Assistant Environmental Affairs Specialist (Environmental Health & Safety Professional I)

Job Description:

Assistant Environmental Affairs Specialist (Environmental Health & Safety Professional I)

Description

Position Summary

Looking for a hands-on role where you can make a meaningful impact on campus safety and sustainability? San Diego State University is seeking an Assistant Environmental Affairs Specialist to support environmental health and safety programs that protect our campus community and the environment. In this role, you'll work alongside a collaborative team supporting hazardous waste management, environmental compliance, research safety, and emergency response initiatives across the University.

This position offers a unique opportunity to gain experience across a wide range of environmental health and safety programs, from hazardous and biohazardous waste operations to stormwater compliance, laboratory safety, and occupational safety. Every day brings opportunities to collaborate with campus partners, solve real-world challenges, and contribute to a safer, healthier, and more sustainable SDSU.

Key Responsibilities

• Support hazardous, biohazardous, and universal waste collection, storage, transportation, and disposal activities across campus.
• Coordinate waste vendor activities, maintain regulatory records, and support hazardous waste operations through BioRaft and other compliance tools.
• Conduct environmental compliance inspections, laboratory safety assessments, and occupational safety activities, including respirator fit testing and mold assessments.
• Partner with campus departments to support environmental health, safety, and regulatory compliance initiatives.

Why Join Us

• Help create a safer, healthier, and more sustainable campus for the SDSU community.
• Gain hands-on experience across a wide range of environmental health and safety programs.
• Work alongside a collaborative team that values learning, service, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to meaningful projects that support environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance.
• Grow your career with professional development opportunities, excellent benefits, and the resources of the California State University system.

As part of the California State University (CSU) system, San Diego State University helps power one of the largest and most impactful public university systems in the nation. See what it’s like to work at the CSU-watch our video and imagine your future here: Working at the CSU .

Position Information

• Full-time, benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• Position is designated non-exempt under FLSA and is eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

The Department of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for development, guidance, and implementation of environmental, occupational health, and fire/life safety programs aimed at protecting the campus community and to achieve and maintain compliance with numerous federal, state, and local regulatory statutes that govern these programs. This department reports to the Associate Vice President for Administration in the Division of Business and Financial Affairs.

For more information regarding the Environment, Health and Safety department, click here .

Education and Experience

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Relevant education and/or experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Key Qualifications

• Knowledge of environmental health and safety regulations, standards, and industry best practices.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with experience managing multiple priorities and interpreting data to support decision-making.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with experience building collaborative relationships across diverse teams and serving as a trusted partner to stakeholders.
• Experience working independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and other technology tools used to support environmental health and safety programs.
• Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift 50 pounds unaided and manipulate 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste.
• Ability to wear a respirator and pass an annual physical examination.

Preferred Qualifications

• 40 Hour HAZWOPER (or able to obtain one within 12 months of hire)
• Experience in the following areas: hazardous waste management, environmental compliance, research safety, health and safety.
• Bachelor’s Degree.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Valid California Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

Compensation and Benefits

San Diego State University offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

Compensation:
Step placement will be determined based on relevant qualifications and professional experience, in alignment with the department’s budget and equity guidelines.

• Initial step placement is not expected to exceed Step 2 ($5,281 per month) for highly qualified candidates.
• Salary step placement for internal applicants will follow the CSUEU Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,178 - $7,543 per month (Step 1 - Step 20).
• Future increases, including step advancements, are subject to contract negotiations.

Full Benefits Package Includes:

• Generous Time Off: 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Retirement: CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare, and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC.
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost.
• Education Support: CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents.
• Optional Offerings: FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal and pet plans.
• Campus & Community: Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities.

Our benefits are a significant part of total compensation. Learn more at the SDSU Benefits Overview .

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university.

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Apply by August 26, 2026 to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here .

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Eurick Hilario at [email protected].

Advertised: Aug 12 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: