Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

Job Vacancy Notice

Job Title Environmental Health and Safety Specialist

Job ID 25703

Location LaGuardia Community College

Full/Part Time Full-Time

Regular/Temporary Regular

POSITION DETAILS

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York/CUNY. In 2019, LaGuardia served over 30,000 students in pre-college, associate degree, and continuing education programs. Major areas of study include Health Sciences, STEM, Business and Technology, and Liberal Arts. Consistent with the diversity of Queens, 56 percent of LaGuardia students are born outside of the United States. More than half are first-generation college students. Sixty-nine percent live in Queens; the rest come from Brooklyn and beyond. Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (88 percent), 58 percent are women, and 31 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-eight percent of LaGuardia students are Hispanic, making the college a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Sixty-six percent of LaGuardia students receive financial aid. Slightly less than half attend part-time, often because they need to work to support their families. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in a 2017 Stanford University study. For more information about LaGuardia please visit www.laguardia.edu.

LaGuardia Community College's Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment by identifying, evaluating, and mitigating harmful conditions and practices. The EHS Office also ensures that college operations are conducted in compliance with CUNY policies, City, State, and Federal regulations of environmental and occupational safety. A wide range of services are provided by the department which includes, but are not limited to, developing safety policies and programs, inspecting campus laboratories and other applicable areas for compliance, conducting training and information sessions for faculty and staff.

The successful candidate reports to the Director of Environmental Health and Safety and will assist EHS in both the academic and administrative areas of the College. The Specialist will assist with the application and enforcement of all federal, state and local environmental health and safety regulations as well as, implement and enforce various CUNY and College policies and procedures in accordance with federal, state and local regulations concerning EHS. Responsibilities for this position consist of, but are not limited to the following:

• Assists the development and implementation of EHS procedures and guidelines;
• Selects and implements techniques for identification of hazards, assessing risks and conducting investigations;
• Maintain environmental health and safety protocols as required;
• Assists with the management of the College’s biological, chemical and radioactive waste disposal programs;
• Inspects all facilities, including research and teaching laboratories, to ensure safe operating conditions;
• Facilitates faculty and administration interaction on projects with environmental health safety implications;
• Assists in the administration of planning and formulating environmental health and safety policies;
• Ensures that all required environmental health and safety training is made available and completed;
• Conduct training on all applicable topics as assigned;
• Assists in the management of the blood borne pathogens and respiratory protection programs;
• Prepares reports, inventories and invoices for chemicals managed and disposed for various departments;
• Maintains required documentation of EHS programs;
• Investigates and documents health, safety and environmental related incidents and responds to employee health and safety complaints;
• Participates and, if required, lead internal audits and inspections;
• Assists with lab safety and lab compliance activities;
• Supervises select activities of the EHS Coordinator and part-time staff as assigned;
• Ensures the effective management of the chemical inventory programs;
• Chair, represent or participate in various committees, meetings and training programs as assigned;
• Move, lift and transport equipment and materials as needed;
• Flexibility to occasionally work on weekends or off hours when responding to emergencies or to meet critical deadlines;
• Serve as emergency response coordinator for EHS concerns if assigned;
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

This position is based in Queens, NY.

Candidates will be required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon commencing employment. Exemption (medical or religious) requests to this requirement will be considered in accordance with applicable law. Being fully vaccinated is defined for this purpose as being at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. Final candidates must be fully vaccinated as of their first day of employment. All CUNY employees must reside within a commutable distance to their campus.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree and four years' related experience required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Master’s Degree in a related environmental or science field.

- Completion of necessary FDNY and other mandatory certifications within (3) months of hiring.

- Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English.

- Ability to learn, use and manipulate various software programs related to the job, including the Microsoft Office programs.

- Ability to simplify and explain complex EHS concepts to the college community.

- Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

- Must be physically capable of wearing personal protective equipment including a full-face respirator or comparable protection.

- Ability to communicate in Spanish language is a plus.

- Training in emergency response preferred.

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Assists in managing academic and administrative environmental health and safety programs. 

- Prepares reports of activities, inventories, incidents, environmental monitoring and related matters

- Assists in the inspection of laboratories, chemical storage rooms and other facilities, ensuring compliance with government and university regulations

- Administers biological, chemical, and radioactive waste disposal programs by communicating with faculty and staff, organizing collection, and contacting appropriate disposal vendors

- May assist in developing compliance strategies and programs for various requirements such as EPA regulations, OSHA/PESH standards and New York's occupational and environmental regulations

- Works with members of the College community to provide professional guidance and assistance on environmental health and safety implications of various projects

- May respond to environmental health and safety complaints

- Performs related duties as assigned.

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Assistant

FLSA

Exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

$52,267 - $72,667

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information. 

Candidates should provide a resume and cover letter.

CLOSING DATE

January 18 2023

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.