall protection, machine guarding, shop and theatre safety, aerial lifts, cranes, powered industrial lifts, exposure assessments, indoor air quality/mold investigations, bloodborne pathogens, heat and cold stress, ergonomics, ladder and scaffold safety, electrical safety, and personal protective equipment.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and supports occupational health and safety policies and procedures within Facilities Services Operations.
• Provides expert opinions to interpret internal or external University issues and recommends best practices to address occupational health and safety concerns related to Facilities Services Operations impact on the entirety of campus.
• Independently manages schedule to complete work requests and operational work.
• Leads a cross-functional team in the development of a risk matrix applicable throughout all units within the Facilities Services division while engaging with other divisions to identify and quantify facility related risk.
• Applies specialized depth and/or breadth of expertise in conducting risk assessments, delivering safety training, recommending effective safety measures, evaluating turnover of construction and renovation projects to create innovative solutions to improve safety and reduce injuries.
• Utilizes expertise to collaborate with Environmental Health and Safety team members in designing, developing, and deploying complex EHS initiatives and projects to ensure they align with Facilities Services Operations fiscal year goals and improve processes and services.
• Communicates complex concepts involving multiple stakeholders that are influenced by a range of factors, including inherited circumstances, funding limitations, and restricted spatial parameters.
• Manages ongoing review, audit, and reporting process of safety programs where they are deemed the subject matter expert.
• Solicits improvement ideas from Environmental Health and Safety leadership and staff and other University stakeholders. Ensures solutions meet business needs and requirements.
• Develops project charters, prioritizes and creates implementation plans, and seeks approval from Senior Occupational Health and Safety Specialist and department leadership.
• Works with stakeholders and other technical teams to collect business and technical requirements and design/deliver solutions.
• Creates and updates technical documentation of standard operating procedures as needed.
• Addresses sensitive issues by anticipating potential objections using tact and diplomacy to influence others to adopt a different point of view by conveying the significance and impact of issues that may be outside of the expertise of others ultimately guiding the group in the creation of well-informed solution that considers all aspects of occupational health and safety.
• Establishes priorities for safety training by leveraging in-depth knowledge of each group within Facilities Services Operations. Tailors training and meetings to accommodate differences in union contracts, start and break times, and the specific hazards unique to each group. Provides expertise to managers, directors, and senior directors in prioritizing and addressing safety concerns.
• Understands the operational workload, impact of non-standard shifts, demands from campus stakeholders, and awareness of seasonal demands while deploying safety initiatives and scheduling training or risk assessments to maintain positive morale and open dialogue to encourage a stronger safety culture.
• Encounters and engages with Facility Services employees and facility managers during campus walk throughs to identify and resolve day-to-day safety issues.
• Generates quarterly safety key performance indicators across the multiple units within Facilities Services Operations and collaborates with managers, directors, and senior directors to identify and resolve moderately complex problems.
• Deep understanding of relationship between Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities Services, Risk Management, and Human Resources policies, coupled with strong working relationships with program managers throughout various University divisions that interact with Facilities Services enabling productive discussions.
• Provides subject matter guidance to employees, colleagues, and/or customers as it pertains to occupational health and safety.
• Integrates industry best practices by staying current through continuous study of professional journals and organizations, collaborating with colleagues from various institutions, and applying this knowledge in conducting risk assessments, injury investigations, and providing insights for construction project reviews or issue resolution on campus.
• Participates in the cross divisional Worker’s Compensation Claims Review committee where expertise in Facilities Services safety culture, policies, and injury trends to address workers' compensation claims and develop strategies to more efficiently close claims and prevent similar claims in the future.
• Identifies equipment and supplies required for the occupational health and safety program within Facilities Services Operations.
• Coordinates safety onboarding for newly hired personnel at levels within Facilities Services Operations and actively manages their safety training job profiles in the safety learning management system (EHSA) as roles and responsibilities change.
• Provides training compliance metrics to shop managers, directors, and senior directors to ensure safety training compliance objective of 98% within Facilities Services Operations.
• Assists in the creation and achievement of annual objectives established for occupational health and safety as they pertain to the multiple units with Facilities Services Operations.
• Assists in accurate completion and filing of reports and documentation required by regulatory agencies for occupational health and safety as they pertain to Facilities Services Operations.
• Develops presentation materials used in briefings, toolbox talks, and training for Facilities Services Operations.
• Reviews requests for proposal and defines occupational health and safety technical scope of work for services and within Facilities Services Operations.
• Identifies benchmarking metrics for occupational health and safety and uses the University’s safety management system to generate reports relevant to Facilities Services Operations.
• Chairs the Facilities Services Safety Committee and coordinates any associated sub-committees for Facilities Services managers, directors, and senior directors.
• Coordinates monthly safety meetings with each shop within Facilities Services Operations to cover relevant safety topics and follow-up on employees with chronically non-compliant training requirements.
• Serves in 24/7 on-call rotation responding to emergencies including fires, injuries, significant flooding, property damage, disrupting operations, chemical spills, and chemical release in laboratories triggering environmental reporting.
• Participates in emergency response teams serving in the appropriate response role based on training and expertise including cleaning up chemical spills or bloodborne pathogens.
• Develops recommendations to improve overall occupational health and safety management systems including program audits and accident/incident investigations.
• Maintains knowledge/expertise on existing/proposed changes in all regulations; interprets and applies relevant laws, regulations, codes, and standards including making recommendations for work environment changes based on interpretations and principles of professional practices of occupational health and safety.
• Assists staff in assessing personal protective equipment (PPE) needs for designated operations within Facilities Services Operations.
• Researches appropriate hazard control and mitigation strategies, including engineering controls, and administrative controls, and support staff in the implementation of these control strategies within Facilities Services Operations.
• Handles confidential information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Performs risk analysis on the University's environmental and occupational health and safety programs and implements alternatives or improvements to current programs.
• Plans and executes surveys, audits, and inspections of instruments, laboratories, and other facilities to ensure compliance with government and University policies and procedures. Analyzes data and initiatives immediate corrective action plans and follow-up to ensure implementation.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

