Senior EHS Specialist (Environment, Health & Safety)

We are seeking a Senior EHS Specialist to support our EHS programs for research labs in Piscataway, New Jersey, including BSL-2 areas.

Job Overview: This role will help implement and maintain lab safety, chemical hygiene, biosafety, waste management, emergency response, and contractor safety processes. The Senior EHS Specialist will work independently on routine and moderately complex EHS matters, while partnering with senior EHS, Facilities, and lab leadership on complex facility design, construction, or regulatory issues.

Responsibilities:

• Implement and maintain established EHS programs for research labs, including chemical hygiene, hazard communication, PPE, lockout/tagout, waste management, procedures, and training materials.
• Support BSL-2 biosafety activities, including biological waste handling, spill response procedures, lab audits, and corrective action follow-up.
• Conduct regular lab and facility inspections and verify safety equipment such as fume hoods, eyewash stations, safety showers, and fire extinguishers.
• Maintain chemical inventory records and SDS library, and support proper chemical storage and labeling practices.
• Assist with exposure monitoring, such as air sampling or noise checks, and recommend controls for review by senior EHS or site leadership.
• Review new equipment, lab moves, and process changes for EHS risks using established procedures; escalate complex findings as needed.
• Support EHS review of facility designs, including lab layout, ventilation, chemical and biological storage, and egress, and help track EHS-related items through construction and start-up.
• Participate in contractor safety activities, including reviewing safety documentation, supporting work permit processes, conducting site walks, and following up on assigned findings.
• Maintain emergency response plans, support drills, and document improvement actions.
• Deliver EHS training to new hires, lab staff, and contractors, and maintain training records.
• Investigate incidents and near misses using established processes, identify contributing factors, and support corrective action completion.
• Maintain OSHA logs, NJ Right to Know filings, waste manifests, permits, and other EHS records; support regulator and insurer visits.
• Track EHS metrics and report on assigned open issues.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in EHS, environmental science, engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of EHS experience.
• Experience in research labs or biotech/pharma, ideally including BSL-2 environments.
• Working knowledge of chemical hygiene, hazard communication, PPE, waste management, incident investigation, inspections, and EHS recordkeeping.
• Exposure to facility design review or construction safety is preferred. CSP, ASP, CHMM, or similar certification is a plus.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match that vests fully on day one
• Paid parental leave after three months of employment
• Paid time off policy that includes vacation time, personal time, sick time, floating holidays, and company holidays
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Legal assistance
• Supplemental plans such as pet, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
• Commuter benefits
• Well-being initiatives
• Peer-to-peer recognition programs