Position Title: Safety Specialist

Employee Classification: Safety Specialist

College/Division: Administration and Finance

Department: 500200-ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SAFETY & RISK

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Commensurate with qualifiications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  We are looking for a motivated individual to join our team and help in keeping the NMSU community safe!

Classification Summary:
Under general supervision, responsible for evaluating and assisting in mitigation of health and safety hazards. Develops, organizes and facilitates applicable safety programs and safety training for NMSU employees; reviews accidents, injuries and loss controls as needed to determine cause and trends in area of responsibility. Coordinates and provides assistance with inventories, inspections and maintaining records and programs.

Classification Standard Duties:
Manages various safety programs and operations in focused areas. As directed develops and promotes general safety programs, policies and procedures to further support and facilitate safety, compliance and injury prevention. Advises university community regarding safety protocols and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance as mandated by local, state and federal agencies. Provide employee safety training to prevent worker injury/illness and facilitate OSHA, EPA and other regulatory agencies compliance. Evaluates health and safety hazards according to environmental, health and safety principles and legal requirements. Provides reports on inspections and activity reviews which include recommendations for correcting operations and building safety deficiencies. Establishes procedures to eliminate injury, illness or hazards. Interprets data, prepares reports and provides recommendations regarding employee exposure. Recommend overall procedural changes to supervisor for any safety policy or recommended departmental program change in accordance with NMSU safety policy and procedures and under final authority of Environmental Health Safety & Risk Management. Provide safety planning and ventilation assistance to ensure safe operations. Performs related duties as required, including emergency response after-hours. Supervises, directs, delegates, and evaluates work of assigned staff.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Bachelor's degree in a related field.; Required Experience:Three (3) years of professional experience related to the standard duties as outlined.; Equivalency:Any equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience as approved by Human Resource Services.; Required Certification/License:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:University and department policies and procedures; principles and practices of organization and administration; principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; knowledge of federal, state and local regulations, protocols and/or safety procedures; knowledge of use, storage, transport, and emergency response procedures for hazardous materials; selection and use of personal protective equipment.; SKILLS:Performing inspections and developing reports and safety procedures that facilitate compliance with EPA, OSHA and other applicable safety standards; skill in developing safety procedures and protocols; short- and long-term range planning; problem analysis and resolution; public contact and relations; supervisory and people skills; good organizational and record keeping skills; data management; developing innovative training sessions; independent thinking and judgment; imparting technical knowledge and information to workers of differing backgrounds.; ABILITIES:Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations. Ability to develop, implement, and enforce safety programs and protocols. Ability to lead and train staff and/or students. Ability to gather data, compile information, utilize data management tools, and prepare reports and other material. Ability to operate, test and/or repair monitoring, sampling and/or analytical equipment and instruments. Ability to investigate and analyze information and draw conclusions. Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical personnel. Ability to work effectively with diverse populations. Ability to design and present informational programs and presentations, based on assessed needs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Job Duties and Responsibilities – NMSU EHS&RM
The position manages assigned Environmental Health, Safety & Risk Management (EHS&RM) programs designed to:
• Safeguard employee, student, and public safety
• Minimize property loss
• Protect the environment
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations

Core Program Areas
This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining focused EHS&RM programs, which may include:
• Research Safety: Laboratory safety, chemical and hazardous materials management, hazard communication, hazardous waste handling, radiation safety, laser safety, biological safety, and specialized equipment certification for research activities.
• Fire and Life Safety: Fire code compliance, fire suppression and detection systems, fire extinguisher inspections, evacuation planning, emergency preparedness drills, building life safety systems inspections, and special event safety oversight.
• Occupational Safety: Lockout/tagout, confined space entry, fall protection, machine guarding, shop safety, agricultural and field safety, forklift/aerial lift/crane safety, scaffolding/ladder safety, and general construction safety.
• Industrial Hygiene: Indoor air quality assessments, respiratory protection and fit-testing, exposure monitoring, noise assessments, and ergonomic evaluations.

Inspections and Assessments
• Conduct routine and targeted inspections of NMSU facilities, including laboratories, shops, mechanical rooms, farms, greenhouses, offices, classrooms, and common areas.
• Evaluate and certify hazardous equipment, research processes, and special activities/events.
• Identify and document hazards, and provide written reports with corrective and preventative recommendations.

Training and Outreach
• Develop and deliver safety training in both instructor-led and online formats.
• Training topics may include: asbestos awareness, laboratory safety, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, fire safety, fall protection, confined space, aerial lift/forklift safety, crane/rigging safety, drone/UAS safety, agricultural safety, and more.
• Provide expert guidance to university faculty, staff, and students on safety protocols, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance.

Incident Response and Investigation
• Respond to incidents, accidents, and emergencies, including hazardous material releases and fire/life safety concerns.
• Conduct thorough investigations, determine root causes, and recommend corrective actions.

Program Administration
• Develop, review, and update EHS&RM policies, procedures, and web-based resources.
• Maintain accurate records, documentation, and regulatory reports in assigned program areas.
• Participate in EHS&RM working groups, university safety committees, and emergency planning meetings.

Additional Requirements
• Operate industrial hygiene and safety equipment to monitor workplace conditions and assess employee exposures.
• Provide support for special events, large-scale research projects, or high-risk operations.
• Travel to remote NMSU facilities across New Mexico as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission of EHS&RM.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position
This position has been established as a primary key position under the “All Hazard Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)” and is essential to operational continuity and/or recovery. In an emergency situation, primary key positions are required to report to work unless directed by supervisor or public safety authorities not to report for health and safety reasons.

Department Contact:  Rebecca Torres, 575-646-3327, rtorres@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: After hours on emergency basis.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work involves almost constant exposure to unusual elements: i.e. extreme temp, toxic chemicals, biohazardous materials, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, loud noises, other potentially dangerous materials/situations that require safety precaution/protective equip

Physical Effort: Moderate physical activity.

Lifting Requirements: Requires heavy physical work; heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling required of objects up to 50 pounds.

Risk: Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.