Lead Health & Safety Specialist

Primary Role

Develops and implements delivery and verification of enterprise health and safety programs aligned with Company policy, practices and  procedures. This position will work closely with all management levels to assure policies and programs are effectively developed, implemented, communicated and supported throughout the enterprise.

Key Accountabilities

Program Execution (50%)

• Conduct internal safety program evaluations, physical safety inspections, industrial hygiene monitoring for chemical and physical hazards and ergonomic evaluations in office and field environments, develop recommendations and track corrective actions. Deliver safety training programs educating employees on safe working practices, appropriate equipment operation, and emergency procedures. Evaluate the impact of regulatory changes against existing practices and assist in the implementation of new regulations. Develop or update health and safety practices and procedures as needed.

Technical Support (30%)                                                        

• Provides health and safety technical support to field safety staff. Conducts and/ or reviews incident investigations and develops corrective action recommendations. Gathers, validates and analyzes safety performance statistics (leading and lagging) and makes recommendations for improvements. Review results of enterprise safety inspections based on data, identify areas for improvement and develop corrective actions. Stay abreast of regulatory changes, evaluate impact on business and develop action plans to address in a timely manner. Develop inspections checklists and utilize apps and centralized platforms for tracking inspection results, safety performance data and corrective actions enterprise wide.

Key Accountabilities continued

Management/ Administration (20%)                                               

• Actively engage mid-level management, supervision and hourly employees in the development, implementation, delivery and verification of enterprise health and safety programs. Actively participate in outside industry organizations that are involved in or promote health and safety for the water sector. Support the workers’ compensation management process to ensure thorough and efficient claims management and investigation. Maintain health and safety training plans, training records and monitor progress towards annual training goals. Coordinate and verify enterprise safety recordkeeping and reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses.                                                         

Knowledge/Skills

• Ability to influence and work with non-direct reports, peers and management to gain alignment and achieve goals in a complex matrix environment.   
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules and  regulations, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals and assess impact to the business.
• Ability to write technical reports, prepare presentations and correspondence and to communicate relevant information verbally to all levels of the organization.
• Ability to solve practical problems and respond to employee and public complaints effectively.           
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Must be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.       
• Ability to create and execute SMART goals and meet deadlines.                                                                                                                     

Knowledge/Skills continued

• Ability to technically manage staff of professionals.

• Ability to work independently with limited supervision.

• Ability to work well in a cooperative team environment, participate routinely in multi-disciplinary projects and activities.

• Ability  to recognize and deal appropriately with confidential and  sensitive information.

• Knowledge of OSHA, Federal, State and Local regulations, and DOT regulations as applicable utilities, construction and related industries.          

• Knowledge of Process safety management (PSM) regulations is a plus

• Ability to generate trust and recognition as a coach and people leader.        .                                                                                            

Additional Knowledge/Skills

• Knowledge of and familiarity with health and safety program management and OSHA regulatory requirements for construction and general industry with increased opportunities to apply expertise across disciplines or organizational areas
• Familiarity with safety systems development and implementation
• Utility industry knowledge                                                   
• Water industry knowledge a plus                                              
• Forward looking health and safety trends                                     

Experience/Education

• Minimum bachelor’s level degree from an accredited college or university in a safety health related field of study or an equivalent combination of undergraduate education
• Highly desirable: At least one relevant/related nationally recognized professional H&S certification
• Seven (7) applicable safety experience in a utility, construction or industrial setting.                                                           

Hours/Schedule

• Full-time
• Monday-Friday, daylight hours
• 24/7 on-call responsibility 

Travel Requirements

Approximately 20%-30% overnight travel is anticipated in this position

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in construction environments, near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions and could include a work environment where  possible exposure to physical hazards, weather extremes, wet and/or humid conditions and chemicals exists. The ability to wear appropriate personal protective equipment is required. The employee occasionally  works at elevation, in confined spaces and in a construction  environment. Use of respiratory protection may be required in certain instances. There may also be instances of potential noise exposure.

Key Interfaces/ Relationships

• Health and Safety
• VP Safety and Environmental Excellence
• Corporate Functional Leads
• Executive Leadership Team (ELT)
• Regulated State Presidents
• VP-Operations 
• Directors of T&D and Operations
• Human Resources
• Legal
• H&S Staff 
• Learning and Development 
• Operations Security
• Union Leadership

Competencies