Environmental Safety Specialist I

Job Posting Title

Environmental Safety Specialist I ----

Hiring Department

Environmental Health and Safety ----

Position Open To

All Applicants ----

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40 ----

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt from FLSA ----

Earliest Start Date

Immediately ----

Position Duration

Expected to Continue ----

Location

AUSTIN, TX ----

Job Details

General Notes

Our teams provide a comprehensive array of qualified services, backed by our licensed and certified technicians, to this end, we offer opportunities for continuing education, as well as various stipends for additional trade licenses. Our team of trained trade experts are well-matched for the university’s operational and maintenance needs, whether the facility is a brand new laboratory or our iconic Tower.

Our goal is to self-identify operations and maintenance issues long before our clients realize a repair is needed and take a thoughtful approach to using their resources, structuring processes, and providing the best client service and use of university resources. This goal comes from our sense of ownership and pride in our work.

With this approach in mind, the team is organized into a zone-based structure and employs flexible work hours, data analysis, and technology to meet operational goals.

Environmental Health and Safety Services provides healthy and safe operations on campus, to protect students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to ensure protection of the environment.

Your skills will make a difference.

You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will contribute to operational excellence and enhance the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities.
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin’s libraries and museums with staff ID card
• Free rides on all UT shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card
• For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards .

For more information on Environmental Health and Safety, Visit the Environmental Health and Safety Website

Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employee without sponsorship.

Security sensitive; Criminal background check conducted on selected applicant. Hiring decision is contingent on applicant clearing check. This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code §51.215. Applications will be reviewed online by the hiring department.

Purpose

To provide professional knowledge and expertise in the operation and support of environmental programs in compliance with regulatory agency guidelines and institutional policies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct inspections, monitoring, training, and testing of various sites to ensure compliance with the permit requirements of the university’s storm water, wastewater, SPCC, PSTs/USTs and other environmental programs. Inspection frequency is determined by the senior staff. Attend seminars and workshops to gain and maintain knowledge for environmental programs. Conduct/present environmental training for institutional employees and students.
• Perform chemical and biological waste pickups, packaging, transporting, segregating and processing of waste on University of Texas at Austin campuses and/or satellite locations. Schedules or coordinates with customers for times and locations of pickups.
• Collect environmental samples for storm water and wastewater as required including discharge request to storm and sanitary sewer. Test, inspect and calibrate equipment as needed. Review and perform quality control of analytical results. Assist in the preparation of reports as required by permits and determined by senior staff.
• Maintain program compliance reporting systems identifying and developing both corrective actions and appropriate training for areas found to be deficient. Communicate effectively and in a timely manner with stakeholders across UT Austin main campus and satellite locations in order to maintain compliance. Document corrective actions as needed. Assist in the development of standard operating procedures and other written guidelines.
• Respond to environmental complaints and problems including hazardous and non-hazardous spills, odors and contamination. Analyze cause of incidents and impacts to environment, personnel and facility safety and report findings to management.
• Schedule and monitor services for pretreatment devices and disposal of non-hazardous waste streams, including grease, grit, mud, and oil-water separator units. Ensure waste profiles are current. Inspect pre-treatment units as needed.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Science, Natural Science, Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences or Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene or related field. Experience with environmental sampling, permitting and/or compliance. Candidates must possess working experience with the following competencies: accuracy and attention to detail, effective communication, initiative, interpersonal relationships, problem solving and service excellence. Candidates must possess a basic understanding of critical thinking and decision making.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Two years of experience in environmental health and safety or a related field. Two years of experience performing environmental sampling or storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) inspections. Currently certified Hazardous Waste Operator or attended Hazardous Materials training. Has attended training to be a Department of Transportation certified shipper for Hazardous Materials.

Salary Range

$50,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

Environmental Demands

• Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)
• May work in all weather conditions
• May work in extreme temperatures
• May work around chemical fumes
• May work around biohazards
• May work around chemicals
• May work around electrical and mechanical hazards

Physical Tasks

• May work around standard office conditions.
• Repetitive use of keyboard at a workstation
• Work will be performed remotely through remote connections
• Use of manual dexterity
• Climbing of stairs
• Climbing of ladders
• Lifting and moving

Additional Working Conditions

• May be required to work in confined spaces, manholes, tunnels, elevated work, extended shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Considerable walking, standing, squatting, stooping, and moving of heavy materials and equipment in all weather conditions.
• May be required to use of personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing duties.
• May be exposed to loud noise, high dust and allergen levels.
• May be required to lift up to 50lbs. Often required to twist, grasp, push, pull and bend.