Requisition #: 2025-01302. Salary Range: $113,336.64 – $131,940.72 Annually. Application Closes: October 21, 2025.
Position Description
The Finance and Administrative Services Department (FAS) is seeking a conscientious and proactive Safety Program Officer (Sr. Safety & Health Specialist) to lead safety operations in a large and complex department comprised of 10 divisions, including Fleet Management, Facility Operations, the Seattle Animal Shelter and more.
The Safety Program Officer is a key member of the Human Resources Division and the sole safety professional for FAS. This position collaborates across work groups, divisions and with other City personnel to promote a safe and inclusive workplace for all employees. Success in this role hinges on the ability to build collaborative relationships, connect with a diverse staff in a broad scope of positions, and center equity in all operations, as well as a commitment to promoting a safe and healthy work culture. Additionally, you will need to combine the energy and passion for establishing programs often found in start-up cultures with the strategy of implementing within a government organization with many stakeholders and formal processes for review all as a team of one.
Interviews for this position are anticipated on Oct. 28, 2025.
Job Responsibilities
- Advise all levels of management and employees on safe work practices.
- Write in-depth safety programs, forms, and processes on topics such as respiratory protection, fall protection, vehicle safety, and caring for stray animals.
- Proactively research new fields to adopt safety procedures and best practices.
- Lead department compliance with state and federal regulations such as reporting, training, and posting requirements.
- Administer the return-to-work program to help injured employees return to full duty after a workplace injury.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for interactions with the Workers’ Compensation Unit.
- Partner with Sr. HR Business Partners and the HR Leave Administrator to provide reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Be an active member of safety committees, facilitate discussion, and be a subject matter expert in helping to resolve safety concerns that are raised.
- Provide in-person and virtual trainings and safety orientations such as new employee onboarding, emergency preparedness, and accident prevention.
- Spend time in the field with work units to understand their scope of work and help identify preventative safety solutions.
- Plan, develop, and track mandatory and voluntary safety training.
- Conduct in-person site inspections and safety audits and make recommendations for risk mitigation.
- Administer the department’s Commercial Driver License (CDL) drug and alcohol testing program.
- Oversee annual hearing conservation program for eligible employees.
- Audit incident investigations, identify discrepancies, and drive corrective actions as needed.
- Work with management to implement recommendations and lessons learned for continuous quality improvement with respect to workforce health and safety.
- Prepare department-wide communications for major health or safety events.
- Coordinate ergonomic assessments and ensure implementation of recommendations.
- Respond to accident scenes and emergent safety situations and work collaboratively with emergency response personnel.
- Represent FAS at the Citywide Safety Officers meeting.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Health, Safety, Toxicology, Industrial Hygiene, Human Resources, Public Administration or a related field;
Experience: Three years of experience in a safety, health, or related field.
(Or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.)Licenses: Current Washington State driver’s license required.
The most successful candidates will possess the following:
- Expertise in safety rules, regulations, and programming in the public sector.
- Experience in ADA, Workers’ Comp, and/or leave administration.
- Knowledge and experience in creating and maintaining safety performance metrics.
- Knowledge and experience conducting investigations and report drafting.
- Demonstrated skills including excellent oral and written communication and training skills.
- Effective listening and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated ability to present complex information to a variety of audiences ranging from front-line employees to senior leadership.
- Intermediate skill levels in use of Microsoft Excel for data management, manipulation, and analysis.
- Highly developed organizational, project management, and program design skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
- Health and Safety professional certification (e.g., CSP, CIH, CHST,OHST) or related certifications.
FAS supports the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative to end institutionalized racism by eliminating barriers to access, providing the staff and public with opportunities for growth, and developing equitable access to the programs and services we offer. If you share those values and meet the qualifications, we invite you to apply for this position.
Additional Information:
This position is classified as a Safety and Health Specialist, Senior. It is Civil Service represented, FLSA non-exempt and is eligible for overtime. The full range for this step-progression position is $54.28 – $63.19 per hour.
Application Process
Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. You must submit the following items to be considered for this position no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time on the scheduled closed date.
- Completed NEOGOV online application.
- Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
- Current resume indicating relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and education.
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state “see my resume” or “see my personnel file” are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
PLEASE NOTE: This job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Background Check: Applicants must successfully pass a background check, which will be conducted in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.
Driving Record: A current, “FULL” driving abstract from the Department of Licensing is required to be submitted upon offer of employment. Candidates with driving history that does not meet our current safety standards will be disqualified from consideration. Current City of Seattle Employees in a driving position may be required to submit an updated abstract.
Why work at the City of Seattle?
The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City’s website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans
Who May Apply: The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences. If you have questions regarding this bulletin or employment at Finance and Administrative Services, please send an email to Chantelle.Aguilar@seattle.gov. FAS promotes diversity and inclusion in employment. If accommodations are needed during the selection process, please contact us.
CANDIDATE NOTIFICATION:
Many important notifications including interview or test invitations, result notices, and status updates will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add Chantelle.Aguilar@ seattle.gov to your email address book and to the list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail. Candidates can also check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing their profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices. It is the applicant’s responsibility to take the above steps to view correspondence.
Employer City of Seattle Address Seattle Municipal Tower
700 5th Avenue, Suite 5500
Seattle, Washington, 98104 Website http://www.seattle.gov/jobs