Health and Safety Manager

Duke Careers•Durham, NC

3d•$65,506 - $101,595•Onsite

About The Position

As the Residential Health & Safety Manager, you will play a vital role in protecting and enhancing the well-being of students, staff, and visitors living and working within Duke University's residential communities. You will serve as a strategic leader and trusted advisor, partnering with colleagues across Housing & Residence Life, Facilities Management, Occupational & Environmental Safety, Public Safety, and labor partners to foster a culture where safety is everyone's responsibility. Your expertise will help ensure that Duke's residence halls remain safe, compliant, and prepared to support a thriving 24/7 living-learning environment. This position is classified as an Essential Service for campus and weather emergencies. As a safety professional and collaborative leader, you will drive initiatives that strengthen compliance, reduce risk, and advance a proactive safety culture across residential operations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Chemistry, Physics, Biological Science or related scientific field.
Three years of progressive experience in biological safety, occupational safety and hygiene, environmental programs, fire safety, ergonomics, OR radiation safety.
Advanced knowledge of OSHA regulations and workplace safety programs.
Familiarity with fire and life safety codes affecting residential facilities.
Strong risk assessment and root cause analysis skills.
Ability to interpret safety-related collective bargaining agreement provisions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational and project management abilities.
Ability to influence, collaborate, and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.
Experience managing multiple priorities in complex operational environments.
Sound judgment and decision-making capabilities.
Commitment to fostering a culture of accountability, respect, and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Science, Industrial Hygiene or other field related to the disciplines listed above may offset one required year of experience.
Environmental health and safety leadership in higher education, residential, healthcare, or large institutional settings.
Supporting facilities maintenance, custodial operations, or complex operational environments.
Working within unionized environments and partnering with collective bargaining units.
Coordinating fire and life safety inspections, drills, emergency preparedness activities, and compliance programs.
Managing environmental concerns such as mold response, indoor air quality, water intrusion, asbestos, and other building-related hazards.
Collaborating with regulatory agencies, fire marshals, consultants, and safety authorities.
Professional certifications such as: Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Registered Occupational Hygienist (ROH), Certified Environmental Professional (CEP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS), Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), Certified Health Physicist (CHP), Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP) or other related professional credentials.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and continuously improve comprehensive environmental, health, and safety programs supporting Duke residence halls.
Partner with internal and external stakeholders to identify risks and implement effective safety solutions.
Maintain and enhance departmental safety policies, procedures, and operational standards.
Provide functional safety leadership to Maintenance and Housekeeping teams, ensuring regulatory compliance and consistent application of safe work practices.
Monitor changes in applicable regulations and integrate requirements into housing operations and collaborate with the FMD Safety Manager and designated FMD parties to align training programs for bargaining unit employees.
Serve as the primary department contact for environmental concerns, including indoor air quality, water intrusion, mold assessments, and related investigations.
Lead incident investigations involving injuries, accidents, near misses, and environmental complaints, identifying root causes and corrective actions.
Develop and maintain Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and safe work procedures in partnership with Occupational & Environmental Safety experts.
Coordinate emergency preparedness initiatives, including fire drills, fire watch protocols, life safety planning, and incident response activities.
Collaborate with supervisors and labor representatives to ensure procedures align with operational and regulatory requirements and have responsibility for overseeing revision, implementation, and maintenance of the department's Safety Policies and Procedures Manual.
Conduct safety inspections throughout residence halls, common spaces, custodial areas, and mechanical facilities.
Coordinate regulatory and external agency inspections and ensure timely resolution of findings.
Monitor safety training compliance and support implementation of safety programs across residential operations.
Partner with labor groups and operational leadership to address workplace safety concerns and promote continuous improvement.
Design and facilitate engaging safety training programs for maintenance, housekeeping, leadership, and residential staff.
Identify and collaborate with external consultants and subject matter experts to enhance specialized training initiatives.
Maintain required training records and documentation to support regulatory compliance.
Promote safety awareness through communication, outreach, and employee engagement efforts.
Support leaders in addressing training gaps and strengthening accountability.
Serve as a safety liaison for contractors and vendors performing work within residential facilities.
Coordinate inspections, testing, maintenance, and compliance activities related to fire alarms, fire suppression systems, and other life safety systems.
Review project plans to ensure appropriate consideration of hazardous materials, occupant protection, egress requirements, and environmental risks.
Track corrective actions resulting from inspections, assessments, and system testing activities.
Collaborate with campus partners to address environmental hazards and maintain safe residential environments.
Support departmental, divisional, and university priorities through special projects and additional responsibilities as assigned.
Demonstrate a commitment to collaboration, service excellence, and continuous improvement.