What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Health and Safety Officer position at Inside Higher Ed?
Location: Utica, NY
Job Type: Full-Time, 12-Month
This position is part of the NY HELPS program, which temporarily waives the civil service examination requirement. Individuals appointed through this program will transition to competitive class status without needing to take a future exam.
Mohawk Valley Community College provides accessible, high-quality educational opportunities to meet the diverse needs of our students. We are the community’s college, committed to student success through partnerships, transfer and career pathways, and personal enrichment.
The College is looking for exceptional colleagues to join the MVCC community. We are currently seeking an Environmental Health and Safety Officer in our Department of Public Safety. The Environmental Health and Safety Officer provides the Community College and involves performance of tasks involving the development, implementation and enforcement of a health and safety program covering students and employees to comply with State and Federal regulations to ensure maximum safety. Duties are performed under the general supervision of the Director of Physical Plant, with leeway allowed in designing and carrying out the details of the health and safety program. The work is performed in accordance with established policies and procedures including OSHA regulations, the Federal Hazard Communication Standard and the New York State Right-to-Know Law. May supervise the work of others. Does related work, as required.
Typical Work Activities
Hours per week: 35
Qualifications
Full performance knowledge, skills, abilities and personal characteristics: Good knowledge of Federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations pertaining to hazardous waste, right-to-know, toxic substances, fire safety, and asbestos containment; working knowledge of industrial safety principles; ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with employees, department heads and students; ability to read and understand complex written directions; ability to reason clearly and select proper courses of action in situations involving safety; ability to prepare and conduct training seminars; ability to organize, interpret and use forms, records, and documents required in the administration of toxic substances, right-to-know, safety and OSHA programs; ability to prepare reports; ability to understand and interpret laws and codes.
Either
Minimum Qualifications:
To learn more about MVCC, our culture, and employee benefits, please visit: https://www.mvcc.edu/about/discover
Special Instructions to Applicants: Application Process:To be considered for this position, applicants must complete both of the following steps: 1. Submit an application through the College’s Career Site, 2. Submit a separate application through the Oneida County portal for MVCC positions for County review and approval: https://oneida-portal.mycivilservice.com/post/otheropp/. Applications submitted through only one system will be considered incomplete.
Salary: $51,599
For full consideration, apply by: 6/15/2026
Mohawk Valley Community College is an Affirmative Action,Equal Opportunity Employer deeply committed to a community of excellence,equity, and diversity. MVCC maintains an inclusive learning environment inwhich students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities,governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse,multi-cultural, and global worldview. We value the many similarities anddifferences among individuals and groups. We are committed to preparingstudents to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in a world made up ofpeople with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds,religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, differentabilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. All qualified applicantswill receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color,religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran statusor on the basis of disability.
Job Type: Full-Time, 12-Month
This position is part of the NY HELPS program, which temporarily waives the civil service examination requirement. Individuals appointed through this program will transition to competitive class status without needing to take a future exam.
Mohawk Valley Community College provides accessible, high-quality educational opportunities to meet the diverse needs of our students. We are the community’s college, committed to student success through partnerships, transfer and career pathways, and personal enrichment.
The College is looking for exceptional colleagues to join the MVCC community. We are currently seeking an Environmental Health and Safety Officer in our Department of Public Safety. The Environmental Health and Safety Officer provides the Community College and involves performance of tasks involving the development, implementation and enforcement of a health and safety program covering students and employees to comply with State and Federal regulations to ensure maximum safety. Duties are performed under the general supervision of the Director of Physical Plant, with leeway allowed in designing and carrying out the details of the health and safety program. The work is performed in accordance with established policies and procedures including OSHA regulations, the Federal Hazard Communication Standard and the New York State Right-to-Know Law. May supervise the work of others. Does related work, as required.
Typical Work Activities
- Conducts OSHA and toxic substance safety training sessions as needed;
- Submits annual budget and program requirements;
- Monitors and enforces safety regulations;
- Maintains records to satisfy OSHA and Toxic Substances reporting requirements;
- Attends safety seminars, workshops and fire training programs;
- Develops and executes programs, policies and procedures in compliance with local, State and Federal regulations which relate to the health and safety of employees and students at Mohawk Valley Community College;
- Serves as the designated “Right-to-Know” officer for the campus and maintains master file of Material Safety Data Sheets and Chemical fact sheets;
- Implements and presents initial and annual training programs for employees;
- Maintains contact with local, State, and Federal regulatory agencies such as Environmental Conservation, State and County health departments, local fire departments, and College Safety Committee;
- Prepares reports and safety documents for internal and external use;
- Keeps informed of changes in local, State and Federal laws and conveys new requirements to the college community;
- Works with Human Resources and Student Health Center to implement and carry out policies on work-related illnesses and injuries;
- Follows up on all work-related accidents;
- Reviews safe storage and handling practices in laboratories on campus;
- Promulgates policies and procedures for storage and handling in laboratories;
- Conducts laboratory safety surveys and generates recommendations for corrective action when appropriate;
- Makes complete arrangements for pick-up and disposal of hazardous and biological wastes through an outside contractor;
- Maintains waste manifests and records;
- Makes provisions for safe temporary storage of hazardous and biological wastes on campus;
- Identifies unsafe practices and conditions through active inspection;
- Oversees asbestos abatement program;
- Oversees fire safety inspection program;
- Maintains the college's oil storage facilities licenses, hazardous materials generator registration and other licenses and registrations as required by law.
Hours per week: 35
Qualifications
Full performance knowledge, skills, abilities and personal characteristics: Good knowledge of Federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations pertaining to hazardous waste, right-to-know, toxic substances, fire safety, and asbestos containment; working knowledge of industrial safety principles; ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with employees, department heads and students; ability to read and understand complex written directions; ability to reason clearly and select proper courses of action in situations involving safety; ability to prepare and conduct training seminars; ability to organize, interpret and use forms, records, and documents required in the administration of toxic substances, right-to-know, safety and OSHA programs; ability to prepare reports; ability to understand and interpret laws and codes.
Either
Minimum Qualifications:
- Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college with an Associate’s Degree in science or chemical technology, engineering technology, construction technology, industrial safety technology, fire science technology, occupational safety or a closely related field, AND three (3) years of experience in administration, training, coordination, or enforcement of job safety or environmental health and safety regulations;
- Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma AND five (5) years of experience, as outlined in (A) above;
- An equivalent combination of training and experience, as defined by the limits of (A) and (B) above.
- Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements.
- Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
To learn more about MVCC, our culture, and employee benefits, please visit: https://www.mvcc.edu/about/discover
Special Instructions to Applicants: Application Process:To be considered for this position, applicants must complete both of the following steps: 1. Submit an application through the College’s Career Site, 2. Submit a separate application through the Oneida County portal for MVCC positions for County review and approval: https://oneida-portal.mycivilservice.com/post/otheropp/. Applications submitted through only one system will be considered incomplete.
Salary: $51,599
For full consideration, apply by: 6/15/2026
Mohawk Valley Community College is an Affirmative Action,Equal Opportunity Employer deeply committed to a community of excellence,equity, and diversity. MVCC maintains an inclusive learning environment inwhich students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities,governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse,multi-cultural, and global worldview. We value the many similarities anddifferences among individuals and groups. We are committed to preparingstudents to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in a world made up ofpeople with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds,religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, differentabilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. All qualified applicantswill receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color,religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran statusor on the basis of disability.
Salary : $51,599