Environmental Affairs Officer

Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community, eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative, or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!

Overview

The Environmental Health & Safety Specialist 4 is an advanced professional position responsible for managing multiple EHS programs and services to address significant risks and compliance at the university. The role involves assessing compliance, reviewing inspection findings, conducting investigations, and leading the development of systems to manage and minimize risk and liability. The specialist interprets regulations and implements programs in line with the university's mission, exercising discretion and independent judgment. Responsibilities include consulting with faculty, staff, and students, liaising with regulatory agencies, and serving as a subject matter expert and trainer for EHS staff. The position also assumes responsibility for corrective actions and program improvements when serious issues are identified.

Required Skills and Abilities
1. Ability to exercise good judgment regarding health and safety. Demonstrated skills and knowledge in technical safety disciplines (e.g., radiation safety, industrial hygiene, biosafety, chemical safety, environmental monitoring, and sampling methods). Ability to interpret regulatory impact or safety impact in new settings.

2. Knowledge of EPA, DEEP, NRC, DOT, IATA and OSHA regulations. Knowledge of environmental, public health and hazardous materials risks. General knowledge of other State and Federal environmental health and safety regulations. Advanced knowledge of contaminants of emerging concern i.e.. PFAS.

3. Ability to establish and maintain professional, collaborative, service-oriented, cooperative and effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff and regulatory agencies through effective and positive communication.

4. Well-developed analytical, training, and counseling skills. Good verbal and written communication, training, and presentation skills, including ability to communicate risks effectively, speak clearly and engagingly about health and safety issues and environmental compliance issues, before small and large groups.

5. Ability to manage and prioritize multiple programs, projects, and tasks across multiple university locations. Ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, and database computer programs. 

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Review compliance programs in assigned areas of responsibility so that they meet University needs and the expectations of regulatory agencies. Ensure that compliance records, program descriptions and other documents are prepared, complete and maintained. As necessary, prepare compliance reports, corrective action plans and responses to queries, complaints and inspections from regulatory agencies. Represent the University to pertinent regulatory agencies, including reporting, other communications and escorting inspectors.

2. Develops and updates SPCC plans and regulations, and coordination of monthly oil container inspections.

3. Coordination of annual UST cathodic protection surveys and testing.

4. Management of UST program and preparation of UST notification forms for submittal to CT DEEP and local Fire Marshal.

5. Monitors and reports exceedances of discharge permit requirements.

6. Performs periodic wastewater discharge sampling and recordkeeping per water discharge permits at campus and Utilities locations. Ensures vendor-conducted sampling reports are received on a timely basis.

7. Prepares Discharge Monitoring Reports according to the requirements of discharge permits.

8. Assists in maintaining air emissions equipment inventory and recordkeeping for campus air emissions units permit compliance.

9. Maintains hazardous material inventory for EPCRA reporting purposes. preparation of annual Tier II hazardous materials reports.

10. Maintains PCB-containing equipment inventory and preparation of PCB annual document. Samples for presence of PCBs as required.

11. Develops and implements SPCC annual refresher training for oil-handling personnel.

12. Develops and implements wastewater discharge awareness training for affected personnel.

13. Work as member of internal shipping team to aid in compliance with IATA, DOT and TSCA compliance

14. Works as a member of the Sustainable Task Force for EHS and assists in the development of measurable sustainable projects for the University.

15. Quantifies and implements pollution prevention and waste minimization techniques for departments on campus.

16. Serves as a member of the 24/7/365 EHS Emergency Response Team during regular work hours and after-hours for responses to hazardous materials incidents.

17. May direct the work of technicians supporting environmental programs.

18. May perform other duties as assigned.
 

Principal Responsibilities

1.    Responsible for oversight of high-risk and significant EHS compliance programs that conform with applicable regulations, standards, and Yale policies. Manage daily operations of these programs, including development of written policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the creation of compliance reports to document completion of assigned tasks. 2.    Understand policies and procedures. Assess risks. Utilize and implement appropriate safety procedures, personal protective equipment, and other safety controls. 3.    Provide expert advice regarding the safe and compliant acquisition, use, management, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials. 4.    Serve as a subject matter expert to faculty oversight committees, planning and design groups. 5.    Through measurement, critical evaluation, calculation, and modeling, use skill and expertise to apply regulatory standards or criteria to inform EHS decisions. 6.    Assess the safety of work areas and activities for university personnel and outside contractors. Perform comprehensive safety audits. Report survey findings. 7.    Prepare and maintain standard operating procedures. Maintain complete and accurate records to EHS standards, as required. 8.    Be self-motivated. Present own ideas. Make job improvements. Understand other EHS work processes and their underlying basis. 9.    Meet work plan goals and contribute to Section and overall EHS goals. Complete duties appropriately, accurately, and in a high quality and timely manner. 10.    Be friendly and courteous with coworkers and customers. Forge new customer relationships and strengthen existing ones. Develop a deep understanding of customer needs. Refer customer to appropriate resources. Keep customers informed of progress and follow through thoroughly. 11.    Work in harmony with others as a team member. Cooperate freely and demonstrate respect for others. Encourage the participation of other team members in projects. Address and resolve conflict in a timely and appropriate manner.  12.    Communicate technical information effectively and appropriately to different audiences. Communicate with internal and external contacts to review safety issues, implement recommendations and corrective actions listen attentively to others. Provide appropriate and timely feedback. Be tactful and sensitive to others. Encourage others to express their ideas and opinions. 13.    Provide specialty training for high risk or compliance-sensitive activities. 14.    Ensure that EHS services provided are performed in a manner consistent with expectations, policies, and procedures. Be responsive and prompt. 15.    Serves as a member of the 24/7/365 EHS emergency response team for hazardous materials incidents. Carry EHS provided cell phone at all reasonable times after-hours and, when scheduled, the EHS after-hours emergency response cell phone.  16.    Immediately report to your supervisor: a) items of non-compliance or potential items of non-compliance; b) any spills, releases, accidents, injuries, emergencies, or other incidents; or c) any problems with facilities and equipment. 17.    Support other EHS programs and perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience •    Bachelor's degree specific to the area of expertise, or related field, such as environmental science, industrial hygiene, radiation safety/health physicist, biology, physics, chemistry, or engineering. •    Six years of work experience in a safety-related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Required License(s) or Certification(s) 24-hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification (required after hire) Physical Requirements 1.    Pass required physical examination. 2.    Ability to stand, walk, lift, push, pull, twist, and negotiate awkward paths of travel. 3.    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 survey, or emergency response. 4.    Ability to wear and use personal protective equipment for hazardous materials handling and spill clean-up including respirators, safety shoes, goggles, gloves, and fully encapsulating protective suit, up to and including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). 5.    Ability to work in a variety of physical environments including weather extremes, potential confined spaces, elevated locations, etc. 6.    In support of emergency response work or assisting other EHS units, ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and move up to 500 lbs. of waste or other material using rolling carts or drum carts. 7.    Ability to carry cell phone at all reasonable times after-hours and the designated EHS after-hours emergency response cell phone as scheduled.

Job Posting Date

08/04/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Senior Manager; Senior Program Leader (26)

Salary Range

$92,000.00 - $146,750.00

Time Type

Part time

Duration Type

Temporary / Casual (Fixed Term)

Work Model

On-site

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.