Environmental Health & Safety Specialist

Summary

Environmental Health & Safety Specialist — Moffitt Discovery and Innovation Research Center at SPEROS

Pasco County, FL.

Moffitt is opening a new chapter at the Moffitt Discovery and Innovation Research Center (MDI) at SPEROS in Pasco County — a brand-new, state-of-the-art research campus built to advance the future of cancer science. We are seeking a motivated Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) professional to join the Research EHS team as the plank-owning EHS Specialist for this facility.

The position will initially be based at our Magnolia Campus. Ultimately, the position will be located at Moffitt at Speros in Land O’Lakes, FL once the facility opens mid-July 2026.

Position Highlights

This is a rare ground-floor opportunity — the founding, on-site EHS Specialist for Moffitt’s newest research campus. The EHS Specialist will:

• Serve as the on-site EHS presence at SPEROS, working independently to run day-to-day EHS operations at a campus located away from the main Tampa campus.
• Own one or more institutional EHS Program elements on behalf of the entire Research enterprise (such as Inspections, Safety Equipment, Incident Investigations, Ergonomics, Respiratory Protection, Emergency Preparedness, or Training).
• Implement and manage the day-to-day effectiveness of all other Research EHS Programs at SPEROS — chemical hygiene, hazardous waste, biosafety, training, emergency preparedness — coordinating with the program owners on the main campus.
• Help establish the safety culture, standards, and operating rhythm from day one in a brand-new building supporting cutting-edge cancer research.
• Operate with full backing from the established Research EHS team at the main campus, including the Hazardous Materials Manager, the Biosafety Officer, and the Research Safety Officer.
  
  

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal EHS Specialist for SPEROS is a self-directed safety professional who thrives operating with autonomy at a remote site while remaining tightly coordinated with a home team. They should have:

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in an appropriate scientific or safety field — microbiology, virology, molecular biology, public health, biochemistry, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, or a closely related degree.
• Experience in safety and environmental compliance working with faculty and staff in a research or educational institution.
• Demonstrated ability to perform audits and inspections and to drive corrective actions to closure with minimal day-to-day oversight.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local health and safety regulations governing laboratory safety, biological safety, chemical safety, and animal use operations.
• Certification in a recognized safety-related program (e.g., CSP, CIH, RBP, CBSP, CHMM) — held or actively in progress.
• Experience managing hazardous waste from a generator, shipper, and/or treatment-and-disposal perspective.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common safety-related applications.
• Strong communication skills across a variety of methods (verbal, email, announcements, presentations) and comfort being the visible safety presence in a new building.
  
  

Responsibilities

• Serve as the on-site EHS lead for the Moffitt Discovery and Innovation Research Center at SPEROS.
• Lead one or more institutional EHS Programs for the Research enterprise (Inspections, Safety Equipment, Incident Investigations, Ergonomics, Respiratory Protection, Emergency Preparedness, or Training).
• Implement and manage all Research EHS program activities at SPEROS, including SAA inspections, biosafety annual inspections, annual chemical inspections, training delivery (RSMART, HWGRT, PPE), and major and minor lab consultations.
• Conduct safety audits and routine inspections of safety-related systems; document findings and drive corrective actions to completion.
• Investigate incidents, near misses, and other identified safety concerns; perform follow-up and root-cause analysis.
• Process hazardous waste at SPEROS — milk runs, characterization, storage, and preparation for shipment — in coordination with the Hazardous Materials Manager.
• Support biosafety oversight at the site, partnering with the Biosafety Officer and Research Safety Officer. Because USF does not provide biosafety program support at SPEROS, on-site EHS coverage is essential to maintain compliance and reduce regulatory risk.
• Prepare for and support Joint Commission surveys, DEP inspections, and Fire Marshal walkthroughs at SPEROS.
• Assist in annual reviews of EHS policies and SOPs, including the Biosafety Program and Lab Inspection Program.
• Participate in Research On-Call rotation (approximately 8 weeks per year as Primary On-Call).
• Participate in institutional preparation, response, and recovery for hurricane events and other disasters across an expanded research footprint.
  
  

Credentials And Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering or occupational safety and at least 3 years of hands-on experience in an EHS Department or a University setting is required.
• The degree requirement may be waived if the candidate has at least 7 years of hands-on relevant experience.
• FL Driver’s License in good standing is required.
• Knowledge of safety and environmental compliance in a research or educational institution.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations required.
• Recognized safety certification (CSP, CIH, RBP, CBSP, CHMM, or similar) preferred.
  
  

Moffitt Team Members are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Parental Leave and more. Tampa is a thriving metropolitan city, which has become a hub for ground-breaking research, welcoming individuals from around the globe. This diverse city is engulfed with rich culture, year-round activities, amazing cuisine and so much more. We strive for work/life balance.

If you have the vision, passion, and dedication to contribute to our mission,

then we have a place for you