Director of Environmental Health

Director of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)

Pay Status and Classification: Exempt, Regular Full-time. This position is not eligible for relocation assistance or visa sponsorship.

Work Location: This position is an onsite role and is not eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

Supervisor: Vice President for Human Resources and Chief of Staff. This position also collaborates closely and strategically with the Director of Campus Safety and the Director of Facilities as key institutional partners to align safety compliance with daily operations.

Position Purpose: Manage the EHS Department staff and students employees. Oversee the College’s radiation, laser, biosafety, chemical safety, fire safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Campus Policies, and hazardous waste disposal programs. Ensure organizational compliance with local, state, and federal safety and environmental regulations, complete required periodic regulatory reports, and coordinate regulatory inspections.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

Strategic Leadership, Governance & Program Management (30%)

• Develop and execute long- and short-range plans, policies, andoperating procedures for the EHS department to build a proactiveand collaborative culture of safety across campus.
• Hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate EHS departmentstaff.
• Partner with Union Finance to manage the EHS budget andforecast annual costs for services, supplies, etc.
• Chair the Academic Affairs Safety Committee and partner withfaculty, staff, and administration to evaluate and continuouslyimprove safety initiatives.
• Collaborate and partner with Facilities Services on codecompliance and occupational health & safety within thedepartments including both large and small projects.
• Designs and delivers EHS safety training programs for studentsand employees.
• Stay current on EHS trends, innovations, and higher educationsafety benchmarks, introducing modern practices and systems.
• Work with Human Resources to recommend preventative safetymeasures and controls and investigate employee injuryincidents.

Regulatory Compliance, Audits & Agency Liaison (25%)

• Direct Union College’s compliance with local, state, andfederal health, safety, and environmental regulations (OSHA, EPA,NYSDEC, NYSDOH, NYS Office of Fire Prevention & Control,etc.).
• Monitor changing health, safety and environmental legislation,update institutional policies and practices accordingly.
• Lead the strategy, administration, and instructional deliveryof institutional compliance and safety training programs (e.g.,OSHA, Radiation Safety).
• Oversee mandatory compliance reporting and serve as the primaryinstitutional liaison during official agency inspections and audits(NYS Cooling Tower Registries, Asbestos and lead safety reporting,and other facilities related reports).

Academic, Laboratory & Specialized Safety Operations (20%)

• Responsible for oversight of Union’s chemical inventory program(CEMS), safety training for authorized entry to the ISEC chemicalstockroom and serves as the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) for theCollege.
• Serve as the designated Biosafety Officer (BSO), RadiationSafety Officer (RSO) and Laser Safety Officer (LSO). Maintaincompliance with Union’s Radioactive Materials License conditions,and biosafety and laser safety standards, and inventorycontrols.
• Direct safety inspections, hazard assessments, and chemicalhygiene programs in Science & Engineering research and teachinglaboratories.

Environmental Protection, Hazardous Materials & Bulk Storage (15%)

• Oversee environmental stewardship programs, including thePetroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) program and hazardous chemical/wastemanagement.
• Direct hazmat spill response readiness, ensuring propercontainment protocols, reporting, and maintenance of emergencyspill equipment.
• Manage electronic and universal waste recyclingprograms.

Fire Safety, Life Safety & Emergency Response (10%)

• Manage fire safety and life safety inspection and trainingschedules across academic, administrative, and residential physicalenvironments.
• Serve as a campus community liaison and share relevant healthand safety information.