Senior Safety Professional - Hawaii Island

Hawaiian Electric•Hilo, HI

3d•$99,900 - $127,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Safety Professional serves as a strategic leader and subject matter expert who drives a strong, resilient safety culture across Hawaiian Electric Company. The role addresses complex companywide safety issues by designing, implementing, and continuously improving safety programs and risk management practices. As a trusted partner to operational leadership, the position influences decision-making, embeds safety into business processes, and advances a sustained zero-incident culture. The position leads complex incident investigations, oversees safety training and emergency-response readiness, mentors junior safety staff, and analyzes industry and regulatory trends. It represents the Safety function at internal and external forums, supporting workforce well-being, system reliability, and the organization’s reputation. The role also serves as Deputy Safety Officer or Safety Officer during Incident Management Team activations and participates in company emergency-response activities as assigned. This is one management vacancy in the Safety Division, located in Hilo on Hawaii Island. The hiring range is $99,900 to $127,500, with placement based on the selected candidate’s skills and qualifications. The position remains open until filled.

Requirements

Knowledge of safety management systems, industrial hygiene, risk management principles, and best practices for high-risk industries; electric utility or construction experience is preferred.
Subject matter expertise in HiOSH, OSHA, DOT, DOH, PUC, and NIOSH standards; NFPA codes; ANSI standards; and electrical utility safety practices.
Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence at all organizational levels and translate complex requirements into practical guidance.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate complex systems, develop strategic solutions, and drive continuous improvement.
Ability to lead organizational change, develop and deliver training (including technical and audiovisual materials), resolve conflict, and build consensus across diverse teams.
Ability to collaborate with management to establish, communicate, and achieve safety metrics and organizational goals; represent the company with external agencies and partners.
Self-directed and resilient, with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing and demanding environments.
Ability to work safely and effectively in varied field conditions, including accident scenes, industrial facilities, confined spaces, and remote locations; specialized certifications may be required.
Willingness and ability to respond to emergencies and callouts at all hours, including weekends, holidays, extended shifts, helicopter transport, and graphic environments.
Strong teamwork skills and accountability for removing barriers, promoting safety as a core operational value, and delivering actionable solutions to leadership.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints and technical drawings, including those for power plants and transmission and distribution systems.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license issued by Hawaii or another U.S. state and meet the standards in the Hiring Standards for Driving Positions policy.
At least 5 years of relevant safety experience, including at least 3 years in an electric utility, construction, or comparable high-risk industry. A college degree or professional certification in a listed safety or science field may substitute for up to 2 years; a graduate degree in the same fields may substitute for up to 3 years.
OSHA 30 certification or higher.
Demonstrated experience leading safety programs, incident investigations, safety audits, or risk management activities.

Nice To Haves

Professional safety certification (CSP, ASP, CHST, CIH, or equivalent), initial level or higher.
One to three years of formal or informal leadership or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Advise on safety issues and influence business strategy and operational planning across divisions.
Lead organization-wide safety initiatives that improve safety climate, competency, accountability, and operational integration.
Develop, update, and oversee implementation of safety policies, procedures, and programs aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
Serve as the subject matter expert on safety programs, standards, and compliance expectations, and evaluate alignment with strategic goals and industry practices.
Develop implementation plans for organization-wide audits and inspections, synthesize findings across locations, and drive improvements beyond regulatory minimums.
Oversee major safety programs throughout their lifecycle and ensure their integration with business units and measurable safety improvements.
Investigate incidents of differing severity, identify and engage stakeholders, and apply recognized methods such as root-cause analysis and systems-based investigation.
Prepare incident reports to organizational, professional, and legal standards, and recommend improvements to work processes and equipment.
Identify missing or ineffective information, equipment, and training; assess improvements to risk controls and safety management systems to reduce recurrence.
Lead complex, multi-site compliance and performance audits and oversee enterprise audit protocols and continuous improvement programs.
Develop and track indicators of systemic risk, program effectiveness, and organizational safety maturity; analyze incident and audit data for enterprise-wide trends.
Monitor industry, regulatory, and legislative developments, advise leadership on operational impacts, and develop mitigation plans for long-term risk exposure.
Lead the design, development, and revision of training programs, including train-the-trainer curricula; determine job-class training requirements and promote consistent competency.
Deliver advanced safety training and coach leaders in their safety responsibilities.
Coach and mentor interns, entry-level staff, and safety professionals; create developmental opportunities and strengthen technical capability and leadership readiness.
Serve as Deputy Safety Officer or Safety Officer during Incident Management Team activations, oversee Field Safety Support Teams, develop event-specific safety plans, and provide safety updates at IMT meetings.
Participate in company emergency-response activities as assigned, including preparation for emergency response.
Represent the company with external agencies and partners as needed.