Safety Program Manager (4934-50)
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Summary
A hands-on, organization-wide lead safety role with the Hamilton County Engineer's Office: the Safety Program Manager assesses and improves safety programs, conducts job-site and facility inspections, leads incident investigations, delivers safety training, and ensures compliance with OSHA, PERRP, BWC, and related standards across roadway, fleet, facilities, and field operations.
Safety Program Manager (4934-50)
Deadline to apply:
September 30, 2026
Work Location:
Various County Locations
Work Hours:
40 hours/week
Pay Range: 39.61- 47.54
New hires should expect to start at the minimum rate of $39.61/hour. Placement above the minimum may be considered
in limited circumstances based on directly related qualifications and experience.
Highly Competitive Employee Benefits Package and Generous Paid Time Off
- 11 Paid Holidays, immediately begin accruing paid vacation and sick time, earned personal days, and paid parental leave.
- Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, including a 14% employer contribution and a defined benefit option.
- Comprehensive benefits including medical, HRA, dental, vision, employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability, tuition reimbursement, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, free on-site parking, wellness incentives, an Employee Assistance Program, access to free medical and prescription services through the County’s designated provider, and behavioral and mental health resources.
The Hamilton County Engineer’s Office is seeking an experienced safety professional with the judgment and technical expertise to evaluate an organization’s safety practices and develop, strengthen, and implement practical systems to address identified needs and risks. The Safety Program Manager is HCEO’s lead occupational safety professional, a member of the senior leadership team, and a key advisor to senior leadership on workplace safety, safety-related operational risk, and regulatory compliance.
This is a hands-on individual contributor role with significant independence and organization-wide responsibility. The successful candidate will assess existing safety practices, programs, and processes; identify hazards, gaps, and priorities; determine what is working effectively and what should be revised, strengthened, formalized, or newly developed; and carry improvements through implementation and evaluation. The position works directly with employees, supervisors, managers, and senior leadership across roadway maintenance, fleet and equipment operations, facilities, engineering, field inspection, and office environments.
General Description
The Safety Program Manager provides independent professional leadership for HCEO’s safety program and works across the organization to integrate safety into work planning, training, field and facility operations, emergency response, and day-to-day work practices. The position evaluates existing practices and program needs; develops, revises, strengthens, formalizes, or establishes safety systems and processes as appropriate; interprets and translates applicable safety and regulatory requirements into practical operational expectations; advises management, supervisors, and employees on safety matters; and promotes a proactive safety culture centered on hazard recognition, prevention, accountability, employee engagement, and continuous organizational learning.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Assess, develop, implement, administer, and continuously improve HCEO’s safety and loss prevention program. Review existing systems and practices and, as appropriate, maintain, revise, strengthen, formalize, or establish the Safety Manual, policies, SOPs, JHA processes, hazard and near-miss reporting processes, corrective-action tracking, and other program systems.
- Conduct job-site, facility, equipment, and operational inspections and risk assessments; identify hazards and unsafe practices; evaluate procedures, training, PPE, and other controls; work with supervisors and employees to determine appropriate corrective measures; follow identified issues through resolution; and stop HCEO work when an imminent danger or immediate threat to life or health is identified.
- Assess safety training needs and develop, review, coordinate, schedule, and deliver recurring, job-specific safety training. Develop or revise training content and materials as needed, coordinate qualified external resources when appropriate, maintain training records and certifications, and evaluate training effectiveness.
- Interpret PERRP, applicable OSHA standards, BWC requirements, NFPA and ANSI standards, transportation requirements, and other applicable safety and health rules; evaluate existing practices for continued compliance; translate requirements into practical HCEO policies, procedures, training, and work practices; and coordinate responses to regulatory inspections and inquiries.
- Lead investigations of employee injuries, accidents, near misses, property damage, and other significant safety events; identify immediate and underlying causes; develop corrective and preventive actions; prepare reports; track corrective actions through completion; and use lessons learned to evaluate and improve policies, procedures, JHAs, training, and other safety practices.
- Administer and evaluate HCEO’s drug-free safety program and DOT/FMCSA commercial driver alcohol and drug testing program, including policy maintenance, testing coordination, employee education, supervisor training, post-accident testing coordination, recordkeeping, and related compliance activities.
