What are the responsibilities and job description for the Safety/Security Specialist (Emergency Ops. & Env. Health & Safety Specialist) position at University of Hawaii?
Description
Title: Safety/Security Specialist (Emergency Operations & Environmental Health & Safety Specialist)
Position Number: 0081703
Hiring Unit: Administrative Affairs/Campus Security
Location: UH Hilo
Date Posted: June 22, 2026
Closing Date: July 13, 2026
Band: B
Salary : salary schedules and placement information
Full Time/Part Time: Full-time
Month: 11-month
Temporary/Permanent: Permanent
Other Conditions: Appointment to begin approximately August 2026, pending position clearance and availability of funding.
Position Overview
The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawaii, recognized for its integration of cultural immersion and place-based research that leverages the island's extraordinary geological, biological, and cultural diversity. A comprehensive, regional campus within the ten-campus University of Hawaii system, UH Hilo offers high-quality undergraduate and select postgraduate education, with distinctive strengths in areas such as marine science, geology, astronomy, and Hawaiian language revitalization, while advancing research, scholarship, and creative activity that support community needs, environmental stewardship, Indigenous knowledge systems, and workforce development priorities for the State of Hawaii.
The University of Hawaii at Hilo Campus Security Department is firmly committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests. The members of the Campus Security Department provide high-quality public safety services with a strong emphasis on customer service.
The Safety/Security Specialist (Emergency Operations and Environmental Health and Safety Specialist) manages and maintains comprehensive safety, compliance, and emergency preparedness programs for UH Hilo. This position leads campus emergency planning, exercises, and multi-agency liaison efforts to guarantee a safe and sustainable university environment.
Duties and Responsibilities (* denotes essential functions)
- Plans, coordinates, and maintains all occupational health, environmental safety and emergency management programs for the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
- Administers specialized environmental health & safety programs including hazardous waste management, chemical hygiene, diver safety, ensuring compliance with federal, state, county, and other applicable statutes, codes, and regulations.
- Collaborates with university departments to design, implement, and update the University's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), Continuity of Operations Plan(s) (COOP), Crisis Communication Plan.
- Facilitates safety training, tabletop drills, and full-scale exercises utilizing Incident Command System (ICS) standards to test plan efficacy.
- Develops and manages the university's Accident Prevention Program and conducts job hazard analysis.
- Investigates campus incidents using workers' compensation (WC-1) and internal illness/injury reports (UH Form 29) to recommend corrective actions.
- Conducts facility inspections, reviews campus safety standards, and prepares comprehensive written reports to enforce regulatory and enforcement activities.
- Manages the procurement, testing, and servicing of the university life safety and including fire systems, extinguishers, AEDs and emergency phones.
- Establishes, directs and maintains required programs and plans in the specialized areas of emergency management.
- Establishes and provides training on the university's Safety Lead program.
- Serve as a Campus Security Authority under the Jeanne Clery Act and supports the preparation of the Annual Fire Safety and Security Report.
- Serves as the primary liaison between Hawaii Civil Defense and the university.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Environmental Science/Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Public Health, Occupational Health and Safety, or Emergency Management; or related field and 4 years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for occupational health and safety policies and procedures, chemical hygiene/disposal, fire safety, emergency management; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
- Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of environmental/occupational health and safety, chemical hygiene, fire safety, and emergency management as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.
- Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with occupational health and safety, chemical hygiene/disposal, fire safety, and emergency management.
- Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
- Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software, and related tools and software to meet the requirements of the position.
- For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
- Maintain a valid driver's license.
- Experience developing and writing specialized compliance plans and safety reports, including Chemical Hygiene, Emergency Operations, Continuity of Operations, and Annual Fire Safety Reports.
- Experience conducting job hazard analysis.
- Experience managing an Accident Prevention Program.
- Experience facilitating safety orientations and training.
- Possession of a master's degree in Environmental/Occupational Health and Safety, Emergency Management or related field.
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Inquiries: Ross Villegas, rvillega@hawaii.edu
EEO, Clery Act, ADA
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/
Benefits:
Sick Leave, Reduced or Flexible Hours, Dental Insurance