The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) program at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is seeking a tenure-track faculty member to join the program at the Assistant Professor level. The successful candidate will primarily serve undergraduate students pursuing degrees and certificates in occupational safety and health. Primary responsibilities include teaching undergraduate courses in occupational safety and health, both in person and through online modalities; supervising and mentoring students in applied learning experiences; conducting meaningful research, scholarship, and/or professional engagement that contributes to the advancement of the OSH profession and is disseminated to diverse audiences.
For this position, expertise is especially desired in areas related to occupational health and safety management systems such as hazard recognition, assessment, and control; occupational health principles; industrial hygiene; safety training and program development; risk management; safety and environmental regulatory compliance; and the prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses across a variety of industries. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of the historical and theoretical foundations of occupational safety and health, emerging trends and challenges affecting worker safety and well-being, and best practices that promote inclusion and responsive workplace environments.
The successful candidate will be expected to foster partnerships with industry, professional organizations, and community stakeholders to support student success and advance the mission of the program.
Salary & Benefits: Minimum starting salary $90,000, commensurate with experience.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, dental, life insurance, generous employer retirement contributions, wellness resources and tuition waiver effective on date of hire.
Primary Duties:
- The successful candidate will teach multiple different Occupational Safety and Health courses offered each semester based on program needs and the individual’s strengths.
- Maintain clear and professional communication with students and colleagues.
- Use evidence-based teaching practices that emphasize active learning, inquiry, anti-bias education, and critical reflection, to support students as they learn to work effectively with their future colleagues.
- Engage in service activities at the program, unit, college, university, and community level.
- Conduct and disseminate meaningful scholarship
Required Qualifications and Education:
- An earned terminal degree (PhD, EdD or other) or ABD (with expected graduation by August 2027) by an accredited institution in a related field to occupational safety and health.
- The ability to consistently teach face to face courses on GVSU City and Valley campuses.
- The ability to engage with a variety of technologies to deliver instruction face to face and in online synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid modalities.
- Ability to deliver high-quality and engaging instruction to undergraduate students.
- Strong interpersonal communication and collaboration skills.
- An interest in contributing professional expertise to the community and profession
- A research agenda, with the ability to disseminate findings to a scholarly audience
Preferred Qualifications and Education:
- Professional certification (i.e. CSP, CIH)
- Demonstrated experience in the practice of industrial hygiene.
- More than five years experience working in the occupational safety and health field.
- Experience teaching adult learners at the university or college level.
- Professional membership and involvement in ASSP, AIHA, or other professional organizations in the field.
Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Some travel may be required.
How to Apply: Please include a (1) cover letter and (2) CV. The cover letter must address one’s areas of expertise, especially as it relates to one’s knowledge and use experiential learning within a safety and health curriculum; one’s ideas related to community and K-12 involvement and program growth and recruitment; and how one has worked with adult learners thus far and what has or has not been effective in those teaching pursuits.
The online application will allow you to attach these documents electronically. On the application, you will be required to provide names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for three professional references (to be used only in the final stage of consideration). Applicants selected for interviews will be required to submit official transcripts prior to the interview. The open position is for an Assistant Professor, subject to funding approval.
Applications missing required documents will not be considered. If you have questions about the position or the posting, please contact search committee chair Courtney Aloul at aloulc@gvsu.edu. If you need technical assistance, please contact Human Resources at hro@gvsu.edu.
Application Deadline: Consideration of applications will begin immediately; preference will be given to applications received by November 15, 2026. The posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).
Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.
