"Environmental Affairs Officer"

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.

Reporting to the Environmental Compliance Manager, the Environmental Affairs Officer has overall responsibility for developing and implementing programs in the regulatory compliance programs for Air, Water Discharge, Remediation, TSCA and EPCRA. Specific duties include but are not limited to:

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.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Advanced degree in engineering, environmental science, environmental management, or sustainability, with a minimum of three to five years of directly related experience (or the equivalent in education and experience).
2. State of CT Asbestos Inspector License
3. EPA Method ALT-082 Certification

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Advanced knowledge in EHS science and state and federal EHS regulations, standards, and guidance; 24-hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification (required after hire).
2. Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to be an effective trainer and public speaker, and to maintain collaborative relationships with coworkers, students, faculty, staff, and external entities.
3. Demonstrated technical EHS skills, including monitoring and sampling methodology, and the ability to perform technical calculations and hazard evaluations.
4. Ability to manage and prioritize multiple programs, projects, and tasks across multiple university locations.
5. Ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications, including reporting survey findings and maintaining required regulatory records.

Preferred 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.

Additional Required Licenses or Certifications

CT UST Operator Class A/B Certification

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.

Salary Range

$92,000.00 - $146,750.00

Location

60 Temple Street, New Haven, Connecticut