Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Toxicology Consultant
💰 $95,000 - $150,000
ToxicologyEnvironmental HealthSafetyRegulatory ComplianceLife Sciences
🎯 Role Definition
The Toxicology Consultant provides expert analysis and guidance on the potential health and environmental impacts of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or other substances. This role supports regulatory compliance, risk assessment, safety evaluation, and product stewardship, offering scientific insight to clients or organizations to inform decision-making, ensure safe usage, and minimize health and environmental risks.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Toxicologist or Research Scientist
- Environmental Health Specialist
- Regulatory Affairs Associate
Advancement To:
- Senior Toxicology Consultant
- Toxicology Program Manager
- Director of Toxicology or Environmental Health
Lateral Moves:
- Regulatory Toxicology Specialist
- Risk Assessment or Safety Assessment Consultant
- Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Advisor
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Conduct toxicological assessments for chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and industrial substances.
- Evaluate exposure, dose-response relationships, and hazard potential for human and environmental health.
- Review and interpret scientific literature, toxicology studies, and safety data sheets (SDS).
- Prepare risk assessments, safety evaluations, and regulatory submissions.
- Provide guidance on chemical labeling, hazard classification, and compliance with regulatory frameworks (e.g., REACH, OSHA, EPA, FDA).
- Support product stewardship programs to ensure safe handling, storage, and disposal of substances.
- Collaborate with clients, regulatory authorities, and internal stakeholders on toxicological matters.
- Develop and implement testing strategies, including in vitro, in vivo, and computational toxicology approaches.
- Evaluate adverse effects, pharmacokinetics, and toxicokinetics data for chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
- Provide expert recommendations for mitigation, substitution, or safe use of hazardous substances.
- Review environmental impact assessments and occupational exposure data.
- Present toxicology findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including regulatory bodies.
- Support the preparation of risk communication materials for clients, employees, and the public.
- Stay current on regulatory updates, scientific advances, and emerging contaminants.
- Participate in workshops, conferences, and professional networks to advance toxicology expertise.
- Assist in developing corporate policies for chemical safety, product stewardship, and EHS compliance.
- Review and validate toxicology study protocols and reports.
- Contribute to internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and safety assessments.
- Mentor junior toxicologists and provide guidance on complex toxicological evaluations.
- Identify research gaps and recommend studies to address safety or regulatory requirements.
- Support litigation, insurance, or risk management cases requiring toxicological expertise.
Secondary Functions
- Assist with literature reviews, data compilation, and scientific reporting.
- Participate in cross-functional teams for product development, regulatory compliance, or sustainability initiatives.
- Contribute to environmental monitoring and safety improvement projects.
- Support ad-hoc toxicology or risk analysis requests from clients or internal teams.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- Human and environmental toxicology assessment
- Risk assessment and hazard evaluation
- Regulatory compliance knowledge (REACH, OSHA, EPA, FDA)
- Interpretation of toxicology studies and safety data
- Exposure assessment and dose-response analysis
- Knowledge of chemical classification, labeling, and GHS standards
- Scientific literature review and data synthesis
- Computational toxicology or modeling experience
- Product stewardship and chemical safety practices
- Technical report writing and regulatory submission preparation
Soft Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Stakeholder engagement and advisory skills
- Attention to detail and scientific rigor
- Collaboration across multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to explain complex science to non-technical audiences
- Professional judgment and ethical decision-making
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- Master’s degree in Toxicology, Environmental Health, Pharmacology, or a related life sciences field
Preferred Education:
- PhD in Toxicology, Pharmacology, or Environmental Health
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Toxicology or Environmental Health
- Pharmacology or Chemistry
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
5–10 years of professional experience in toxicology, risk assessment, or regulatory science
Preferred:
Hands-on experience conducting chemical safety assessments, regulatory submissions, or product stewardship initiatives in industry, consulting, or governmental environments