Chemical Safety Officer

About Us

Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Do you want to cultivate an inclusive environment that encourages free expression and civil discourse? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia.

We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower our 47,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university s vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice.

We are part of the University System of Georgia. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision. Come Take Flight at KSU!

Job : 294176

Location: Kennesaw, Georgia

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Responsible for protecting faculty, staff, students, and visitors from hazards associated with the procurement, use, and disposal of chemicals in all teaching and research spaces. Oversees the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), hazardous waste management, and serves as KSU s technical expert on chemical safety. Works closely with principal investigators, lab managers, facility design teams, and the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) team to develop and implement programs that support chemical safety across the institution.

• Leads and manages the university s chemical safety and hazardous waste management programs to ensure safety and compliance with applicable regulations
• Manages and mentors technical personnel including specialists and technicians
• Maintains and updates the Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) and other chemical safety programs and standard operating procedures (SOP) annually to ensure compliance with Laboratory Standards, governing regulations, and best practices
• Develops, implements, and enforces chemical safety policies and serves as the designated Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO)
• Serves on the appropriate safety committees for reviewing hazardous material use requests, developing policies, and recommending safety improvements
• Advises on controlled substances and particularly hazardous substances, including carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and highly toxic chemicals
• Ensures compliance with DEA requirements and KSU s controlled substances program
• Provides expert guidance to laboratories, conducts risk assessments, and recommends engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment controls
• Develops and delivers chemical safety training for faculty, staff, students, and laboratory workers, maintains training records, and ensures refresher courses are offered
• Manages chemical inventory and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and oversees chemical procurement, chemical purchase approvals, distribution, and disposal
• Conducts audits and inspections of laboratories to ensure compliance and develops corrective action plans and report findings
• Investigates incidents, spills, and near misses and implements corrective actions and emergency response procedures
• Supports lab design and facility projects by reviewing plans and advising on engineering controls
• Monitors changes in OSHA, EPA, DHS, NIH, CDC, state, and other governing regulations then integrates new requirements into KSU policies and procedures
• Prepares reports and maintains records, including exposure, and incident documentation, and communicates to regulatory authorities according to established guidelines
• Ensures proper shipment of hazardous materials from the university
• Plays a key role in the University s emergency response, organizing and participating in drills, hands-on training, and real-time hazard mitigation

Educational Requirements

Bachelor s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, industrial hygiene, environmental health, or related science.

Other Required Qualifications

Current, valid, and unrestricted driver s license

Required Experience

Five (5) years of experience in laboratory or industrial chemical safety, including at least three years of program management.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

Relevant certifications e.g., Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH);
Certified Safety Professionals (CSP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)

Preferred Educational Qualifications

An advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene,…