Safety Engineer II chez IHRC INCORPORATED

Description

IHRC, Inc. provides scientific, laboratory safety, bioinformatics, environmental health, and administrative program support to branches of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and other Federal agencies. IHRC is seeking a full-time Safety Engineer II to support the FDA’s Office of Occupational Safety and Health (OOSH) in Silver Spring, Maryland. The Safety Engineer II will work as a key member of the occupational health and safety team supporting safety program activities across FDA campuses. Under the direction of IHRC’s Senior Program Manager and in coordination with FDA OOSH staff, the incumbent will provide technical and administrative support to safety programs with a focus on laboratory biological and chemical safety, industrial hygiene, and environmental health and safety. This may include participating in safety inspections, managing data, supporting equipment certification programs, supporting safety equipment maintenance and inventory activities, and helping to promote a safe working environment through hazard identification, evaluation, and mitigation strategies. 

• Assist in implementing safety programs and policies in laboratory and research settings, ensuring compliance with OSHA, CDC/NIH BMBL, NFPA, and FDA standards.
• Support OOSH personnel during safety inspections and audits in FDA laboratories through documentation, analysis, research, and coordination.
• Support OOSH activities including work related to chemical hygiene, biological safety, radiation protection, and industrial hygiene.
• Provide support for the maintenance and certification of safety-related equipment and systems (e.g., fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, emergency eyewash/showers, autoclaves, etc.).
• Participate in exposure assessments, root cause analyses, and corrective action planning.
• Assist in the development and delivery of safety training and awareness materials.
• Maintain accurate safety records, inspection reports, and incident logs.
• Utilize software systems including SharePoint, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to track, report, and communicate program activities.
• Support the preparation of written reports including Monthly Status Reports, hazard assessments, and program updates.
• Participate in team meetings and provide administrative and operational support for safety projects as assigned.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across IHRC and FDA OOSH to identify and address workplace hazards.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED and relevant technical training or work experience is required.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas: laboratory biological safety, laboratory chemical safety, industrial hygiene, occupational safety and health, environmental health and safety, or related field.

Required Skills:

• Familiarity with federal regulations and guidance related to workplace safety and health (e.g., OSHA, BMBL, NFPA, ANSI, ASHRAE).
• Experience supporting safety programs in biological laboratory settings. 
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with a multidisciplinary team.
• Competency using MS Office products including SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to perform on-site work at the FDA White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Maryland.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, physical sciences, occupational safety, industrial hygiene, or a related technical field.
• Professional credentials such as:
   - Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP, ABSA)
   - Certified Biological Safety Professional (CBSP, ABSA)
   - Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
   - Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
   - Specialist Microbiologist (SM)
• Experience supporting maintenance, repair, and certification of safety equipment such as biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, HEPA filtration systems, etc.
• Prior experience supporting safety programs for a federal agency such as FDA, CDC, NIH, or other HHS organizations.

Salary:

• Commensurate with qualifications and experience.