Driver's License - Multiple States

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety, industrial hygiene, engineering, environmental science, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in occupational safety, industrial hygiene, or a related field.

Experience:

• Background in a higher education setting or similar large-scale, complex organization in the area of safety compliance.
• Familiar with the creation and delivery of safety training.
• Understanding of construction or trade shops.
• Background in incident investigation and emergency response coordination.

Certifications:

• Relevant certifications, such as 40-hour OSHA Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, certified safety professional, certified hazardous materials manager, or certified industrial hygienist.
• Capable of obtaining medical clearances for using respiratory protection necessary for HAZMAT response.
• Valid driver’s license.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency with MS Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency to design and maintain databases, such as in MS Access.
• Proficiency with safety management software, creation of business processes, and Office 365.
• Write queries and design/generate reports or dashboards.
• Familiarity with Workers’ Compensation Claims processes.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with local, state and federal guidelines and regulations pertaining to safety compliance involving occupational, environmental, and fire and life safety. Agencies involved include but are not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the State Fire Marshall (OSFM), Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Chicago Municipal Code.

Preferred Competencies

• Comfortable with ambiguity knowing when to make decisions without complete information, knowing when to ask questions and when to engage other stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, to manage a diverse team and collaborate across departments.
• Work successfully with a wide variety of people at all levels of knowledge.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Synthesize complex material to assist decision-making and communicate priorities.
• Considerable skill in working both independently and as part of a team.
• Work independently with little supervision; possess a self-motivated disposition; identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with experience presenting to diverse audiences.
• Detail oriented and prepare documents and/or reports, as necessary.
• Maintain professionalism, credibility, and good service delivery practices when dealing with contacts, internal and external.
• Remain calm and objective throughout stressful and unpleasant situations.
• Build consensus and credibility across the campus, contractors, and affiliates.
• Willing and able to make timely, sound decisions, and accept concomitant responsibility.
• Communicate effectively and consistently with others using tact when necessary.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated initiative, creative thinking, multitask, meet deadlines, and work successfully in a fast-paced environment.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public and members of the University community.
• React effectively mentally and physically, quickly, calmly, and rationally during times of conflicts and emergencies.

Working Conditions

• On call and available to work nights/weekends/holidays.
• Work in inclement weather or weather extremes.
• Travel for attending and/or presenting work at regional and national conferences in the field of safety compliance solutions.
• Office environment and entry into unique spaces such as mechanical spaces, tunnels, attics, crawl spaces, elevated platforms in utility plants or theatres.
• High stress environment.
• Operate vehicles/drive motorized equipment.
• Exposure to human blood, human blood components, and/or products made from human blood.
• Exposure to chemicals.
• Outdoor weather exposure.
• Use of personal protective equipment.

Physical Effort:

• Walk or stand for long periods of time, climb, stoop, and lift and carry equipment.
• Bend, crouch, or stoop.
• Operate a vehicle safely.
• Operate equipment necessary to perform job.
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Perform strenuous physical exertion at times.
• Sit for four hours or more.
• Travel to various off-campus locations.
• Travel to various on-campus locations.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

Yes

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Yes

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$76,900.00 - $85,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.