Safety Specialist (0077422T)

University of Hawaii•Honolulu, HI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Safety Specialist leads a proactive, supportive safety and operational environment across the Environmental Stewardship Center (ESC) programs in natural resources management and environmental compliance. The role oversees safety compliance and operational logistics at field and office sites for more than 100 personnel working in high-risk, remote environments in Hawaiʻi and throughout the Pacific. It ensures compliance with University of Hawaiʻi, state, federal, and Department of Defense (DoD) requirements while supporting program execution. The position oversees safety programs, standard operating procedures, risk assessments, aviation safety, emergency response planning, remote-travel communications and monitoring, vehicle fleets, logistics, and Institutional Animal Care and Use Protocols. It conducts and coordinates safety training, develops safety plans and accident-avoidance strategies, maintains safe workspaces, and ensures proper firearms custodianship where firearms are used for natural resource management. The position is temporary and full-time, based at the Mānoa Campus in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in Environmental Science, Occupational Health and Safety, Natural Resources Management, Logistics, Operations Management, or a closely related field, plus three years of progressively responsible professional experience in safety management, field operations, or logistics coordination; or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
Considerable working knowledge of safety management, environmental compliance, remote field safety protocols, emergency communications, backcountry risk mitigation, vehicle fleet management, and logistics coordination.
Considerable working knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations relating to occupational health and safety, environmental compliance, OSHA, HIOSH, and DoD safety and environmental compliance.
Ability to resolve complex problems using creative reasoning and logic, determine causes, and provide effective, innovative, and timely resolutions.
Ability to communicate information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing and verbally, and to prepare reports and other materials.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders, team members, and individuals.
Ability to operate a personal computer and use word-processing software, Garmin InReach, radio communications, and Survey123 or other GIS-related programs.
For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
Valid driver’s license and clean driving record, with ability to operate 4WD vehicles and heavy equipment in rugged, off-road conditions.
Current Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification and CPR certification.
Hawaiʻi Restricted Use Pesticide Applicators License, or ability to obtain it within six months of hire.
Ability to obtain and maintain necessary security and site clearances for military installations, restricted ranges, and unexploded ordnance zones.

Nice To Haves

Certified Interagency Aviation Training instructor or experience managing aviation and helicopter operations under Office of Aviation Services guidelines.
Prior experience conducting safety audits, emergency response incident command, incident investigations, and hazardous materials/SDS tracking in a natural resources or military context.
Experience liaising with Army Range Operations and Environmental Compliance Officers.
Current chainsaw operation and high-angle rope safety certifications.
Experience with firearms safety and operation in natural resource management or a related field context.

Responsibilities

Lead a proactive and supportive safety and operational environment throughout ESC programs.
Oversee safety compliance and operational logistics across field and office sites, ensuring applicable University, state, federal, and DoD requirements are met.
Oversee implementation and compliance of safety programs, standard operating procedures, and risk assessment protocols aligned with OSHA, DoD, state, and institutional guidelines.
Serve as the primary point of contact for Program Managers on SOPs, incident reporting and investigations, training, certifications, and licensing.
Oversee aviation safety under Office of Aviation Services contracts for all programs.
Assist program managers in developing and training emergency response protocols, including medevac procedures with military and civilian emergency services.
Serve as the main contact for staff on remote travel assignments; support communications, monitor weather, provide logistics support, and ensure pre-, during-, and post-travel checks are completed.
Oversee program vehicle fleets, including maintenance, repairs, safety checks, registration, licensing, servicing, and replacement schedules.
Coordinate movement of supplies, field equipment, personnel, and infrastructure materials between program sites.
Oversee Institutional Animal Care and Use Protocols and support program managers with renewals, revisions, and training.
Facilitate and conduct in-house safety training, including 4WD/ATV operation, defensive driving, base yard safety, power tools, hazardous materials, and helicopter safety as a certified IAT instructor.
Coordinate external vendors and specialized instructors for Wilderness First Aid, CPR, chainsaw handling, and pesticide application training.
Develop and oversee comprehensive safety plans and accident-avoidance strategies for operational safety and contractual compliance.
Ensure physical workspaces meet required safety and operational standards.
Ensure proper firearms custodianship across programs using firearms for natural resource management.