Industrial Hygiene Specialist - Environmental Health & Safety - UTK

Under the direction of the Program Leader for Industrial/Worker Safety, the Industrial Hygiene Specialist plays a key role in supporting the Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) mission at the University of Tennessee. This position is responsible for anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling occupational health hazards to protect the health and well-being of faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

The Industrial Hygiene Specialist performs exposure assessments, facilitates compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., OSHA, TOSHA, ACGIH), and provides training and technical guidance on workplace health hazards. The role includes collaboration with Facilities Services and academic/research units, and may extend to UTIA, CVM, UTSI, and other UT campuses under service agreements. The salary range is $60,220 to $65,500.

• Conduct industrial hygiene assessments related to air quality, noise, heat stress, ventilation, and other physical or chemical exposures.
• Operate and maintain industrial hygiene monitoring equipment (e.g., air sampling pumps, gas detectors, sound level meters).
• Interpret results of monitoring and sampling; prepare technical reports and recommend control measures (engineering, administrative, PPE).
• Assist in the development and implementation of exposure control programs, including Respiratory Protection, Hearing Conservation, and Chemical Hygiene.
• Support the university’s compliance with state and federal occupational health regulations and UT System policies (SA0100, SA0400).
• Conduct hazard evaluations during construction, renovation, or maintenance activities and recommend protective measures.
• Contribute to incident investigations involving occupational exposures; analyze root causes and provide mitigation recommendations.
• Develop and deliver training programs on occupational health topics including hazard communication, laboratory safety, LOTO, and confined space awareness.
• Maintain accurate exposure records and contribute to written programs, safety manuals, and job hazard analyses (JHAs).
• Provide rotating technical/emergency response support through the EHS One Call system.
• Coordinate with other EHS program areas and serve as a subject matter expert for health and safety reviews.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health, Environmental Health, or a related science or engineering field (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Public Health, Environmental Science, or Engineering).
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in occupational health and safety or industrial hygiene or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Demonstrated experience with exposure assessment and monitoring equipment.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field and professional certification (or progress toward) such as CIH, ASP, CSP, or CHMM.
• Experience in a university, research, or healthcare setting is strongly preferred. CPR/AED and First Aid certifications desirable.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!