Industrial Hygienist

MPHI is a Michigan-based and nationally engaged, non-profit public health institute. We are a team of teams, process and content experts, dedicated to building A world where tomorrow is healthier than today!

Title: Industrial Hygienist

$56,659.20 - $90,750.40 / Posted Thru: 5/22/2025

Location: Remote/Virtual - Must Live and Work in Michigan

Purpose: The Industrial Hygienist will assist state and local public health partners with the prevention and investigation of public health threats, including but not limited to legionellosis and blastomycosis, in order to prevent disease and protect and improve the health, wellness, and safety of Michigan residents. This work includes: conducting environmental site assessments, creating/conducting environmental sampling plans, reviewing and auditing water management programs, and reviewing remediation actions and environmental health interventions. It also includes contributing to epidemiologic investigations and training and advising local health department staff and others. This position is housed within the Bureau of Infectious Disease Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases Division.

• Monitor the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS) and the laboratory surveillance system for indicators of environmental health threats, including legionellosis and blastomycosis activity.
• Provide environmental health consultations on Legionella bacteria and other environmental health threats to Michigan local health departments, healthcare providers and various types of building facilities.
• Conduct/coordinate the environmental health assessments of outbreak locations, such as health care facilities, body art facilities and industrial work sites, in conjunction with local health departments and state regulatory partners as needed.
• Provide education and guidance on prevention and control of Legionella bacteria and other environmental health threats in buildings in accordance with industry standards (e.g., ASHRAE guidelines).
• Evaluate effectiveness of policies and public health approaches to the implementation of industry standards for primary prevention of environmental health threats.
• Coordinate investigation activities with other MDHHS staff working in related activities.
• Liaise with federal and state public health partners on the monitoring and prevention activities related to Legionella, blastomycosis, and other environmental health threats.
• Prepare and present oral and written reports related to monitoring, investigation, and prevention activities.
• Participate in writing grant applications for funding opportunities related to legionellosis disease prevention or other environmental health threats.
• Participate in state-level agency coordination of legionellosis investigation and response.
• Provide subject matter expertise and consultation support to local health departments and providers as needed.

• Maintain a positive, credible, professional relationship with all parties relevant to projects.
• Always represent the best interest of MPHI and MDHHS.
• All other duties as assigned.

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree in the physical sciences, biological sciences, public health, occupational safety or health, or engineering with a minimum of 20 semester (30 term) credits in one or a combination of the following: biology, biostatistics, chemistry, critical incident analysis, engineering, environmental health, epidemiology, ergonomics, health physics, industrial hygiene, physics, physiology, public health, sampling and laboratory analysis, hazardous materials, hazardous materials management, or toxicology.

Experience: One to two years of professional experience in the prevention of occupational diseases and the protection and improvement of the industrial health environment. Experience in the enforcement of environmental health laws/regulations and investigation of environmental public health threats will be considered.

Important Skills and Characteristics:

• Knowledge of industrial processes, equipment, and materials used in the work place, especially of appropriate water hygiene, operation and maintenance of premise plumbing and remediation protocols for building water systems (e.g., cooling towers, swimming pools, hot tubs, decorative fountains).
• Knowledge of the principles of industrial hygiene and work place hazards.
• Knowledge of scientific methods used in health hazard control.
• Knowledge of the relationship between working conditions and health.
• Knowledge of how environmental health supports public health laboratory and epidemiology in the identification, control, and prevention of a disease outbreak.
• Expertise in environmental risk assessment of waterborne pathogens.
• Ability to organize and interpret field data and identify necessary corrections.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate investigative and narrative reports.
• Ability to use testing and measuring equipment in environmental health investigations.
• Ability to conduct studies and collect data to detect sources of industrial health hazards.
• Able to conduct environmental health investigations, understand water system construction and operation failures that may allow Legionella bacteria to proliferate in building water systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, such as Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and is familiar with email/internet browser software.
• Works well in team situations, is self-motivated, meets deadlines, and handles multiple tasks at one time with minimal supervision.
• Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills and be able to present scientific and technical information to audiences.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

Job may require moderate physical effort including lifting materials and equipment of <25# and involves viewing a CRT or VDT screen 50% to 75% of the time. Standard office environment. Requires valid vehicle operator's license where needed to perform duties of the position. Frequent deadlines. In-state and out-of-state travel for related meetings. Some jobs require an employee to be exposed to hazardous work environments during investigations.

IMPACT ON PROJECTS, SERVICES AND OPERATIONS: As part of a team, will help identify and investigate industrial and environmental public health threats and assist stakeholders with infectious disease outbreak response. This position will also support data requests, data matching, special projects, and annual reports for related conditions of public health interest.

"For purposes of employment standards, this classification is "Exempt" from overtime provisions of the fair Labor Standards Act."

MPHI works with you to promote health for everyone. Together, we will build a world where tomorrow is healthier than today!

MPHI is an EEO employer that participates with e-verify.