- Evaluate and recommend engineering, administrative, work-practice, and PPE controls; review safety equipment and supplies; assist with safety-related budget planning and purchasing; and administer safety-related consultant or vendor services and contracts as assigned.
- Maintain and analyze safety records, inspection findings, training documentation, incident and near-miss data, and corrective actions to identify trends, evaluate program effectiveness, and provide recommendations to leadership.
- Participate in and help evaluate and improve emergency preparedness, evacuation planning and drills, winter and severe-weather safety planning, safety committees, after-action reviews, and coordination with County departments, contractors, consultants, utilities, and public agencies.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Safety Management or a related field, and five (5) years of safety management experience and demonstrated safety training experience; or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Must possess a valid driver’s license issued by the state of residency and remain insurable under the County’s vehicle insurance requirements. The selected candidate must obtain OSHA Outreach Training Program trainer authorization appropriate to HCEO operations within one (1) year of appointment and maintain such authorization thereafter.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience assessing, developing, implementing, or substantially improving safety programs in public works, transportation, construction, utilities, fleet, maintenance, industrial, or another complex field-operational environment.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing, developing, or improving safety manuals, policies, SOPs, JHAs, training programs, corrective-action systems, and incident/root-cause investigation practices.
- Experience working with Ohio public-sector safety requirements, including PERRP and BWC, or comparable public-sector occupational safety requirements.
- Relevant occupational safety and health training and professional certifications, such as OSHA 30-hour training, Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST), or other comparable safety credentials. Current OSHA Outreach Trainer authorization is desirable but is not required at the time of appointment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: Occupational safety and health management; loss prevention; hazard identification and risk assessment; hierarchy of controls; PERRP and applicable OSHA requirements; injury and illness recordkeeping; incident and near-miss investigation and root cause analysis; employee safety training and adult learning; emergency preparedness; and safety practices associated with roadway maintenance and work zones, construction, heavy equipment and vehicle operations, service garages, confined spaces, excavation and trenching, fall protection, lockout/tagout, electrical hazards, hot work, hazard communication, respiratory and hearing protection, and PPE.
Skill in: Evaluating existing safety practices and systems; conducting field inspections and risk assessments; identifying hazards and appropriate controls; developing and revising safety programs, policies, procedures, JHAs, training materials, forms, and reports; conducting incident and near-miss investigations; developing corrective actions; delivering employee training; analyzing safety data and trends; public speaking, consultation, and coaching; and preparing clear professional work products. Proficient use of modern business technology and digital productivity tools, including Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive; Adobe Acrobat Pro; mobile devices and related applications; and web-based or specialized systems used for safety, training, records, reporting, and departmental operations.
Ability to: Work independently and exercise sound professional judgment; assess existing safety systems and determine what should be maintained, revised, strengthened, formalized, or newly developed; identify and analyze complex safety and operational issues; translate technical and regulatory requirements into practical field processes and controls; prioritize based on risk and operational need; carry safety initiatives from assessment and development through implementation, evaluation, and follow-up; communicate effectively with field employees, supervisors, senior leadership, public officials, contractors, consultants, and outside agencies; influence safe behavior and reinforce accountability without direct supervisory authority; manage multiple projects and deadlines; and respond appropriately to emergencies and changing field conditions.
Working Conditions / Physical Demands
Employee works in and around active roadways, construction and maintenance work zones, garages, maintenance facilities, equipment yards, salt storage facilities, culverts, drainage structures, and other field environments. Work may require entering confined or restricted spaces in connection with safety inspections, incident or near-miss investigations, hazard assessments, or review of work practices in accordance with applicable safety and confined-space entry requirements. Employee may climb ladders, stairs, scaffolds, equipment, or other elevated work areas and may be exposed to moving vehicles and heavy equipment, active traffic, uneven terrain, noise, dust, fumes, gases, chemicals, electrical hazards, poor ventilation, fire, and adverse weather conditions. The position may require work outside normal business hours during emergencies, significant incidents, or other operational needs. Employee exerts 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently and occasionally lifts, carries, pushes, or pulls objects weighing 50 pounds or less. In accordance with U.S. Department of Labor physical-demand strength ratings, this position is considered medium work.