Career Center

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: 80,000 - 95,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of EH&S, the Senior Industrial and Occupational Hygienist will, along with a team of health and safety professionals, provide expert technical and practical guidance and timely services to Columbia University Morningside, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Nevis Laboratory, Irving Medical Center and Manhattanville campuses across a wide array of industrial hygiene and occupational safety programs to ensure quality and consistency of such programs across all locations.  The ideal candidate will proactively build relationships with University and University-affiliate research personnel to maintain a client-focused approach and be accountable for assessing research and non-research procedures and practices and developing creative, sustainable and compliant solutions that meet the operational needs of all personnel, consistent with regulations, University standards and best practices. Through collaborations with EH&S colleagues and various University stakeholders and affiliates, the Senior Industrial and Occupational Hygienist will ensure effective and efficient implementation and management of safety program elements in alignment with the Occupational Safety strategic plan.

SUBJECT TO BUSINESS NEEDS, WE MAY SUPPORT FLEXIBLE AND HYBRID WORK ARRANGEMENTS. OPTIONS WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

Responsibilities

• Assist Director of EH&S in the initial on-boarding and subsequent operational supervision of Occupational Safety team members.
• Proactively identify new occupational safety program needs and refine the program strategy, lead its implementation and oversee its continued success.
• Serve as a primary technical safety resource to EH&S colleagues and research personnel, including leading the evaluation, development and implementation of new University safety programs.
• Provide proactive leadership of the University???s Respiratory Protection Program, including maintaining the Respiratory Protection Plan and communicating information to the University community related to respirator use in the workplace.
• Direct and perform, as needed, chemical and non-chemical exposure assessments/monitoring of various laboratory and non-laboratory activities and assist in making appropriate recommendations for exposure minimization (e.g., product substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, etc.) and perform follow-up to ensure recommendations have been implemented and are effective.
• Assist in developing, revising and implementing improvements in the Occupational Safety Program, including: policies, procedures, plans, guidelines, reports, webpage content, newsletter articles, posters, brochures, bulletins and customized trainings reflecting regulatory requirements and best management practices.
• Manage Occupational Safety inspection readiness programs for assigned laboratories and research facilities, including AAALAC, CLEP and other accreditation programs.
• Oversee the program for the inventorying, management and maintenance of University industrial hygiene equipment, including scheduling and training of applicable staff in proper use.
• Develop professional contacts at peer institutions with staff performing similar activities.  Assist with vendor-based hazardous waste activities, as needed, by ensuring transfer, storage and disposal of laboratory wastes comply with University policies and government regulations.
• Respond and participate in emergency responses in laboratories and administrative buildings (hazardous materials, indoor air quality, water intrusion and mold assessments) both during and outside standard business hours. Assist in proactively communicating ongoing status, resolution and detailed reports to all affected parties.
• Lead and/or actively participate in EH&S???s Incident Management Working Group.
• Perform accident/incident investigations across all University operations, conduct root cause analysis, propose and lead corrective actions implementation effort for accident prevention.  
• Evaluate and follow-up reported work-related injuries and illness and collaborate with Workers??? Compensation Case programs.
• Coordinate with EH&S departmental program teams, College of Dental Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, School of Nursing, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Facilities Compliance, Capital Project Management and Manhattanville Development Group, Human Resources, and Workforce Health & Safety where activities of the departments affect operations of the Occupational Safety Programs. 
• Develop, and provide as needed, training on various topics, including: Right-to-Know/Hazard Communication, laser safety, ergonomics, shop/equipment safety, hydrofluoric acid, nitrous oxide, formaldehyde, and other OSHA regulated substances, etc.
• Consult with Facilities Compliance Teams, as needed, on safety issues, including Fall Protection, Confined Space, Lock Out/Tag Out, Hearing Conservation, and Respiratory Protection.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor???s degree or equivalent and a minimum of 3 years of experience (scientific discipline such as Chemistry, Biology, or Environmental Sciences). An appropriate combination of education and experience, meeting Columbia University criteria, may be considered in lieu of these requirements. 

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree required (scientific discipline such as Chemistry, Biology, or Environmental Sciences preferred).  Five or more years of relevant experience in the environmental health and safety field is required, preferably in an academic, research or laboratory environment.  Safety certification (e.g., CSP, CIH) is strongly preferred.

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, as a member of a team; ability to facilitate effective operational integration, collaboration and teamwork within EH&S and Columbia University; ability to prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks and exercise good judgment in managing time; ability to establish and maintain professional, collaborative, service-oriented, cooperative and effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, unions, customers, the public, regulatory agencies and co-workers through practical and positive communication; ability to operate  industrial hygiene/environmental equipment and information technologies, including advanced database, spreadsheet, presentation design software and word processing editing features; ability to understand, interpret and convey measurements, data, standards and hazardous materials information; strong written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and actively on complex topics and to convey risks effectively; ability to simplify guidance for students and staff, and to prepare thoroughly documented technical reports, excellent oral communication and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare professional-quality presentations, speak clearly and engagingly about complex issues before small and large groups of diverse audiences; ability to stand, walk, and negotiate occasional awkward work locations and paths of travel; ability to work in a variety of physical environments, including outdoors and inclement weather/temperature; ability to periodically perform short duration physical exertions, including light-medium weight lifting, pushing/pulling, stair or ladder climbing, etc. in support of a safety investigation, area or operations surveys, decommissioning or emergency response; ability to wear a respirator and other personal protective equipment.

Other Requirements

Knowledge of the structure of occupational and environmental health and safety activities related to biomedical or academic research is desired.  Safety training experience preferred.  OSHA 24- or 40-hour HAZWOPER certification preferred; RCRA and DOT certifications a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

Connections working at Columbia University