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Senior Safety Specialist

University of Texas at Dallas

Operations

USD 70k-70k / month

Posted on Jan 17, 2026

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Posting Number	S06829P
Position Title	Senior Safety Specialist
Functional Title	Senior Safety Specialist- Occupational Health
Department	Institution Risk and Safety Programs
Salary Range	$70,000, DOQ
Pay Basis	Monthly
Position Status	Regular full-time
Location	Richardson
Position End Date (if temporary)
Posting Open Date	01/15/2026
Posting Close Date
Open Until Filled	Yes
Desired Start Date	02/16/2026
Job Summary	The Senior Safety Specialist for Occupational Health provides technical expertise and guidance on occupational health and safety to faculty, staff, and students, supporting programs that minimize risk associated with workplace and campus-wide hazards. This role promotes a proactive safety culture and ensures compliance with University policies, as well as federal, state, and local regulations. The position reports to the Assistant Director of Occupational Health & Safety. The Senior Safety Specialist develops, implements, and maintains occupational health and safety programs, including industrial hygiene initiatives and baseline exposure assessments, across research and academic laboratories, student affairs, and facilities operations and construction teams. This role anticipates changes in work processes, applies management-of-change principles, and evaluates hazards to prevent work-related injury, illness, or exposure concerns. Additionally, the Senior Safety Specialist designs and delivers safety awareness training, prepares outreach materials, and provides guidance on safe work practices. Strong communication skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships across the campus community are essential. This position serves as a technical expert in occupational health and actively supports broader University health and safety programs.
Minimum Education and Experience	MS in a related field. Five (5) or more years of occupational health & safety experience or a combination of education and experience. Should have the ability to carry 50 lbs. and walk extensively. Must possess and maintain a valid Texas Driver’s License and acceptable driving record.
Preferred Education and Experience	Preferred Education and Experience: Qualifications as an Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) are highly desirable. Familiarity with Lean Six Sigma methodology for collaborative process improvement. Bilingual proficiency highly desirable, with the ability to speak and write fluently in English and Spanish, including applied experience developing and delivering professional safety information and training in both languages. Experience promoting and implementing safety programs within a university setting. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of environmental health and occupational safety principles, with the ability to understand and interpret complex written regulations and technical reports. Experience with OSHA requirements and best management practices for training employees and students on safe work practices involving hazardous materials or equipment. Experience developing and implementing comprehensive safety programs, with expertise in areas including worker exposure assessment, vehicle safety, electrical safety, hazard communication, personal protective equipment (PPE), fall prevention, and fire prevention. Strong coordination and communication skills to effectively influence and guide personnel and students toward best-practice safety behaviors. Proficiency with standard computer software, including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerBI, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Office 365, TEAMS, and Outlook. Excellent customer service skills for interacting with senior managers across multiple academic and administrative departments. Strong time and project management skills, including the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple concurrent projects.
Other Qualifications	To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities	Essential Duties and Responsibilities Provide technical support and guidance for University health and safety programs across research and academic programs, Facilities Management, and Student Affairs. Receive, evaluate, and respond to reports of potential occupational hazards; assess conditions and implement solutions to mitigate risk. Serve as an embedded professional within the University Safety Team to ensure continuity of safety programming across campus. Participate in post-incident assessments and evaluations. Conduct Job Hazard Assessments (JHAs) and PPE Hazard Assessments in collaboration with Departmental Supervisors. Provide guidance on corrective measures for safety and health exposure issues across research, academic, housing, and facility operations. Perform exposure monitoring using standard and advanced techniques, procedures, equipment, and instrumentation, particularly for chemical and noise hazards. Collaborate with University departments to implement risk management strategies, including engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Develop and implement training programs on safe work practices, ergonomics, and hazard awareness; conduct ergonomic evaluations and benchmarking with peer institutions. Maintain a progressive safety training program for faculty, staff, and students working with hazardous materials or in potentially hazardous environments. Liaise and coordinate with Occupational Health providers and the University Workers’ Compensation Program alongside the Assistant Director of Occupational Health & Safety and the Assistant Director of Risk Management. Implement elements of the respiratory protection program, including risk assessments, training, fit testing, and program evaluations for proper respirator use. Contribute to program development, policy updates, and safety awareness initiatives across the University. Perform other duties as assigned to support the goals of the Occupational Health & Safety Office.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions	Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Ability to assist with workplace emergency preparedness, drills, and response actions. Ability to meet medical qualifications for wearing respiratory protection and other required personal protective equipment (PPE). Required physical activities include extensive walking, sustained standing, occasional climbing (ladders and stairs), and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
Physical Activities
Working Conditions
Additional Information	*Work will be performed on-site and in person.* What We Can Offer UT Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer with an employee-friendly and supportive work environment. Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package that is effective as of your hire date includes: Competitive Salary Tuition Benefits BCBS PPO Medical Insurance Options – including *100% paid* employee medical coverage for full-time employees AD&D Insurance Dental & Vision Plan Options Long and short-term disability TRS Retirement Plan Fertility Benefits Paid time off All UT Dallas employees have access to various professional development opportunities, including a membership to Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, and UT Dallas Bright Leaders Program. Visit https://hr.utdallas.edu/employees/benefits/ for more information.
Special Instructions Summary
Important Message	1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public. 2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment. The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the *ADA Coordinator. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator*.

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