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Chemical Hygiene Officer

Universities of Wisconsin · Stevens Point, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time a faculty member pushed back on a safety requirement. What happened?

What they are checking: Whether they can hold a line with senior people who outrank them and still keep a working relationship.

How would you build lab safety training that undergraduates actually remember, not just click through?

What they are checking: Whether they think about training as changing behavior, not as a box checked for compliance records.

Tell me about a time you found a serious compliance gap that nobody had noticed. How did you raise it?

What they are checking: Whether they report bad news early and clearly, with a plan, rather than sitting on it.

What would you do

You walk into a research lab during an audit and find unlabeled secondary containers, an expired eyewash log, and a fume hood with the sash all the way up. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize hazards by risk and correct people without turning an audit into a fight.

A student gets a chemical splash in a teaching lab on a Friday afternoon. Walk me through the next hour and the next week.

What they are checking: Whether they can manage the immediate response and then follow through on reporting, root cause and prevention.

How would you prioritize your first semester if you inherited a program that had gone a year without a dedicated CHO?

What they are checking: Whether they can triage a backlog by real risk and set expectations honestly with leadership.

About the work

Walk me through how you would review and update UWSP's chemical hygiene plan for a chemistry department with teaching labs and research labs.

What they are checking: Whether they understand that a CHP is a living document that must match how each lab actually works.

What does the OSHA Laboratory Standard require of an institution, and where do campuses most often fall short?

What they are checking: Whether they know the regulation well enough to spot the common gaps instead of reciting the text.

How would you set up chemical inventory tracking across campus units that each manage their own stockrooms?

What they are checking: Whether they can design a system people will actually keep current, since inventory drives waste and emergency planning.

How do you handle hazardous waste so the campus stays in line with EPA and Wisconsin DNR rules?

What they are checking: Whether they know generator status, accumulation limits and labeling well enough to keep the campus out of violation.

The posting mentions NIH/OBA and CDC requirements. How do biosafety and chemical safety overlap in a lab you oversee?

What they are checking: Whether they can see a lab's risks as a whole instead of treating each regulator's rules in isolation.

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The full job description

As published by Universities of Wisconsin.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Position Title: Chemical Hygiene Officer Job Category: Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Environmental Health & Safety Specialist III Job Duties: The Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) supports the Environmental Health and Safety functions to ensure excellent laboratory safety programs that will result in a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and students, ensures institutional compliance with all Federal and State chemical and laboratory safety regulations. The incumbent audits academic and workplace environments for laboratory and chemical safety compliance. The CHO assists in overseeing the chemical hygiene program to meet all federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety rules and regulations along with compliance with NIH/OBA, CDC, DNR, EPA, OSHA, and other granting agency requirements. The CHO is designated to oversee implementation of the UWSP chemical hygiene plan (CHP) for all departments/units with laboratory operations. It is the responsibility of this position to serve as the UWSP Chemistry Department’s Chemical Hygiene Officer and provide additional services to other campus units with laboratory functions and chemical related needs. The position chairs the UWSP Chemical Hygiene Committee, conducts routine laboratory inspections, and supports the hazardous waste program. The CHO recommends and implements measures to reduce or eliminate accidents and health hazards in compliance with all applicable regulations. The position will work as part of the environmental health and safety team and is expected to make decisions on matters of compliance and safety. This position is a 1.0 FTE annual appointment. Key Job Responsibilities: • Develops final recommendations and implements solutions for risk-related issues and events, and audits the impact of proposed solutions and resolutions • Accomplishes identification and analysis of risk-related issues, responds to risk-related inquiries, and assists in the operational functions of investigations • Conducts data analytics and develops associated professional reports • Provides professional expertise in the identification, assessment, mitigation, control, and monitoring of risks • Analyzes and evaluates information obtained from risk-related investigations • Implements and administers major risk management program functions such as property, liability, auto, and/or worker's compensation • Designs, develops, and executes risk-related trainings and educational programs Department: The UWSP Risk Management department aims to protect the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point from various sources of loss or damage that could affect overall stability. This office works in conjunction with UWSA Office of Risk Management to administer loss prevention with the goal of preservation of assets and protection of personnel for the successful continuation of campus operations and promotion of a safe environment. The Risk Management department provides guidance and assistance to our campus community to ensure a safe and healthy environment for employees, students, and guests. This is subject to any discussion on reorganization of risk management. Compensation: The Chemical Hygiene Officer is a full-time , exempt , annual position. Salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s education, related experience, and qualifications. Eligible Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Universities of Wisconsin Employee Benefits Quick Guide . Use the Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to calculate the estimated value of your compensation and benefits. Required Qualifications: • Demonstrated knowledge of principles and practices pertaining to chemical hygiene and safety and to environmental health and safety in general. • Four-year degree in a related major in a physical science, chemical science, environmental science/engineering, occupational safety, industrial technology, or closely related science; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. • Demonstrated knowledge of regulations, trends, and best practices related to chemical hygiene/safety. • Strong interpersonal and communication skills. • Ability to operate independently with little supervision Preferred Qualifications: • Demonstrated advanced knowledge of principles and practices pertaining to chemical hygiene/safety to better ensure regulatory compliant research. • Advanced applied knowledge or education in chemistry. • Experience in/with a higher education setting. How to Apply: TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Applications received by September 22, 2026 are ensured full consideration. Applications received after that date may be given consideration at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration. Files must be complete to be considered. Submission in PDF format is preferred for all attachments. Please include the following documents: - Cover letter addressing qualifications and experience - Resume After you submit your application, you will be unable to edit it. Please be sure to include all required materials before submitting your application. Contact Information: Name: Keith Turnquist Email: kturnqui@uwsp.edu Phone: 715-346- 2066 If you have any questions regarding the application process, need special arrangements, or if you submitted your application with missing materials, please call or email: Human Resources Email: human.resources@uwsp.edu Phone: 715-346-2606 Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW-Stevens Point does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you to supply a minimum of three (3) professional references (one (1) of which being a current or former supervisor). It is preferred that you supply five (5) professional references (two (2) of which being a current or former supervisors). Your references will be required to answer questions regarding misconduct, sexual violence and sexual harassment. Special Notes: Through the discovery and dissemination of knowledge, UW-Stevens Point stimulates intellectual growth, provides a liberal education, and prepares students for a diverse sustainable world. The university is committed to creating a safe, inclusive learning community for all faculty and staff from a variety of backgrounds. Visit https://www.uwsp.edu/join-uw-stevens-point/ for more information about UW-Stevens Point. To learn about the Stevens Point (aka Point) area fun, jobs, housing, education, quality of life, and bragging rights, visit www.stevenspointarea.com . Individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process should contact Human Resources and Affirmative Action at 715-346-2606 or hr@uwsp.edu. The safety and success of students, faculty, and staff at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is paramount. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires the distribution of an annual security report to all current and prospective students, faculty, and staff. You may obtain the complete report at https://www3.uwsp.edu/protsv/Pages/Clery.aspx The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). An offer of employment will require a criminal background check and authorization to work within the United States as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

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