Who we are

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world. 

With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth. 

Job Summary

The Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Specialist supports the Institute’s comprehensive EHS program by providing technical expertise, regulatory support, and frontline implementation of environmental health and safety initiatives across research, academic, and administrative environments. Reporting to the Associate Director of Environmental Health & Safety, the EHS Specialist works collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and campus partners to ensure regulatory compliance, reduce risk, and promote a strong culture of safety. The EHS Specialist plays a key role in incident response, training, inspections, audits, and continuous improvement of EHS programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety, Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, or a related field.

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in Environmental Health & Safety.

• Strong working knowledge of applicable regulations, including OSHA, EPA, DOT, NFPA, and NYSDEC.

• Demonstrated experience leading incident investigations, conducting audits, and performing hazard and risk assessments.

• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with proven ability to deliver training and presentations to diverse audiences.

• Valid New York State Driver’s License.

Relevant combinations of education, training and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education, research institutions, or complex academic environments.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or equivalent.
• Experience with EHS management systems, inspection programs, or continuous improvement initiatives. 

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of environmental health and safety principles and practices applicable to higher education and research environments.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA, EPA, NFPA, DOT, and NYSDEC requirements.
• Knowledge of occupational safety, fire and life safety, industrial hygiene, laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, and environmental compliance.
• Understanding of incident investigation techniques, root cause analysis, and corrective and preventive action processes.
• Familiarity with emergency response procedures and coordination with public safety and facilities operations.
• Strong training and instructional skills, with demonstrated experience developing and delivering EHS training to diverse audiences, including faculty, staff, students, and researchers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present technical and regulatory information clearly, confidently, and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Skilled in conducting inspections, audits, and assessments, preparing clear reports, and tracking corrective actions to completion.
• Effective organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships across academic, research, and administrative units.
• Ability to apply regulatory requirements and EHS best practices in a practical, risk-based manner within active research and operational settings.
• Ability to respond effectively to incidents and emergencies, exercising sound professional judgment and maintaining composure in dynamic situations.
• Ability to influence compliance and promote safe practices through education, consultation, and partnership rather than enforcement alone.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to support Institute-wide safety goals and continuous improvement.
• Ability to use EHS software systems, databases, and digital tools to support training, inspections, and compliance tracking.

Representative Job Duties

• Provide professional and technical support for Institute-wide Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) programs, including occupational safety, fire and life safety, industrial hygiene, laboratory safety, and environmental compliance across research, academic, and administrative environments.

• Respond to laboratory and campus safety incidents and near-misses; provide on-scene technical guidance; coordinate with the Department of Public Safety and other campus partners; lead or support incident investigations; determine root causes; and recommend corrective and preventive actions.

• Develop, deliver, and facilitate EHS training programs for faculty, staff, and students on a wide range of environmental health and safety topics; ensure training content meets regulatory and institutional requirements; track completion; and promote compliance through outreach and education.

• Lead and conduct internal audits and assessments of EHS programs to evaluate effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and alignment with institutional standards; identify gaps and improvement opportunities; develop and recommend corrective and preventive actions; and track implementation to support continuous improvement of Institute-wide safety programs.

• Coordinate and manage the Institute’s medical surveillance program by conducting and documenting hazard assessments to determine surveillance requirements; coordinating industrial hygiene monitoring and exposure evaluations; working with occupational health providers; ensuring required surveillance is implemented for faculty, staff, and students; providing related training and communication; and maintaining accurate records in accordance with regulatory and institutional requirements.

• Lead and manage the Institute’s fire safety program, serving as the primary EHS point of contact for fire safety compliance. Responsibilities include interpreting and applying applicable fire codes; overseeing and coordinating inspections, drills, and compliance activities; partnering with Facilities, Public Safety, and external agencies; evaluating program effectiveness; implementing improvements; and providing campus-wide fire safety education and outreach.

• Partner with campus stakeholders—including Public Safety, Facilities, and academic departments—to support EHS programs, Building Coordinator activities, policy and procedure updates, EHS initiatives, events, and special projects as assigned by the Associate Director of EHS.

Shift

Business Hours with weekends or evenings occasionally required

Travel

Driving

Driving a Rensselaer vehicle for non-passenger use

Starting Salary/Rate

Expected hiring range: $70,000 - $80,000

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions

Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile. Please be ready to upload your resume and cover letter.

If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Total Compensation and Benefits Information

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).