Laboratory Safety & Regulatory Compliance Specialist in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at Lehigh University

Lehigh University

Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Lehigh University provides comprehensive benefits including partner benefits.

As a Laboratory Safety & Regulatory Compliance Specialist within the Campus Safety Division, you'll work directly alongside faculty, researchers, and graduate students to embed Environmental Health & Safety into every stage of the research lifecycle at one of the nation's leading Carnegie R1 institutions.

Position Number: S97320

This position is a Grade: 9 - 40 with an approximate salary range of $56,030-$68,190 and is subject to change based on experience, skills and qualifications.

Key Accountabilities

• Partner directly with faculty, researchers, and students to deliver expert technical guidance, draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and build practical risk assessments that enable safe, innovative research.
• Conduct comprehensive laboratory inspections and regulatory compliance evaluations across teaching and research labs, applying risk-based methodologies to identify hazards and recommend effective engineering, administrative, and PPE controls.
• Direct chemical inventory management, laboratory cleanouts, and waste minimization initiatives while conducting routine inspections of Satellite and Central Accumulation Areas (SAAs/CAAs).
• Coordinate hazardous waste characterization, storage, manifesting, transportation, and disposal in accordance with applicable regulations, ensuring audit readiness through meticulous reporting and corrective action tracking.
• Perform laboratory inspections, compliance audits, and root-cause investigations into incidents, spills, and near-misses, preparing technical reports to drive continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
• Participate in the EH&S on-call rotation and hazardous materials emergency spill response while assisting departments with emergency planning, lab preparedness, and operational recovery.
• Assist in administering core compliance programs—including Chemical Hygiene, Biosafety, Radiation, and Hazard Communication—while evaluating specialized risks involving chemical, biological, laser, radiological, cryogenic, and compressed gas hazards.
• Support institutional research committees and partner on laboratory renovations, equipment commissioning, and operational readiness, assessing new research processes to implement appropriate regulatory controls.
• Develop and deliver specialized EH&S training while producing practical guidance documents, lab manuals, and safety communications to serve as an institutional technical resource.
• Maintain key compliance metrics, inspection databases, and program records while partnering with faculty, Facilities, Procurement, and institutional committees to advance safe research operations.
• Provide technical guidance, project leadership, and mentorship to EH&S staff, interns, and student employees, carrying out key program initiatives and related operational duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health and Safety or another closely related scientific discipline; Master's Degree preferred
• Three to five years of work related experience
• Experience in higher education or research laboratories, and familiarity with NIH, NSF, and OSHA laboratory requirements
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, biosafety, hazardous materials management, regulatory compliance, or related Environmental Health & Safety programs; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. A master’s degree in a related field may substitute for two years of the required experience.
• Professional certifications (e.g., CIH, CSP, CHMM, CBSP) preferred
• HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) training required
• Valid Driver's license and good driving record required

Why Lehigh

As a Carnegie R1 research institution in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh combines the intellectual energy of a major research university with a genuine sense of community. You'll join a Campus Safety team committed to operational excellence and environmental stewardship, backed by the resources of a university that takes its research mission seriously. Staff benefits include generous leave provisions, above-standard superannuation contributions, tuition benefits, and strong professional development support — because Lehigh invests in the people who make its work possible.

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate. We are committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse community and we seek qualified candidates to contribute to the university’s mission.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing an accommodation for any part of the interview or hiring process may contact Lehigh's Accommodations Specialist.

Special Considerations

• This position is responsible for driving as a routine function, therefore a valid Driver’s License and a good driving record is required.

• The duties of this position may allow the employee to work partially remote as deemed appropriate by their supervisor.

Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position.

Only complete applications will be considered therefore please complete the application in its entirety. Once the posting is removed from the website applications may no longer be allowed to be completed.