Employee Safety Administrator

State of Utah•Salt Lake City, UT

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Employee Safety Administrator serves as the Utah Department of Transportation’s primary leader for safety and loss control programs, reporting directly to the Director of Risk Management. The role leads a statewide team of 12 safety professionals responsible for protecting approximately 1,800 employees across Utah. The administrator turns safety strategies into lasting practices, strengthens accountability, and fosters a positive safety culture throughout the agency. The position directs statewide safety initiatives and oversees regulatory compliance, inspections, incident investigations, hazard controls, resource planning, performance tracking, risk analytics, emergency response, and safety-related digital tools. The work combines office responsibilities with field visits to highway work zones, construction sites, and maintenance facilities. Occasional emergency site response and statewide travel are required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Occupational Safety and Health, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Health, Safety Engineering, Public Administration, or a closely related field, plus six years of full-time OSH experience, including verifiable supervisory or team leadership responsibilities.
Directly related professional experience may substitute for the education requirement year-for-year; the posting gives 10 years of total related experience if no degree is held as an example.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel statewide.
Ability to lead multi-faceted safety programs, assign resources effectively, and lead organizational change across diverse workgroups.
High emotional intelligence and professional judgment; ability to write clear technical documentation, build organizational trust, and resolve workplace conflicts.
Thorough understanding of occupational health regulations, risk assessment methods, and safety mitigation strategies.
Ability to analyze financial and statistical data to support practical program changes.
Proficiency with standard office productivity suites, including Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, and familiarity with safety databases, reporting dashboards, and basic spatial coordinate tools.
Ability to travel statewide and lift up to 30 pounds during field assessments.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in an occupational safety or business-related discipline.
Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM), or Safety Management Professional (SMP) certification.
OSHA Authorized Trainer credentials, such as OSHA 500/501; Certified Safety & Health Official (CSHO); or related university safety center certifications.

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate statewide safety initiatives, performance goals, and operational action plans.
Lead and mentor a statewide team of 12 safety specialists, including balancing workloads, conducting performance reviews, hiring, and staff development.
Partner with agency divisions, regional teams, external organizations, and committees to align safety initiatives with field operations.
Present technical findings and safety updates to field staff, senior management, and executives.
Ensure compliance with state and federal OSHA and UOSH standards, transportation safety rules, and internal policies.
Oversee workplace audits, incident investigations, root-cause analyses, and corrective actions.
Establish safety protocols for high-risk environments, including highway work zones, heavy equipment operation, trenching and excavation, and fall protection.
Evaluate staffing, equipment, technology, and funding needs for statewide safety programs.
Develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses, and educational media to support safety investments and process upgrades.
Measure program success, identify operational gaps, and introduce long-term preventive solutions.
Analyze injury data, worker claims, and safety trends to identify hazards and prioritize preventive measures.
Coordinate with Workers’ Compensation, Fleet Operations, and training departments to reduce workplace injuries and public costs.
Respond on-site to major incidents when required and apply findings to improve safety policies and training programs.
Maintain and improve safety software, digital reporting tools, automated workflows, and executive dashboards.