Laboratory Safety Officer

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Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Service Coordinator II

Opening Date: October 24, 2025

Closing Date: November 6, 2025

Job Class Code: CA29

Grade: 29 (Confidential)

Salary: $68,993.59 - $97,635.20 per year

Position Number: 20002-4709

Location: This is a full-time position located in Augusta. This position allows for partial telework with manager approval.

Job Description:

The Laboratory Safety Officer (LSO) will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a comprehensive health and safety program for the Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL). This position will also satisfy the Department of Labor mandated role of Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO). The LSO will be responsible for staff education/training on health and safety measures and for complying with relevant health and safety regulations. This position will chair the HETL Safety Committee and conduct periodic safety and health audits across the HETL facility. The Laboratory Safety Officer will update the safety and health policies, processes, and procedures as indicated. This position will be responsible for promoting a culture of safety and reporting of actual and potential safety issues which may place staff and others at risk; assessing those risks; implementing redundant systems to keep risks to the absolute minimum; oversight of site-specific workplace safety policies and procedures; and maintaining a safety plan that meets agency and OSHA requirements.

You will also:

• Provide consultive, professional, advice and expertise to the Associate Director of the Health and Environmental Testing laboratory.

• Develop comprehensive safety policies, processes, and procedures as part of the HETL safety program.

• Be the subject matter expert (SME) for HETL in all matters related to worker safety and health and chemical hygiene safety.

• Exercise independent judgement in recommending and implementing policy and protocol development.

• Make determinations of safe work practices to control hazards.

• Make determinations about scheduled and unscheduled internal audits to review actual practices within the facility.

• Make determinations of appropriate systems to track hazards, near-miss incidents, and injuries to HETL staff, DHHS staff, vendors, and visitors within the facility.

• Determine proper waste management including appropriate storage, use, transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials in the lab.

• Make determinations for decontamination practices to be used in case of an event.

• Make determinations of best practices to align with all regulatory requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree in chemical, physical, industrial hygiene, environmental, or health safety sciences. A minimum of four (4) years of experience within a laboratory or chemical-related facility with responsibilities for safety programs with proficiency in laboratory safety or chemical hygiene. A comprehensive knowledge of laboratory operations and practices and a demonstrated ability to establish working relationships with diverse groups.

Preferred candidates will also have:

o Understanding of best laboratory practices for minimizing health and safety risks to employees and others.

o Safety-related certification or Chemical Hygiene Officer certification.

o Excellent understanding of chemistry.

o Expertise and knowledge of scientific and technical components of laboratory testing.

o Excellent understanding of regulatory requirements.

o Ability to communicate through formal written procedures and oral communication tailored to target audiences.

o Ability to apply emergency and risk communication principles and techniques to accurately explain information to others.

o Ability to mitigate emergency events, coordinating with public safety, Maine DOL, DEP, EPA, etc.

o Ability to respond to emergency events, including rare off-hour events.

o Excellent ethical standards.

o Willingness to continue education and training related to safety and to obtain the CHO certification.

Thinking about applying?

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Agency information:

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), within which this position is located, is to develop and deliver services to preserve, protect, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Maine.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Samson Omole, Health & Environmental Testing Laboratory Director, at (207) 287-2703.

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact Mandy.Hernandez@Maine.gov

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave , and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements .
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($395.72 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 18.91% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act .

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package , covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness .

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.