Program Leader, Industrial/Worker Safety - Environmental Health and Safety - UTK

Job Description

Under the direction of the Associate Director, OSEF, Department of Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), the Program Leader for Industrial Worker Safety (IWS) provides senior-level leadership for the development, governance, and continuous improvement of campus-wide industrial safety, worker and general safety management systems. This position is accountable for protecting the health and safety of the entire campus community—including faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors—through structured, resilient safety programs that drive consistent risk control, regulatory compliance, and measurable performance improvement.

The role serves as a strategic safety leader within EHS, translating Tennessee OSHA requirements and applicable OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910 and relevant 1926) into sustainable systems, processes, and operational practices. The position collaborates extensively with campus partners, chairs a multi-department safety committee, leads professional staff, and provides technical leadership, including hands-on involvement when necessary. Emergency technical response and participation in EHS On-Call support are required.

Responsibilities

• Develop, lead, and continuously improve strategic-level industrial/worker safety management systems that establish governance, standardized processes, documentation, and accountability.
• Translate regulatory and consensus standards into effective, sustainable safety programs and operational controls across diverse university operations including industrial, campus community, laboratory, shops, and classroom settings.
• Direct systematic hazard identification, risk assessment and prioritization, incident investigation, and corrective and preventive action processes within an established SMS framework.
• Establish performance metrics, data analysis, and reporting processes to evaluate program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement and system resiliency.
• Chair and lead a multi-department campus Life/Industrial Safety & Fire Committee, providing strategic direction and cross-functional alignment.
• Provide leadership and oversight of IWS staff and student employees, including workforce planning and organization, performance management, training, and professional development.
• Oversee safety training systems to ensure required training is defined, delivered, evaluated, and maintained for regulatory compliance and meeting institutional needs.
• Provide senior-level technical assistance and consultation, including direct field involvement as needed to address complex hazards, high-risk operations, or emergent issues.
• Participate in EHS planning activities related to achieving campus strategy, service enhancements, and system maturity across campus.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in a science, occupational health & safety or environmental field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in occupational health & safety programs development and implementation.
• 2 years' supervisory experience.
• Experience managing budgets and regulatory agency inquiries.

Preferred:

• Master's degree and 5 or more years of experience implementing, supervising, or overseeing implementation of occupational safety and health programs.
• Credentials in an occupational health & safety or environmental program field (e.g., CIH, ASP, CSP, CHO, etc.).
• University or academic experience is a plus.

About Us

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 to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone. 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!

Job Info

• Job Identification 8232
• Job Category Public Safety
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations 5723 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US