Bachelor's degree in Safety Management, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Public Health, or related field.
Minimum four years of occupational health and safety experience, focusing on comprehensive safety programs.
Prior experience in people-management or staff supervision is essential.
Preferred credentials include Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).
Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be accepted.
Responsibilities
Lead the design and ongoing enhancement of the County's occupational health and safety program.
Set and oversee countywide safety goals, standards, and performance metrics.
Standardize safety systems and ensure departmental compliance.
Facilitate and lead Countywide and site-specific Safety Committees.
Ensure compliance with relevant safety statutes and regulations.
Conduct safety audits, inspections, and hazard analyses to assess risks.
Manage emergency preparedness initiatives, including infectious disease response.
Benefits
Comprehensive occupational health and safety program leadership.
Visibility and direct reporting to executive leadership.
Opportunity to influence a culture of safety accountability.
Engagement in high-level risk management and regulatory compliance efforts.
Collaboration with diverse departments, unions, and external stakeholders.
Full Job Description
Applications are submitted online until the position is filled and/or the posting is closed. After reviewing this job announcement, please click on the link at the bottom of the page to apply online. A resume is required with the application. Further instructions on submission of documents are available in the online application. A resume may not be substituted for an application.
Minimum Requirements: Preferred Qualifications :
Bachelor's degree in Safety Management, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering, Public Health, or related field.
Minimum four (4) years of progressive occupational health and safety experience, including developing and leading comprehensive safety programs.
Previous people-management or supervision of staff is essential for success in this role.
Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), or similar credentials are preferred.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Position Summary:
Allegheny County seeks a strategic and collaborative Chief Safety Officer to lead and advance a comprehensive occupational health and safety program across diverse County operations. This role reports directly to the County Manager and drives enterprise-wide risk reduction, regulatory compliance, safety culture, and emergency preparedness initiatives while serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership. People-management or supervision of staff is an essential function of this job.
Overview:
Duties:
Safety Strategy, Program, and People Leadership
Leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the County's occupational health and safety program; Oversees direct report staff supporting these initiatives.
Establishes countywide safety goals, standards, and performance metrics.
Standardizes safety systems and monitor departmental compliance.
Chairs and guides Countywide and site-specific Safety Committees.
Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management
Ensures compliance with applicable statutes.
Conducts audits, inspections, industrial hygiene assessments, and hazard analyses.
Oversees accident, injury, and near-miss investigations and implement corrective actions.
Analyzes safety data and trends to prioritize and mitigate risk exposure.
Serves as liaison to regulatory agencies and coordinate joint inspections.
Emergency Preparedness & Incident Response
Leads safety components of County emergency preparedness initiatives.
Develops and implements infectious disease response and business continuity strategies.
Recommends proactive loss-control and risk mitigation measures.
Training, Communication & Culture
Identifies training needs and develop impactful safety education programs.
Delivers and evaluate training for employees, supervisors, and leadership.
Promotes a culture of safety accountability and continuous learning.
Communicates safety standards, updates, and performance insights across departments.
Advisory & Stakeholder Engagement
Advises County leadership on safety risks, legislative impacts, and policy improvements.
Partners with departments, unions, vendors, and external stakeholders to strengthen safety practices.
Provides technical guidance on PPE and safety equipment procurement.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
Comprehensive safety/risk management and mitigation as well as loss prevention practices.
Regulatory expertise in occupational safety standards.
Crisis leadership and emergency response planning.
Skill in:
MS Office Products, especially Excel.
Ability to:
Effectively manage all levels of direct report staff.
Design and evaluate safety initiatives and programs; Develop related policies.
Mine and analyze relevant data to mitigate risk.
Oversee administration of safety training programs compliance.
Engage and manage executive-level stakeholders and communications.
Effectively manage projects and multi-site coordination.
Address and resolve conflicts using negotiation and influence skills.
Residency: Allegheny County within 1 year. Veterans' Preference:
