This position supports the Institute’s daily EH&S operations. The role oversees the management of the chemical inventory system and hazardous waste program to ensure the safe handling, storage, collection, and disposal of hazardous materials in compliance with applicable regulations. Serving as the Chemical Hygiene Officer, the position ensures adherence to the Chemical Hygiene Plan and promotes laboratory safety best practices across the Institute.

The role provides leadership and support during regulatory inspections and audits, ensuring readiness and timely resolution of findings. It supervises the EH&S Technician and the Occupational Health & Safety Specialist, providing direction, training, and performance oversight. Additionally, the position is responsible for ensuring that the Institute’s EH&S training programs are effectively delivered, up to date, and fully compliant with all regulatory training requirements.

Who We Are

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values all members of our scientific community. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces perspectives across discipline, professional acumen, and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community has many talented individuals from varied backgrounds, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Institute’s Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) programs, ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA, Cal/OSHA, EPA, DOT, CDC/NIH, and DTSC requirements.
Supervise and provide direction to the Occupational Health & Safety Specialist and EH&S Technician, including work planning, performance management, and professional development.
Partner with research faculty, laboratory personnel, and facilities staff to assess hazards, conduct risk assessments, and implement effective engineering controls, administrative controls, and safe work practices.
Serve as the Institute’s Chemical Hygiene Officer, overseeing implementation of the Chemical Hygiene Plan and ensuring the safe use, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals and associated waste streams.
Manage regulatory permitting processes and acts as a primary liaison during regulatory inspections and audits. Ensure accurate documentation, timely responses, and effective communication of compliance requirements.
Ensure compliance with the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) On-Site Medical Waste Treatment Permit, including oversight of autoclave validation, routine testing, recordkeeping, and adherence to large quantity generator requirements.
Oversee compliance for fuel storage areas, including TIUGA diesel storage operations, ensuring safe handling and regulatory adherence.
Manage the Institute’s chemical inventory system and hazardous waste programs, including biological, chemical, radioactive, medical, and universal waste streams, ensuring safe handling, storage, treatment, and disposal.
Lead the Red Card program to ensure laboratories are properly decommissioned and free of hazards prior to renovation, relocation, or closure.
Manage the annual certification program for biological safety cabinets, laminar flow hoods, HEPA filter banks, gauges, and chemical fume hoods. Ensure certifications are completed on schedule and that deficiencies are addressed promptly.
Develop, review, and maintain EH&S manuals, standard operating procedures (SOPs), hazard assessments, and related compliance documentation to support safe and compliant research operations.
Lead investigations of chemical, biological, and occupational safety incidents; determine root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Lead the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of EH&S training programs to ensure regulatory compliance and promote a strong culture of safety. Coordinate onboarding and annual refresher training and conduct specialized hazard training as required.
Support institutional sustainability and recycling initiatives in alignment with environmental compliance and stewardship goals.
Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the Institute’s EH&S mission and operational needs.

What we Require

Bachelor’s degree (BA) from an accredited four-year college or university, with a minimum of five (5) years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in public health.
Proficiency with inventory management systems and in house programs.
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
Experience with project management software.
Experience with training development and learning management systems.
Strong public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively deliver training and communicate with diverse audiences.
Required certification: DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Training.
Preferred certification: Hazardous Materials Management Certificate or equivalent credential.
Masters of Public Health preferred.
Prior experience working in a research institute, university, or biotech company with animal facilities preferred.
Previous or current involvement in and/or understanding of various Institutional committees such as IACUC, IBC, IRB, and SCRO preferred.
Experience overseeing or participating in audits and safety inspections with Federal, State and local regulatory and accreditation agencies (e.g., OSHA, USDA, DEA, APCD, DEHQ, Fire Department, AAALAC).
Must be willing to submit a post-offer physical, TB Tests, vaccines, respirator fit test and similar as required.

What We Can Offer

The expected pay range for this position is $110,000 to $140,000 per annum. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.

Salk Values

The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk’s pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.

The acronym “I CARE” provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race (race is inclusive of traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include, but not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

Discrimination is prohibited with any intersectionality of the above-mentioned characteristics, including:

Any combination of characteristics.
A perception that the person has any of the characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.
A perception that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.

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