Health and Safety Specialist - Remote in New Jersey

UnitedHealth Group•Newark, NJ

1d•Remote

About The Position

Optum NY/NJ is seeking a Health and Safety Specialist to join their team. This role is integral to the Optum Care Delivery team, supporting the vision of making healthcare better for everyone. The Health and Safety Specialist plays a critical role in supporting organizational environmental, occupational health, and safety initiatives. This position ensures compliance with applicable regulations, promotes a safe workplace culture, and provides direct support to staff and leadership across all sites. The Specialist will be responsible for developing and implementing safety programs, conducting inspections, investigating incidents, and providing education and training to employees. This role will primarily support New Jersey sites, with regional program ownership and analytics. The role offers the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere within the U.S.

Requirements

Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines independently
Experience in incident investigation, audits, or compliance monitoring
Knowledge of OSHA regulations and general workplace safety standard
Reliable transportation and ability to travel to site in New Jersey and New York on a regular basis
All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy
Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification (eg, OSHA 30, CHSP, CSP, CIH, or similar)
2+ years of experience in occupational health and safety or environmental compliance
Experience with safety management systems or reporting platforms
Knowledge of waste management regulations and vendor coordination

Responsibilities

Serve as a resource for safety-related inquiries, providing timely and accurate guidance
Respond to employee concerns, phone calls, and emails in a professional and supportive manner
Assist leadership and staff during emergencies, including chemical spills, workplace injuries, or security threats
Support compliance with OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory requirements
Conduct inspections, audits, and assessments to identify risks and recommend corrective actions
Investigate incidents and occupational health events, documenting findings and corrective actions
Manage compliance reporting, recordkeeping, and follow-up activities
Assist in the development, review, and implementation of safety policies, procedures, and training programs
Support safety program integration at new or relocated sites, ensuring compliance from the outset
Coordinate vendor relationships related to waste management and other compliance services
Deliver safety training for staff for annual refreshers, and specialized sessions
Develop and update educational resources to promote safety awareness and best practices
Actively participate in safety committees, workgroups, and organizational initiatives
Respond to environmental and occupational health events such as spills, facility hazards, or regulatory inquiries
Lead and manage EOHS-related projects across the region, ensuring timely execution, stakeholder alignment, and compliance with organizational and regulatory standards
Develop, analyze, and maintain EOHS data and reporting, including trend analysis, dashboard development, and data reconciliation across systems (eg, RLDatix, Sedgwick, training platforms)
Monitor and report on key EOHS metrics such as training compliance, occupational health titers, and workplace injury/illness data (BLS), supporting data-driven decision-making