Environmental Health & Safety Professional

Merrimack College is hiring an Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Officer to develop and implement health and safety policies, ensuring a safe environment for students and staff. Responsibilities include conducting risk assessments, compliance monitoring, training programs, safety inspections, and emergency response coordination. The position requires collaboration with various stakeholders and adherence to regulatory mandates. The job is based in North Andover, MA, and is not remote.
Merrimack College is a selective, private college in a beautiful,
residential setting — just minutes from Boston,
Massachusetts.

Position Overview:

Merrimack College is seeking a dedicated and experienced
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Officer to join our team.
The EHS Officer will report to the Director of Research Protection
& Compliance and be responsible for developing, coordinating,
implementing, and maintaining health and safety policies at the
college to ensure a safe and healthy environment for students,
faculty, staff, and visitors. This position will play a crucial
role in promoting a culture of safety and environmental
responsibility on campus. In accordance with regulatory mandates,
topics included will be complex technical areas such as hazard
control and risk management, occupational health and safety,
chemical handling and storage, and fire prevention. The EHS Officer
will manage, plan, schedule, participate in, and assume the overall
responsibility for all safety and safety related inspections of
buildings, maintenance operations, dormitories, laboratories, and
research areas, construction and facilities rehabilitation sites,
storage areas, etc. for the purpose of detecting and appraising
unsafe conditions or activities.

Key Responsibilities:
• Program Development and Implementation:
• * Develop and manage a laboratory safety program and compliance
activities associated with fire prevention, chemicals, radioactive
materials, radiation producing equipment, biological materials,
high risk equipment, and laboratory processes.
• Develop and implement comprehensive EHS programs, policies, and
procedures in compliance with federal, state, and local
regulations.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop strategies to mitigate
potential hazards.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and other
relevant regulations.
• Conduct regular meetings with school Deans and other applicable
stakeholders to review and implement EHS policies.
• Training and Education:
• * Design and deliver EHS training programs for employees,
students, and faculty.
• Stay current on safety and environmental technical and
regulatory issues associated with current activities and in advance
of new activities associated with university growth.
• Inspections and Audits:
• * Perform safety audits of labs and other applicable locations,
develop, and distribute a report of findings, development abatement
strategy in conjunction with stakeholders, and track corrective
action progress through completion.
• Develop and maintain a log of completed and scheduled
audits.
• Inspect and determine that available life safety devices such
as fume hoods, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors are in proper
supply and working condition
• Provide safety and EHS regulatory compliance support for
non-laboratory spaces.
• Investigate incidents and near-misses, and develop corrective
action plans.
• Emergency Response:
• * Help develop guidelines for and contribute to emergency
response efforts that are associated with research space
operations, as needed.
• Coordinate emergency response activities, drills, and exercises
to ensure preparedness and serve as a key member of the campus
emergency response team.
• Provide on-call (after-hours) support for EHS related
emergencies.
• Environmental Management:
• * Manage regulated waste as required by federal, state, and local
regulations to include but not limited to chemicals, controlled
substances, biological radioactive, and universal wastes across all
campus locations including labs, athletic facilities, and other
operational locations.
• Manage hazardous waste disposal and ensure proper handling and
storage of hazardous materials.
• Coordinate waste removal and disposal services with the
College’s contracted third party; responsible for contract
negotiation, vendor evaluation, and liaising with College units who
utilize these services.
• Reporting, Documentation, and Administration:
• * Maintain records as well as prepare and submit all required
reports and documents as mandated by federal, state, and local
regulatory agencies.
• Develop and maintain documentation for EHS policies,
procedures, and training programs.
• Perform incident investigations, report findings, advise on
steps to reduce recurrence, and track corrective action progress
through completion.
• Work with the appropriate offices to maintain and update the
EHS section of the Merrimack College website.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health & Safety,
Occupational Health, Environmental Science, or a related
field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive experience in EHS
management, preferably in a higher education or research
environment.
• Knowledge of OSHA, EPA, and other relevant EHS
regulations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making
skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Safety
Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or
similar are preferred but not required

Physical Requirements:
• Ability to conduct site inspections in various environments,
including laboratories, construction sites, and outdoor areas.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations on campus during and
outside of regular working hours.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and
contact information for three

professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling
basis until the position is

filled.

Application Materials Should Include:
• Resume
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position,
citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including
experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian
mission and our values.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal
background check.

Work Location

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order
to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for
our students and the community.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher
education committed to building unity within our community. We seek
to foster belonging, promote access, and create opportunities for
all community members. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage
hearts, and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and
the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and
dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can
contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All
candidates should describe in their application how they will
foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only
Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New
England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational
institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate
students from 43 states and 42 countries. The College features more
than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate
programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate
about their subject and student success. The College has six
schools: Graduate School of Counseling and Social Work, School of
Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Computational
Sciences, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, School of
Education and Social Policy, and the Girard School of Business. The
College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north
of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts.
Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs
(M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of
Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing
educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up
in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges,
ranking 33rd in the Regional Universities North category in 2024.
Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Internal Applicants - Apply Now

External Applicants - Apply Now