Occupational Health & Safety Officer - Austin Human Resources

City of Austin

10h • $85,120 - $109,400 • Hybrid

About The Position

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. Austin Human Resources is committed to fostering a safe, healthy, and high performing work environment for all City of Austin employees. Through strategic leadership, collaboration, and a focus on continuous improvement, we support departments in creating workplaces where employees can thrive and deliver exceptional service to the community. We are currently seeking a dedicated Occupational Health & Safety Officer to provide citywide leadership and oversight of the City’s safety program. This role is responsible for establishing governance, policies, performance standards, and accountability measures that ensure a safe and compliant work environment across all departments. The position monitors regulatory requirements, analyzes injury and exposure data, and guides departments in implementing prevention strategies and corrective actions. If you are passionate about advancing workplace safety, driving organizational consistency, and building a culture where employees feel protected and supported, we invite you to apply and help strengthen the City of Austin’s commitment to safety and well being. Under nominal direction, this position manages and oversees the planning, design, evaluation, and development of a citywide occupational health and safety program to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for City of Austin employees.

Requirements

• Knowledge in the fields of safety compliance and auditing.
• Knowledge of governmental regulations and applicable standards such as EPA, OSHA.
• Knowledge of National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) that affect employee and environmental health and safety.
• Knowledge of technical expertise in analyzing numerical and claims data and industry performance measures such as Loss Time Injury Rates, Frequency Rates, and OSHA 200 Recordable Rates.
• Knowledge of OH&S systems and industry best practices.
• Knowledge of applicable processes, techniques, and methods.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to train others.
• Skill in effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to compose and present reports to all levels of management.
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Occupational Safety, Safety Engineering, Occupational or Environmental Health, Industrial Engineering, or a safety-related field, plus five (5) years of progressively responsible experience administering a safety program.
• Experience may substitute for education up to the maximum of four (4) years.
• Valid Texas Driver's license

Nice To Haves

• Progressive experience managing a large or multi‑site Occupational Health & Safety program, ideally within a municipal or public‑sector environment.
• Experience analyzing safety metrics, injury trends, and loss data to set performance targets and develop prevention strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑departmental initiatives and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels, including executive leadership.
• Experience implementing electronic safety management or records systems and strengthening organizational safety culture.
• Professional certification such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), ARM, or Certified Safety & Health Official (CSHO), or the ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Designs and recommends an effective Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) system that establishes authority and accountability for safety citywide and at the department level.
• Leads process of developing and recommending citywide Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) policy and standards or changes to existing standards and the enforcement of them.
• Consults and provides leadership to department safety personnel in the implementation of safety programs, analysis, problem solving, and corrective action plans.
• Monitors Federal and State Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) regulations applicable to the City and recommends and implements programs to ensure the City is in compliance with all applicable regulations.
• Evaluates City Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) statistics and defines target goals for performance and monitors for achievement of goals; recommends strategic short and long-term prevention and cost-control objectives designed to meet established goals.
• Develops and implements processes, methods, and tools designed to measure, evaluate, and monitor departmental safety performance and provides formal input or reports and makes recommendations to management regarding exposure incidents to address unintentional exposures to employees or vendors.
• Oversees the design, preparation, analysis, and distribution of safety data and statistical reports concerning accidents, trends, and solutions to work related problems to all City departments and executive management.
• Develops and oversees contracts with consultants for services provided to the City.
• Identifies and coordinates opportunities to share common resources citywide, such as training, equipment, consultants, and other resources.
• Implements a sound Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) document and record management system in compliance with applicable City policies and procedures as well as governmental regulations and applicable standards.
• Oversees review and approval process for departmental Accident Prevention Plans.
• Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

Benefits

• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
• Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees