Safety Officer | Office of Safety and Crisis Management

Position Summary    

The University Safety Officer plays a key role in maintaining a safe, healthy, and compliant campus environment. This position ensures the efficient, safe, and smooth operation of campus-wide activities, including academic and administrative, food and beverage outlets, and supervising broader indoor health, safety, and hygiene programs across campus facilities, with a special focus on female dormitories and residential areas. The role combines operational health and safety supervision, training, internal auditing, and partnership coordination to ensure adherence to international and local safety standards, including AUS internal policies.

Job Responsibilities

Food Safety & Hygiene Oversight: 

• Manage food safety and hygiene compliance across all AUS food and beverage outlets.
• Assist in developing, implementing, and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in line with HACCP and Sharjah Municipality requirements.
• Conduct regular food safety audits and ensure corrective actions are completed promptly.
• Collaborate with outlet managers and auxiliary partners (vendors, caterers, cleaning contractors) to maintain and enhance operational and service standards.
• Serve as the primary contact for Sharjah Municipality Environmental Health Officers.
• Investigate and document all food-related incidents (e.g., food poisoning reports) and submit findings to the Head of Safety and Crisis Management.
• Organize mystery shopper assessments and prepare corresponding performance and safety evaluation reports.
• Assist in promoting a culture of continuous food safety awareness through staff training and certifications.
• Oversee non–F&B outlets to ensure their operations meet AUS health and safety standards.

Indoor Safety, Hygiene & Well-being: 

• Residential Halls Health and Safety supervision (Special Focus on Girls’ Dorms)
• Conduct regular health, safety, and hygiene inspections in all residential facilities, prioritizing female residential halls to ensure privacy, safety, and compliance with AUS and Sharjah safety codes.
• Coordinate with the Residential Halls Management Team and Facilities Department to resolve identified issues, including sanitation, fire safety, indoor air quality, pest control, and housekeeping standards.
• Ensure emergency exits, fire alarms, and extinguishers are functional and accessible at all times.
• Oversee housekeeping and hygiene practices, ensuring that cleaning staff and auxiliary service providers follow proper safety procedures and chemical handling protocols.
• Develop and monitor dorm-specific incident reporting systems for hygiene, maintenance, or safety issues.
• Conduct safety orientation sessions for dorm residents at the beginning of each semester, focusing on emergency response, fire prevention, and personal safety awareness.

Campus-Wide Safety

• Support indoor and outdoor health and safety internal audits in academic buildings, labs, offices, and common areas, ensuring compliance with occupational safety and hygiene standards.
• Participate in indoor air quality testing, noise monitoring, and ergonomic safety checks as needed.
• Develop and maintain checklists, dashboards, and compliance reports for continuous monitoring.

Training, Auditing & Continuous Improvement

• Design and deliver training workshops on food hygiene, occupational safety, fire prevention, and dormitory safety.
• Promote a safety culture across all departments through awareness campaigns and safety days.
• Maintain detailed records of inspections, corrective actions, and follow-up reports.

• Assist in developing crisis management and emergency response protocols, particularly for indoor environments and residential areas.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or Health and Safety Management
• 3 years of experience in a similar role within higher education institutes or academic research facilities. 
• Strong understanding of workplace health and safety regulations, risk assessment, and hazard control principles.
• Ability to identify unsafe conditions and unsafe acts to implement effective corrective and preventive actions
• Excellent observation, reporting, and documentation skills for safety inspections and incident investigations.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills to promote a strong safety culture among staff, students, and contractors.
• Capable of conducting safety briefings, toolbox talks, and awareness sessions.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Capacity to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Sensitivity to cultural and gender considerations within residential environments.
• Proactive, analytical, and detail oriented.
• Ability to respond effectively during emergencies and support evacuation or rescue operations under pressure.

 Technical Skills:

• Knowledge of UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority standards, and Civil Defense requirements.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety systems and occupational health standards.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety systems and occupational health standards.
• In-depth knowledge of chemical safety, including safe handling, storage, labeling, segregation, and disposal of hazardous materials in compliance with GHS (Globally Harmonized System) standards.
• Ability to perform Chemical Risk Assessments (CRA) and ensure implementation of Safety Data Sheet (SDS) management systems.
• Skilled in developing and enforcing laboratory safety protocols, including fume hood operations, PPE selection, and spill response procedures.
• Experience conducting chemical inventory audits, waste minimization programs, and emergency drills for chemical incidents.
• Strong practical skills with ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems and incident reporting protocols.
• Strong practical skills with ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System requirements.
• Strong practical skills with ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management Systems and incident reporting protocols.
• Skilled in using safety inspection checklists, risk assessment matrices, and permit-to-work systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio) and safety documentation systems.
• Ability to interpret safety drawings, evacuation plans, and emergency response procedures.
• Basic understanding of first aid, firefighting equipment, and emergency preparedness planning.

Preferred Professional Certification

• NEBOSH IGC (issued before 2023)
• ISO 9001:2015. Certified Lead Auditor
• ISO 45001:2018, certified lead auditor
• ISO 22000:2018, certified lead auditor

How to Apply

• Interested applicants should fill out the form.
• AUS alumni are encouraged to apply. Applicants who do not meet specified requirements will not be shortlisted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• AUS is an equal opportunity employer. We adhere to a policy of making employment decisions without regard to race, color, age, gender, religion, national origin, disability or marital status. Opportunities for employment are based solely upon one’s qualifications.